Stopping the Trend
There is a trend in the United States that is actually on the upswing, but in this case, it isn’t a good thing.
Anita Milstead (center) shows Karen Ford, civil engineer in River Operations, and Michael McCall, acting navigation program manager in RO, how to prepare Anita’s Easy Wrap, a quick, low-fat, nutritious recipe. “A healthy meal doesn’t need to be a big production,” Milstead says. “The ingredients I used were what I had on hand in the fridge and pantry.” See recipe at right.
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has tracked obesity trends, defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater, for 20 years. Southern states rank high on the list, but according to the CDC, no state is an exception. The problem has grown in every state, with 30 states having an obesity prevalence of 25 percent or greater. Since obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, this rate is of national concern.
To combat obesity, new guidelines set by the federal Department of Health & Human Services call for anywhere from 75 minutes to 2 ½ hours per week of exercise for good health. The more vigorous the activity, the less time required. To achieve weight loss, additional exercise time is necessary.
Lack of exercise is one piece of the obesity puzzle; poor diet is another. Southern food preparation methods, portion distortion and frequent eating out are a few of the culprits. The average person gains one to two pounds annually, mostly during the holidays.
To stop that trend this holiday season, substitute lower calorie ingredients in recipes, eat small portions of special-occasion foods, put exercise first each day, limit high-calorie holiday beverages and never attend a food event with a growling stomach.
TVA’s Live Well Program helps employees address the diet and exercise dilemma with the NutriSum program. Each day, points are awarded for meeting simple eating and activity goals that can lead to gradual but life-long weight loss. Since the program began in May, 273 people have completed a session with a combined loss of 2,252 pounds. A 13-week session of NutriSum begins in January. Your regional Live Well manager can provide more information.
Employees can learn their body-mass index during a Live Well HealthCheck screening. See the Oct. 16 TVA Today for details.
Anita Milstead is eastern region Live Well manager and a registered dietitian.