Decreased activity over time and reflection of Health People 2010

Abstract
This blog will provide some factors of why a dramatic decrease in physical activity and increase in obesity happens from adolescence into adulthood. It will also illustrate a perspective of the effectiveness of the People 2010 program.

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Why in general do most populations get fatter as they get older? Again, I will refer to my experience and few years back during the participation of the NASM CPT exam preparation course in Las Vegas, "We move less and consume more...." Simply put we have way to many labor saving devices then we had four to six decades ago, heck the escalators were originally meant to be a set of faster stairs yet people just stand or lean on them as they go up or down. We can even take a look at the way clothes were washed over a century ago and compare those methods to now. Another way is to consider the average daily activity that the general population participates in. Do they meet the general guidelines of 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on most days per week? I can greatly estimate, from my experience, that the average Japanese national can at least quadruple the amount of steps that the average American takes on a daily basis. We heavily rely on motor vehicles for transportation versus that of the very efficient public transportation that they use. It always amazed me of how people wanted to use a car on such a very small Naval base in Yokosuka as even at a slow pace it only took 45 minutes to jog the perimeter. It was kind of funny as people would see me walking to the either the hospital or exchange and offer me a ride in which I would thankfully reject, but later beat them to the very same destination. Also, for us the food choices that are either taught or presented are not the most healthy and absurdly over sized in portions. I think that I great solution for the problem should be presented through the education system all the way from preschool up throughout college. Teach both the kids and parents not only the methods and benefits of a healthier life style, but also the potential short and long term costs or losses of not adopting it then constantly fortify and reinforce the message as they grow older.

The Health People 2010 program is great with both the goals and objectives, but has to short fall in the time frame to achieve them. Most of the general population, businesses and medical systems are reactive in nature and resistive to change due to comfort zones unproven monetary values. We need to recall about how long it took the general population to become the way they are then reset the timeline to meet the reversal of what has been taught through culture. I think that it will take allot more time than had been predicted some years back for the change to happen and all the objectives to be fully met, but the changes and adaptations will happen.

References
Chenoweth, D. (2007). Worksite Health Promotion. Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics.
Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, , Retrieved July 16, 2007, from Healthy People 2010 Home Page Web site: www.healthypeople.gov