FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 14, 2015
Contact: Bill Crawford, Chairman, the National Fitness Hall of Fame (602) 576-6797
Surgeon General Issues Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities
The National Fitness Hall of Fame supports promotion of physical activity and benefits.
Chicago, IL-- Many doctors and other health professionals cite moderate physical activity, including walking, as a “magic pill” for excellent health. It can maintain the body’s systems in good condition and reduce the risk of chronic illness. With a sharp rise in sedentary lifestyles and associated diseases, a new Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities was released by the U.S. Surgeon General.
This call to action addresses major public health challenges such as heart disease and diabetes. Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities articulates the health benefits of walking while addressing the fact that many communities unacceptably lack safe and convenient places for individuals to walk or wheelchair roll.
“If our nation’s population was fit, we would not have a national health care crisis. Results start when you do, let’s everybody start walking and rolling.” Bill Crawford, Chairman, the National Fitness Hall of Fame
“Everyone deserves to have a safe place to walk or wheelchair roll. But in too many of our communities, that is not the reality,” said Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the 19th U.S. Surgeon General. “We know that an active lifestyle is critical to achieving good overall health. And walking is a simple, effective and affordable way to build physical activity into our lives. That is why we need to step it up as a country ensuring that everyone can choose to walk in their own communities.”
The Surgeon General’s report discusses the health benefits of walking and calls on individuals to make walking a priority in their lives. Fewer than half of all U.S. adults get enough physical activity to reduce their risk of chronic disease, and only a quarter of high school students get the recommended amount. Physical inactivity contributes to heart and lung disease, diabetes and cancer, which account for 86% of our nation’s health care costs. Building walking into daily life can reduce disease and save money.
“We know that an average of 22 minutes a day of physical activity – such as brisk walking – can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes,” added Dr. Murthy. “The key is to get started because even a small first effort can make a big difference in improving the personal health of an individual and the public health of the nation.”
Good health is not the only benefit of walking. In fact, there is a broad range of individual and community benefits that accrue when people walk more often and when communities are designed to make walking safe, enjoyable, and convenient.
The National Fitness Hall of Fame supports the call to action and will join a number of other health organizations in promoting walking and other physical activity. “Let’s help motivate as many people to get moving as possible,” said Bill Crawford, Chairman of the National Fitness Hall of Fame. Our iconic inductees will walk side by side with the Surgeon General to help get our nation fit.”
At a recent board meeting in Chicago, the National Fitness Hall of Fame pledged its support for the Surgeon General’s walking program. The National Fitness Hall of Fame will be working closely with the American College of Sports Medicine to promote the program. The inductees are happy to serve in the capacity to promote the program and inspire participation.
To read the Surgeon General’s Call to Action and learn how to promote walking and walkable communities, please visit www.surgeongeneral.gov
# # #
Follow the Surgeon General on Twitter @Surgeon_General, on Facebook, and on Instagram
Join the conversation: #StepItUp
