A recent posting on the Internet lays out some serious consequences regarding the increase in obesity among Americans. The article states “Anyone who’s ever quit smoking (or tried to) knows that once the puffing stops, the eating begins.” As more people have quit smoking, we’ve seen a rise in obesity rates which if not curtained, could see 45% of Americans being overweight in just 10 years from now.
A New England Journal of Medicine study declared “If past obesity trends continue unchecked, the negative effects on the health of the U.S. population will increasingly outweigh the positive effects gained from declining smoking rates.”
The study examined health trends collected from national health surveys to forecast life expectancy and quality of life. Based on the continued decline in smoking, the life expectancy for an 18-year-old non-smoker should increase by nearly four months.
But over the past 15 years, body-mass index rates have shot up 48%, and if this continues unabated, the NEJM study projected that 45% of Americans will be obese by 2020, and that 18-year-old’s life expectancy will be reduced by just over a year. So when you balance less smoking against more obesity, the net loss in life expectancy is more than eight months.
The AOL article concludes by stating, “That doesn’t mean the customary trend of increased life expectancy due to improvements in nutrition, education and health care will suddenly reverse course. But the rising obesity rates may eventually slow this progress.
“The bottom line: If you succeed in giving up tobacco, pay especially close attention to your eating habits. It could add years to your life.”
Good advice. And that’s why I have been promoting physical fitness, proper nutrition and a commitment to a healthy lifestyle in my blogs over the past year. So as I sign every letter that goes out over my signature, I urge you to…
Get Up! Get Active! Get Involved! Get healthy!
~Wid
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
It Was a Gathering of ALL WINNERS!
The eighth annual WINNERS CIRCLE on November 20 was a very special night when we recognized and honored those whose support has enabled Grand Canyon State Games to provide 30,000 Arizona athletes of all ages a wide range of physical fitness opportunities and friendly competition throughout the entire year.
Todd Wilson and his outstanding staff were once again our hosts at the DoubleTree Guest Suites in Phoenix. You could not have asked for better facilities, the meal was a gourmet delight, and the service was impeccable.
We had a record number of items in the Silent Auction held during the pre-dinner reception. Mogollon kicked off the proceedings once we moved into the banquet hall. They don’t coming any better than our emcee Pat McMahon who kept things moving throughout the evening, and it’s always a great privilege to have members of the Piestewa Family and Pastor Don Holliday take part in the program.
Special award presentations were made to the following:
2009 Co-Athletes of the Year Award Winners
The AZ Desert Dolphins Synchronized Swim and
Rebecca Durazo
2009 Premier Power Player Award Winner
Mary McBain
2009 Commissioner of the Year Award Winner
Alan Lambert
2009 Rookie Commissioner of the Year Award
Dianne Pratt Doerschel
2009 Volunteer Force of the Year
St. Paul’s Academy
2009 Individual Volunteer of the Year
Bret Kawasaki
2009 Co-Venues of the Year Award Winner
The City of Scottsdale Recreation Division’s Indian School Park and
The Salt River / Pima Indian Community
Under the category of Special Entertainment, Slick Willie Shaw of the Harlem Globe Trotters gave an amazing demonstration of ball handling. The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame was once again our partner for the evening, and President Janie Riddle brought us up to date on their programs that benefit high school scholar-athletes.
Some guy with the moniker of “Snyder” attired in a San Francisco 49ers jersey was the “warm-up act” for keynote speaker Ann Meyers Drysdale who captivated the audience as she recounted the highlights of her impressive career as a three-time All-American, Olympian and now general manager of the Phoenix Mercury.
Realizing that he couldn’t top all the powerhouse talent that proceeded him to the podium, our Arizona Sports Council president John Startt kept his remarks brief in closing out the evening with a salute to all the winners and a challenge to our Board members, commissioners, volunteers and sponsors to continue the good work that make the Games so special.
What an evening! As we keep raising the bar, the challenge your GCSG staff faces is what do we do for an encore next year. Well, just stay tuned.
Todd Wilson and his outstanding staff were once again our hosts at the DoubleTree Guest Suites in Phoenix. You could not have asked for better facilities, the meal was a gourmet delight, and the service was impeccable.
We had a record number of items in the Silent Auction held during the pre-dinner reception. Mogollon kicked off the proceedings once we moved into the banquet hall. They don’t coming any better than our emcee Pat McMahon who kept things moving throughout the evening, and it’s always a great privilege to have members of the Piestewa Family and Pastor Don Holliday take part in the program.
