Cycling is the best way to get in shape, enjoy the outdoors, and have fun while you’re doing it. Unfortunately, many people think bicycles are for kids and often overlook the positive physical and psychological health benefits of cycling. If you ride bike for thirty minutes every day, you would burn eleven pounds of fat in a year, build lean muscle, boost your metabolism, and dramatically decrease your chances of acquiring heart disease. The immediate physical results of cycling will boost your self-esteem and you’ll find yourself wondering why you didn’t start pedaling down the road to good health sooner.
America is the land of milk, honey, and all you can eat buffets, so it’s no surprise the United States ranks high amongst the fattest nations on the planet. According to the American Heart Association, nearly one million Americans die of heart disease annually and more than seventy million Americans live every day with some form of heart disease (Prevention).
Some common forms of heart disease are, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure. Cycling twenty miles per week can reduce your chances of developing heart disease by fifty-percent and help alleviate the current obesity epidemic in the United States (Prevention).
Obesity is a result of a poor diet and lack of exercise. With a steady supply of cheap and unhealthy food readily available to Americans, it’s easy to understand why we’ve become a chronically obese nation. As a remedy, Americans spend thirty five billion dollars every year on snake-oil miracle cures, fat-melting diet pills, and prescription medications to control their weight and the ill side effects of obesity (Diet). If a fraction of the c...
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...ve proven to promote healthy living, reduce your chances of heart disease, and increase your longevity. Fitness cycling can be integrated into any fitness program and with every turn of the wheel, calories are burnt, strength is built, and wellness is achieved. There is no better time than now to get outdoors and cycle your way into better shape.
Sources Cited
"Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol." 14 June 2011. American Heart Association. Web. 11 Aug. 2011.
“Diet Industry Is Big Business.” 11 February 2009. CBS News. Web. 14 Aug. 2011.
“Exercise Bike Advantages.” 27 October 2009. Livestrong Foundation. Web. 14 Aug. 2011.
“Stress Symptoms: Effects On Your Body, Feelings, and Behavior.” 19 February 2011. Mayo Clinic. Web. 13 Aug. 2011.
“The True Cost Of Gym Memberships.” 11 September 2008. CNBC News. Web. 14 Aug. 2011.
American health, specifically our obesity epidemic, has grown into a trending media topic. A quick Google search will bring up thousands of results containing a multitude of opinions and suggested solutions to our nation’s weight gain, authored by anyone ranging from expert food scientists to common, concerned citizens. Amongst the sea of public opinion on obesity, you can find two articles: Escape from the Western Diet by Michael Pollan and The Extraordinary Science of Addictive Junk Food by Michael Moss. Each article presents a different view on where the blame lies in this public health crisis and what we should do to amend the issue. Pollan’s attempt to provide an explanation pales in comparison to Moss’s reasonable discussion and viable
Exercise. Being active reduces the risk of heart disease. You should spend 120 minutes a week walking, jogging, riding a bike or any other activity that increases your heart rate.
In a study from 2010, the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) found that the number one cause of death, killing 597,689 people each year, is heart disease. A major cause of heart disease is obesity, meaning that obesity kills many people in the united states each year. “In 1999-2000, 27.5% of men were obese, and by 2009-2010 the prevalence had increased to 35.5%” (Ogden, et al. 4). It is obvious that obesity is on the rise in our country. “the most recent national data on obesity prevalence among U.S. adults, adolescents, and children show that more than one third of adults and almost 17% of children and adolescents were obese in 2009-2010.” (Ogden, et al. 6). If the trends continue, obesity will become an epidemic, killing thousands of people. The CDC defines obesity as having a BMI (body mass index) of 30 or higher. In some instances, this can be misleading. For some people, say athletes that have plenty of muscle and not much body fat, their BMI can indicate they are overweight. Nevertheless, it is still a good indicator for the general public. And studies have shown, using the BMI system, that obesity in America is on the rise.
