Staying Youthful: A Baby Boomers Guide To Staying Active

We’re living in a world where everyone wants everything immediately. We have fast food restaurants on every corner, the ability to shop on our phones, live streaming sports events and nearly everything we need at our fingertips. Throw into the mix the plethora of junk food that is available for us to purchase and consume and it’s really no wonder that, worldwide, we continue to get more and more overweight and obese.

Because everything is so convenient, the output required to get things we want is minimal, if not zero. Instead of walking to the store, or spending a few hours trotting around a mall doing some shopping, we order our groceries online and buy new clothes and furniture at the click of a button.

Instead of putting in the time and energy prepping for and cooking a family dinner, we call up the pizza guy or swing by a McDonald’s and pick up a cheap meal for the family. All this convenience may seem nice but combine that with all the junk we consume and it’s no wonder the current health status of our world is subpar.

The health risks of being overweight and obese are frightening. The heavier you are, the higher your chance of getting type 2 diabetes, having heart disease and high blood pressure, and cancers such as colon, kidney and breast.
Obesity is not just prevalent among adults, either, as it is slowly creeping up in children as well.

Overweight children are more prone to becoming and remaining overweight adults.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 2.8 million people die each year due to repercussions of being overweight or obese. While overweight and obese individuals were mostly seen in countries with high-incomes, we are now seeing this health epidemic in low and middle income countries as well.

Although pharmaceutical companies are all racing to create the latest and greatest obesity drug, it’s no secret that diet and exercise are vital in helping control this growing epidemic. As human nature tends to sway, however, most people would rather take a pill then put in the work to improve their health.

It is important to take responsibility for your own health and well- being. By being informed and taking an active role in your health, you can help decrease your chance of becoming another statistic.