Modern Health Dilemmas: Perspectives from the Research Front Couch Potatoes and Frantic Bananas: Are

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Modern Health Dilemmas Perspectives from the
Research FrontCouch Potatoes and Frantic
Bananas Are We Destined to Be Lazy?

• J. Timothy Lightfoot PhD FACSM RCEP ES
• Professor
• Dept. of Kinesiology
• University of North Carolina Charlotte

March 3, 2009
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Collaborators
UNC Charlotte Dr. Larry Leamy Dr. Anthony
Fodor Dr. Mike Turner UNC Chapel Hill Dr. Daniel
Pomp NIEHS Dr. Steven Kleeberger
Supported by NIH R15DK61635 (NIDDK),
R15AG022417 (NIA), RO1AR050085 (NIAMS)
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Overview

• The Problem
• The Causes
• What we can do

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Gonna eat our healthcare system first.
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We overlook the obvious
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The real problem
Physical Inactivity was the Second actual cause
of death in the United States in 2000 (Mokedad,
et al. JAMA 2004)
Physical inactivity involved in 400,000 deaths
Physical inactivity involved in more deaths
than the next seven causes of death combined!
Physical inactivity costs the US Healthcare
System 5.7 billion in 1997 (some suggest this
now close to 30 billion)
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The ProblemPhysical Inactivity
Knowing and Doing are two different things
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Moderate Physical Activity linked to
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Why be active?

• Increases quality of life (many, many pubs)
• Helps you sleep better
• Keeps you regular
• Get out of chairs easier
• Can reduce nicotine cravings
• Increases cognition
• Decreases depression
• Moderate activity twice a week decreases your
  risk for dementia by 50 and your risk for
  Alzheimers by 60

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How inactive are we?
CDC. 2001 and 2005 BRFSS summary data quality
reports. Atlanta, GA US Department of Health and
Human Services, CDC 2002 and 2006. Available at
http//ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/brfss/2001summarydataq
ualityreport.pdf and http//ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/b
rfss/2005summarydataqualityreport.pdf.
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How active are we?
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A common American?
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What We Know Do

• Moderate physical activity is a tremendously
  powerful medicine

BUT
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The Causes?
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Environmental influences

• Safety

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Environmental influences

• Infrastructure
• e.g. Sidewalks, parks
• Weve eliminated the chance to be active

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Not Just Kannapolis
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Environmental influences

• Infrastructure
• e.g. Sidewalks, parks

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Environmental influences

• Peer-/parental-influence

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Environmental influences

• Schools

• - K-8 - 30 min activity daily (3, 10 min
  intervals or all together)
• High school - 1 credit/4 years

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Environmental influences

• Region of the country

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Environmental influences

• Cultural expectations

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What is going on?
CDC. 2001 and 2005 BRFSS summary data quality
reports. Atlanta, GA US Department of Health and
Human Services, CDC 2002 and 2006. Available at
http//ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/brfss/2001summarydataq
ualityreport.pdf and http//ftp.cdc.gov/pub/data/b
rfss/2005summarydataqualityreport.pdf.
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Biological/Genetic

• At least 10 studies have shown that you can have
  a genetic predisposition to either being active
  or inactive.

You CAN be born a couch potato or frantic
banana!
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Biological/Genetic

• Which genes are involved?
• Dont know yet
• A fairly complete roadmap available

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Biological/Genetic

• Some candidate genes

-- Nescient helix-loop-helix 2
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Biological/Genetic

• Where are these genes working?

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Whew!

• Predisposition IS NOT Predestination!

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If we dont speak out about physical inactivity?
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What can WE - as a group - do?
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What can WE - as a group - do?
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What can WE - as a group - do?

• Personally encourage activity in every way
  possible

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What Can YOU do individually?

• Get active

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What Can YOU Do?

• Get active
• Make it pleasurable

• Simple goal
• Walk 10,000 steps / day

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10,000 Steps / Day

• Walking at least 10,000 steps a day will keep you
  healthier
• If your step 2 ft,
• 10,000 steps 20,000 ft (3.79 miles)
• 400 kcal
• 65 min
• How do you measure?
• Use pedometers

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Gmap-pedometer.com
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How toincrease your steps

• Walk stairs instead of elevator
• Park farther away
• Walk to see friends
• Walk your pets
• Challenge each other

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Be Safe
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Conclusions
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Be Active, Be Well
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