Exercise is often thought of in a positive light. It is common belief in today’s society that a healthy diet and a regular exercise routine will lead to a long, healthy life. And in the simplest sense of the word, it will.
For example a young child may participate in an after school football club, a teenager up to 30 years may consider taking up physical activity or sports professionally. A middle aged may join a club for eg. Running if they feel they are overweight. The elderly may take place in activity such as bowls or even just everyday walking to the local shops. For each of these examples a person who does not participate in exercise may experience becoming breathless at minimal tasks such as a light jog or walking up or down the stairs, this is because the heart is not able to cope with additional stress as it has no...
Furthermore, if we over consume foods without properly assessing their nutritional value, our bodies will be unable to completely process them, ultimately leading to obesity. Since the 1980’s, obesity rates around the world have risen significantly. In the United States, current statistics indicate that one in every three people is medically obese. This statistic has placed the United States as the second most obese country in the world, next to Mexico. These increasing causes of obesity are linked to the declining national diet and nutritional profile, as well as lifestyle trends in these countries.
In the first study, it looks into the impact of extreme endurance workout on the heart. According to this study, regular exercise is very beneficial when it comes to preventing and treating certain health conditions. The World Health Organization states that
Want to feel better, have more energy and reduce your risk of serious disease? Look no further than exercise. The health benefits of regular exercise and physical activity are hard to ignore. Physical activity not only makes a person feel better, it can actually increase a person’s life span. Many people battle obesity and side effects that are caused by this sickness. The American Medical Association has recognized it as a disease as of two thousand and thirteen. The Liberal government has just released a document that they are cutting the Children 's Fitness Tax Credit. This is a political mistake since physical activity is the key to a healthy life and a life free of disease.
In addition to helping to control your weight, research shows that regular physical activity can reduce your risk for several diseases and conditions and improve your overall quality of life.
Over the course of the last few decades, the U.S. has seen a drastic rise in the spread of obesity. Through the rise of large-scale fast food corporations, the blame has shifted toward the mass consumerism of these global industries. It is, however, due to poor lifestyle choices that the U.S. population has seen a significant increase in the percentage of people afflicted with obesity. In 1990 the percentage of obese people in the United States was approximated at around 15%. In 2010, however, it is said that “36 states had obesity rates of 25 percent or higher”(Millar). These rates have stayed consistent since 2003. The obesity problem in America is
America’s obesity has raised greatly over time. This is because people over eating and don’t know how to exercise. Cogan and Ernsberger state that, “As much as 40 percent to 70 percent of the U.S. population is trying to lose weight, at any given time, youn...
Steady amounts of exercise help manage the fat to muscle ratio of the body. Exercise attracts attention because of its ability to maintain a person’s weight. The simple act of walking burns calories, contributing to overall weight loss. For fitness fanatics, consistent, and more intense, exercise builds muscle. When muscles are not worked out they weaken, and the chances of injury elevates. However if muscles are overused, they become fatigued, and the risk of strains rise. Long term cardio exercise induces long term benefits. Studies have shown, with regular exercise, comes an increase in metabolism. Since exercise improves overall fitness, it helps boost the immune system. Nonetheless don’t overdo it, too much exercise without enough rest can promote colds. Keeping a consistent
Exercise combats health conditions and diseases: Being active boosts good cholesterol which is HDL and decrease unhealthy triglycerides. Regular physical activity helps you prevent wide range of health diseases like heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, depression, and metabolic
Jaffe-Gill, M. E., Segal, M. R., & Melinda, S. (2010, October). Stress Management. Retrieved February 13, 2011, from HelpGuide.ord: http://www.helpguide.org
Being physically fit can help deliver good health benefits that can't be received any other way. Going to the gym everyday and getting a good workout is a basic need and will help increase your stamina and help you remain in good health. A person who exercises regularly will get more out of every day. The many types of exercises help demonstrate many techniques of physical fitness that create good habits and your health and energy levels will be greater than ever before. Being physically fit is a lifestyle, and does a body good.