Special award presentations were made to the following:
2009 Co-Athletes of the Year Award Winners
The AZ Desert Dolphins Synchronized Swim and
Rebecca Durazo
2009 Premier Power Player Award Winner
Mary McBain
2009 Commissioner of the Year Award Winner
Alan Lambert
2009 Rookie Commissioner of the Year Award
Dianne Pratt Doerschel
2009 Volunteer Force of the Year
St. Paul’s Academy
2009 Individual Volunteer of the Year
Bret Kawasaki
2009 Co-Venues of the Year Award Winner
The City of Scottsdale Recreation Division’s Indian School Park and
The Salt River / Pima Indian Community
Under the category of Special Entertainment, Slick Willie Shaw of the Harlem Globe Trotters gave an amazing demonstration of ball handling. The Valley of the Sun Chapter of the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame was once again our partner for the evening, and President Janie Riddle brought us up to date on their programs that benefit high school scholar-athletes.
Some guy with the moniker of “Snyder” attired in a San Francisco 49ers jersey was the “warm-up act” for keynote speaker Ann Meyers Drysdale who captivated the audience as she recounted the highlights of her impressive career as a three-time All-American, Olympian and now general manager of the Phoenix Mercury.
Realizing that he couldn’t top all the powerhouse talent that proceeded him to the podium, our Arizona Sports Council president John Startt kept his remarks brief in closing out the evening with a salute to all the winners and a challenge to our Board members, commissioners, volunteers and sponsors to continue the good work that make the Games so special.
What an evening! As we keep raising the bar, the challenge your GCSG staff faces is what do we do for an encore next year. Well, just stay tuned.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
It’s Not Called Junk for Nothing
Our thanks for the following from the latest St. Luke’s Health Initiative “Thnking Out Loud” newsletter:
“A recent study from Scripps Research documents that the brain responds to junk food the same way that it does to heroin. Apparently obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings.
“At least in rats. One group of rats was fed a broad range of processed food, from bacon and cheesecake to Ho Hos, while another group received ‘high-nutrient, low-calorie chow.’ There was an immediate difference: The rats that ate junk food developed compulsive eating habits and became obese. Not only that, but they became so addicted to junk food that ‘they were willing to tolerate electric shocks if that’s what it meant to keep eating the stuff.’
“If eating junk food really is an addiction, where does that leave policies calling for more consumer ‘choice’ in eating healthy foods? We ban heroin. Why not Ho Hos?”
Perhaps a bit far-fetched, but it does relate to several of the articles we have been passing along that point out that many of the health problems we have are self-imposed. It’s as if we have little responsibility for our own health. We instead outsource it to something called the health care system.
Wid
“A recent study from Scripps Research documents that the brain responds to junk food the same way that it does to heroin. Apparently obesity and drug addiction have common neurobiological underpinnings.
“At least in rats. One group of rats was fed a broad range of processed food, from bacon and cheesecake to Ho Hos, while another group received ‘high-nutrient, low-calorie chow.’ There was an immediate difference: The rats that ate junk food developed compulsive eating habits and became obese. Not only that, but they became so addicted to junk food that ‘they were willing to tolerate electric shocks if that’s what it meant to keep eating the stuff.’
“If eating junk food really is an addiction, where does that leave policies calling for more consumer ‘choice’ in eating healthy foods? We ban heroin. Why not Ho Hos?”
Perhaps a bit far-fetched, but it does relate to several of the articles we have been passing along that point out that many of the health problems we have are self-imposed. It’s as if we have little responsibility for our own health. We instead outsource it to something called the health care system.
Wid
Saturday, November 14, 2009
"RSVP !"
I'm not sure what it means but it's a whole bunch of fun watching them come in for our Winners Circle Weekend!
Sponsors, athletes, commissioners, board members, volunteers, and friends reminding me of the magnitude of people we are grateful to for making all that we do possible!
We can't thank you enough but we are going to try!
In the meantime I will do some research on the meaning of "RSVP !"
Wid
Sponsors, athletes, commissioners, board members, volunteers, and friends reminding me of the magnitude of people we are grateful to for making all that we do possible!
We can't thank you enough but we are going to try!
In the meantime I will do some research on the meaning of "RSVP !"
Wid
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Unbelievable
One-third of U.S. youth unfit for militaryPublished:
Nov. 4, 2009 at 1:53 AM
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- More than one-third of Americans ages 17-24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues, U.S. military officials said.Curt Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accessions, said the United States has "an obesity crisis.""There's no question about it," Gilroy told the Navy Times. "Kids are just not able to do push-ups, and they can't do pull-ups. And they can't run."The Pentagon figures -- 35 percent of the roughly 31.2 million Americans ages 17-24 are ineligible for military service -- are drawn from data from the Centers for Disease Control. In a study scheduled to be released Thursday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and a group of retired military officers say young Americans' lack of overall fitness for military duty is a national security threat, the Navy Times reported.The report, drawing on Pentagon data, says almost three out of four 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for service for a variety of reasons including:-- 35 percent ineligible for medical/physical problems.-- 18 percent ineligible for illegal drug use.-- 9 percent ineligible for mental problems.-- 6 percent have too many dependents.-- 5 percent have a criminal record.
