Get the Year Started Off Right With National Healthy Weight Awareness Month
Maintaining a healthy weight is hard all year round, but can be especially hard during the winter holiday season. According to the CDC, maintaining healthy weight happens when a person keeps his or her weight at the right amount based upon a person’s height, the amount of food/drink he or she eats, and his or her activity level.
Maintaining a healthy weight can be hard, but people with disabilities tend to have more difficulty maintaining a healthy weight than people without disabilities. This occurs for many reasons, including the use of various prescription drugs that cause weight gain, less opportunity or education about exercising, fewer trainers who know how to work with people with disabilities, and less education about how or why it is important to eat healthily.
Fortunately for all of us who need to be better at watching our weight, January is National Healthy Weight Awareness Month! This month encourages people of all ages, weights, dress/pant sizes, and ability levels to improve their health and well-being by being more active and eating healthier. Here are some things that you and your family can do to improve your health and start your year right:
- Check out the CDC’s Physical Activity Guidelines to learn more about how people with disabilities can include physical activity in their everyday lives.
- Give Mall Walking a try
- Visit the NCHPAD website to find an accessible gym that is right for you and your family
- Eat healthy well-balanced meals. The CDC has some great tips on maintaining a healthy weight through healthy eating, which includes creating a healthy eating plan.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables – check out the CDC’s video about finding a balance in your diet.
- Join NCHPAD’s 14-week individualized fitness and exercise program for people with disabilities to improve your fitness level and eating habits
Reaching your healthy weight goals takes time. While you may not get to your ideal weight overnight, we hope these links will provide you inspiration and opportunities to get active and have a happy and healthier 2016!
