Walking or Biking to School

kids walking to school

I heard on NPR (day to day)yesterday that one man, a Minnesota teacher whose name I didn't catch - is asking for a 6 million dollar government program to start a movement to get kids to walk or
bike to school - this would be named 'Safe Routes to School'.

He says that it's time for everyone to take notice of the growing number of overweight kids - in a rope jumping group he was directing a lot of the kids lasted 30 seconds!

Although 3/4 of the kids coming to this teacher's school live within a mile from school only 1/4 walk and 20% of the trafficcongestion is caused by parents driving or waiting in their idlingcars to drop of their kids!

One parent said when interviewed "if I walk my kids to school it will take 20 minutes,.. driving only takes 3 minutes! Parents also worry about safety so the answer to that concern is to have one or two parents walk a group - 'walk-pooling parents!

In the eighties, when I was directing a not-for-profit Child Care Center,we had before and after school kindergartners that we had grown on site, four-year olds just do that...they become five-year olds so one year we started the school year with five kindergartner boys! The level of energy at 8 am was really high - if the weather was decent they would be on the playground with one staff person who would then drive them in the van at school time.

One morning the irony of the situation hit me - here was a staff person supervising these rambuctious kids on our playground - why wouldn't she walk them instead? It was a little over a mile...so she did and she got the benefit of the walk back too!

The problems of obesity have caught the attention of the whole nation, is it time for more grassroot initiatives to get our kids moving?

Should grandparents, who take their own state of wellness very seriously, voice their alarm for the upcoming generations' health? What do you think? Do you have any suggestions?

Fran

Metabolic Syndrome

What is metabolic syndrome?
Metabolic syndrome is a combination of medical conditions that increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. It is a very common and dangerous medical problem.

Metabolic syndrome is defined as the presence of 3 or more of the following health conditions:
excess weight around the waist (waist measurement of more than 40 inches for men and more than 35 inches for women)
triglycerides blood level of 150 mg/dL or more HDL cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL for men and below 50 mg/dL for women blood pressure of 130/85 mm HG or higher prediabetes (a fasting blood sugar between 100 and 125) or diabetes (a fasting blood sugar level over 125 mg/dL).

Other terms used for metabolic syndrome are insulin resistance syndrome and syndrome X.

How does it occur?
Overweight, poor diet, a lack of exercise, and other unhealthy lifestyle habits, such as smoking, appear to be factors that contribute to metabolic syndrome. It tends to run in families, so the genes you inherit also play a role.

What are the symptoms?
Usually there are no symptoms.

How is it diagnosed?
Your health care provider will examine you. You will have lab tests, including tests that measure the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and sugar in your blood.

How is it treated?
The most important part of treatment is lifestyle change: exercise to improve fitness and lose weight. Eating a healthier diet is part of this change. Your health care provider may prescribe medicines to treat other risk factors.

These medicines may include aspirin, blood pressure medicines, and cholesterol drugs. Aspirin may help prevent blood clots, strokes, and heart attacks. Blood pressure medicines can reduce your blood pressure. And cholesterol drugs can bring down high triglyceride levels and raise your HDL, or "good" cholesterol, levels.

How long will the effects last?
If metabolic syndrome is not treated, you are much more likely to have a heart attack, stroke, or diabetes. Increasing your physical activity and losing weight can help prevent development of diabetes. Blood glucose levels may return to normal.

These improvements in lifestyle, including a healthier diet plus medicines if needed, can also improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels, thus reducing your risk for heart disease. Making lifestyle changes and taking medicines as prescribed can add years to your life.

How can I take care of myself?
Get regular aerobic exercise (like walking at a good pace) according to your health care provider's recommendations. Being more active can help improve every one of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome.
Replace some of the animal fats, sugars, and white flour products in your diet with more olive and canola oil, nuts, avocados and fish (especially salmon, mackerel and tuna), fruits, vegetables and whole-grain breads and cereals.

Lose weight.

Take all medicines according to your provider's instructions.
If you are a smoker, quit.

Developed by McKesson Provider Technologies.
Published by McKesson Provider Technologies.
Last modified: 2006-05-23
Last reviewed: 2006-03-01
This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.
Adult Health Advisor 2006.4 Index
Adult Health Advisor 2006.4 Credits
Copyright 2006 McKesson Corporation and/or one of its subsidiaries. All Rights Reserved.