Josh Lewis does a star jump.
ARKANSAS OBESITY RATES
As a state, we need to lose weight.
Arkansas now has the sixth highest adult obesity rate in the nation. Arkansas’s adult obesity rate is currently 34.5 percent, up from 21.9 percent in 2000 and from 17 percent in 1995.
Source: The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier
America, released September 2016
spurts. In fact, it’s an excellent idea to get away from your desk and walk or climb stairs for 5 minutes every hour because being sedentary is terrible for your health, suggested Maggie Danforth, dietitian, Baxter Regional Medical Center.
Think of your health as a piggy bank that needs continuous deposits, said Hanna Jensen, research assistant professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering University of Arkansas.
Healthy choices, like going for a brisk walk, stretching, swimming, all start to add up and are an investment in your health. When you have made enough healthy deposits, you can reward yourself from time to time.
“Collecting good little pennies and then being able to use them at a later time point. I love treats and couldn’t live without them, but I try to earn my treats. The good deposits should outweigh the
12 Living Well i January/February 2017 guilty pleasures,” Jensen said.
She also pointed out that studies show people who exercise outside burn more calories, so get outdoors if the weather is pleasant enough.
Lifestyle Changes
Exercise must be coupled with a healthy diet for success.
“You can’t out train a bad diet,” said Collins.
Harvey recommends four steps: eat as naturally as possible; to be as plant based as possible; choose variety; and eat appropriate portions.
A restaurant will typically serve you twice as much food as you need, so a good strategy is to ask for a to-go box with your order and immediately pack half of it up, or share the dish with someone, he said.
Keep a journal and write down what you eat. You don’t need to write down calories because that can get tedious, just track how many fruits and vegetables you eat a day because chances are you eat less than you realize, suggested Danforth.
A journal is a great way to become more aware of your body, too.
“Pay attention to how you feel after that you eat something. I ate this and had serious gas, or ate this and had no energy after that, those are signs your body isn’t working optimally and you might choose something different. Be curious about your body,” Danforth said.
Cut sugar and salt consumption for a month, said Jensen.
“The first week your food will taste plain but tastebud cells are in constant regeneration and renewal and if you dramatically reduce salt intake, in a few weeks you will
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