Now that we've made it through October and are one month closer to the end of 2008, I wanted to bring something to your attention.
Most people know that October is recognized at Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but how many know that November is National Diabetes Month?
We all know about the national obesity epidemic. What many people do not seem to realize is that along with obesity, there will be major health-related fall out from obesity-related diseases. One of those is type 2 diabetes and its complications.
According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million children and adults in this country have diabetes, or 8% of the population. But that's not the worst number. 57 million walk around undiagnosed everyday. There were 1.6 million new cases were diagnosed in adults 20 years or older in 2007.
So what does that mean for you and me?
Well, many of the new cases of type 2 diabetes are in children under the age of 18. That's insane. We do not want to hand our children over to a very preventable disease.
Here's what I suggest:
1. Make sure that you educate yourselves on how to prevent type 2 diabetes.
2. If you work with children or have children, be sure that they get at least 60 minutes of physical activity 5 days per week.
3. Support the American Diabetes Association and Laila Ali in raising $1 million during the month of November to Kiss Diabetes Goodbye.
4. Support Saucony's Run for Good campaign to fight childhood obesity (more on that later).
What am I going to do?
1. Develop a workout program for kids that involves dance.
2. Finish my Youth Fitness Instructor certification.
3. Start a strength and conditioning program for cheerleaders and dancers.
4. Work on lots of other ideas I have for kids and fitness.
Original source: http://simplehealthymeals.wordpress.com/?p=50
