Eating Healthy and Exercising<br />
Why is it important to eat healthy and exercise regularly? First, making healthy food choices and exercising regularly contributes to overall good health and higher feelings of self-worth. Second, having a healthy diet coupled with regular physical activity prevents chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. <br />
The national adult obesity rate has increased by 26 percent since 2008. As of 2020. the obesity rate tops 40 percent. Rates of childhood obesity are also increasing with the latest data showing that 19.3 percent of young people ages 2 to 19 have obesity. Being overweight or obese can cause drastic health problems; the higher a person's BMI is the higher their risk of plaque buildup in their arteries.<br />
Plaque buildup narrows arteries and blocks blood flow causing high blood pressure, heart failure or a stroke. Body Mass Index (or, BMI) is a tool used to measure body fat based on height and weight. With rising obesity rates the number of people diagnosed with type two diabetes has also increased. 80-90% of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes are considered obese.<br />
Type 2 diabetes is when a person's body is making insulin, but their cells do not know how to process it properly. It is projected that 1 in 3 children born in or after 2000 will be diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes.<br />