Politics of Health & Fitness

Political initiative.

It is the next on the list of The Top 12 Worst Things we are doing to our Health.

There are many examples of political initiatives that make a difference in our health and fitness, but not many comprehensive ones. There are exercise guidelines, but that isn’t enough. To inspire real change we need incentives from all levels of government. We also need communities to work together to encourage, enable and build a healthy and fit country.

Take the changes in smoking as an example, not that long ago your doctor smoked. They weren’t going to tell you to quit, they were doing it too. 

This statement is from the 1964 Surgeon General’s report on smoking,

No single issue has preoccupied the Surgeons General of the past four decades more than smoking. The reports of the Surgeon General have alerted the nation to the health risk of smoking, and have transformed the issue from one of individual and consumer choice, to one of epidemiology, public health, and risk for smokers and non-smokers alike.

1964 Surgeon General’s Report

Slowly, after years of ignoring the mountains of evidence that smoking was, in fact, harmful, the government made it harder to smoke, made it more expensive and made it less attractive. Made it less of an individual choice to one of public health. 

Today we know that not being fit is a significant health risk.

In fact, it might be the most important risk.

Recent studies have shown that low cardiorespiratory fitness is the single biggest risk factor for chronic disease. It outranks high cholesterol 2:1 as a risk factor. 

This was in the surgeon general’s report in 1996,

Given the numerous health benefits of physical activity, the hazards of being inactive are clear. Physical inactivity is a serious, nationwide problem. Its scope poses a public health challenge for reducing the national burden of unnecessary illness and premature death.

But, after more than 20 years we do not have a comprehensive plan to get people fit and healthy.

If you need to go to the doctor you should be able to, if you need to go to the hospital that should be available, but keeping people healthy should be the priority.

Ever since I sat in that discussion about what are the 12 Worst Things We Are Doing to our Health I have asked people what they would do to improve the health and fitness of their community. The answers have been creative and thoughtful. What would you do to make it easier for everyone to be fitter?

Change your mind, change your health,

Shayla