~ Wid
Nov. 4, 2009 at 1:53 AM
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (UPI) -- More than one-third of Americans ages 17-24 are unqualified for military service because of physical and medical issues, U.S. military officials said.Curt Gilroy, the Pentagon's director of accessions, said the United States has "an obesity crisis.""There's no question about it," Gilroy told the Navy Times. "Kids are just not able to do push-ups, and they can't do pull-ups. And they can't run."The Pentagon figures -- 35 percent of the roughly 31.2 million Americans ages 17-24 are ineligible for military service -- are drawn from data from the Centers for Disease Control. In a study scheduled to be released Thursday in Washington, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and a group of retired military officers say young Americans' lack of overall fitness for military duty is a national security threat, the Navy Times reported.The report, drawing on Pentagon data, says almost three out of four 17- to 24-year-olds are ineligible for service for a variety of reasons including:-- 35 percent ineligible for medical/physical problems.-- 18 percent ineligible for illegal drug use.-- 9 percent ineligible for mental problems.-- 6 percent have too many dependents.-- 5 percent have a criminal record.
~ Wid
Thursday, November 5, 2009
"Board of Directors ! "
After yesterdays Board of Directors meeting I realized on my drive home how special they are, and how lucky I am to work for such a talented ,smart, and supportive group of fine people!
I also was reflective of the loss of two 15 year members due to personal reasons. I'm hoping they realize how grateful I am for their tremendous contribution and loyalty over a long period of time.
They will be missed!
Boards come in many shapes and forms and vary greatly in their roles as the culture of each organization is different. In our case we have great leadership and involvement from everybody. We are "lean" but very effective in my opinion.
It is my hope that over the years I have made sure they know how appreciative I am for their unconditional show of strength. I will continue to make a committed effort to show my gratitude.
Thank you one and all!
Wid
I also was reflective of the loss of two 15 year members due to personal reasons. I'm hoping they realize how grateful I am for their tremendous contribution and loyalty over a long period of time.
They will be missed!
Boards come in many shapes and forms and vary greatly in their roles as the culture of each organization is different. In our case we have great leadership and involvement from everybody. We are "lean" but very effective in my opinion.
It is my hope that over the years I have made sure they know how appreciative I am for their unconditional show of strength. I will continue to make a committed effort to show my gratitude.
Thank you one and all!
Wid
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
A Look at “The State of America’s Health”
I am constantly reading articles dealing with physical fitness, proper nutrition and living a healthy lifestyle. These topics have been the subject of many of my blogs and are key to Grand Canyon State Games’ educational program promoting a more active, healthier and happier lifestyle.
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report took a sobering look at “The State of America’s Health.” Here are a few excerpts:
“Americans today are fatter and less active than ever before. Two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese, and fewer than a third exercise at least three times a week. Twenty-four million people have diabetes, the vast majority of it related to lifestyle. An additional 57 million are pre-diabetic. One in five adults still smokes in spite of the decades of public anti-tobacco campaigns that point out smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths.
“Our expanding girth is America’s most visible health problem. Not only are most adults too heavy, but obesity rates for children have more than doubled in the past 30 years. Excess weight is a significant factor in four of the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Obesity has fueled a 45% rise in diabetes over the past 20 years. Someone born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of developing the disease.
“In fact, an estimated 900,000 people die from avoidable causes every year because they failed to maintain a healthy weight, eat nutritiously, exercise or smoked or drank excessively. That’s roughly 40% of all deaths in the United States.”
I’ll continue this discussion next week because it is important we recognize the consequences of how we live our lives.
~Wid
Earlier this year, U.S. News & World Report took a sobering look at “The State of America’s Health.” Here are a few excerpts:
“Americans today are fatter and less active than ever before. Two-thirds of adults are either overweight or obese, and fewer than a third exercise at least three times a week. Twenty-four million people have diabetes, the vast majority of it related to lifestyle. An additional 57 million are pre-diabetic. One in five adults still smokes in spite of the decades of public anti-tobacco campaigns that point out smoking is the leading cause of preventable deaths.
“Our expanding girth is America’s most visible health problem. Not only are most adults too heavy, but obesity rates for children have more than doubled in the past 30 years. Excess weight is a significant factor in four of the six leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. Obesity has fueled a 45% rise in diabetes over the past 20 years. Someone born in 2000 has a one-in-three chance of developing the disease.
“In fact, an estimated 900,000 people die from avoidable causes every year because they failed to maintain a healthy weight, eat nutritiously, exercise or smoked or drank excessively. That’s roughly 40% of all deaths in the United States.”
I’ll continue this discussion next week because it is important we recognize the consequences of how we live our lives.
~Wid
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