Wrap Up

Closing Post for Get Up, Get Active

The key to living a longer, healthier life with a decreased chance of obtaining various chronic disease is physical activity. As Americans, we typically search for an easy way out or a quick fix to a problem, but there are many situations where you must work hard to reach your goal. However, hard work does not always mean the fun is taken away. In fact, finding a fun, enjoyable way to be active is recommended. If we enjoy the activity, we are more likely to continue it.

Living an active lifestyle can have numerous health benefits. For example, it can strengthen bones, control weight, and decrease chances of developing heart disease, some cancers, type 2 diabetes, stroke, and depression (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2014). Even with all of these health benefits, only 48% of Americans are meeting the guidelines of at least 2.5 hours of physical activity a week (CDC, 2014). Less than 5% of adults are active for at least 30 minutes a day, and this is unfortunately rubbing off on today’s youth because only one-third of American children are physically active on a daily basis (President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition [PCFSN], 2014).

Reader Experience

Throughout this blog, we have discussed physical activity for the entire population as well as information directed for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. The reason for this is because very little information on physical activity has been gathered on LGBT members, but if physical activity can have such a positive impact on overall health for everyone, this would of course include all groups of people. A lot of the health benefits from physical activity also happen to alleviate some of the leading health issues for LGBT members such as depression, obesity, and other chronic diseases.

I hoped the readers were able to learn and understand the benefits of physical activity, the LGBT community and associated disparities, and fun ways to increase physical activity. There is so much more information about these topics, but due to time constraints, the highlights were primarily published here. The nation is becoming more diverse every single day. People are beginning to feel more comfortable to be themselves instead of hiding and pretending to be someone they are not, and it is the role of every person (especially health education specialists and other health care professionals) to ensure we all are treated fairly and have the opportunity to be happy and healthy.

Thank you! -Mimi

"If it doesn't challenge you, it doesn't change you."

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2014). Facts about physical activity. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/facts.html

President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. (2014). Facts and statistics. Retrieved from http://www.fitness.gov/resource-center/facts-and-statistics/