Think globally – act locally. It’s an often used axiom to describe the call for action in the face of overwhelming need. On the global level our country is facing a dramatic lifestyle health crisis.
60 million adults – about 30 percent of the U.S. adult population – and 9 million children are obese or overweight; 16 percent of our children have Type II diabetes. According to the New England Journal of Medicine, the current generation of American children could be the first to lead shorter lives than their parents.
Nationally the YMCA has been identified as an organization uniquely positioned to help deal with this crisis. Locally YMCAs are challenged to increase the awareness and availability of information and programs that can change this crisis of how we live.
To help address these needs the Birmingham YMCA has been working on partnerships with the weight management programs at UAB and Children's Hospital for several months. The early fruits of this partnership are programs that add the YMCAs expertise in physical activity to these proven weight loss and weight management efforts.
This weblog will feature Jamy Ard, M.D., Assistant Professor Nutrition Sciences and Associate Scientist Clinical Nutrition Research Center. Dr. Ard is one of the nation's leading young scientists in the areas behavioral therapies focused on cardiac risk reduciton. He works closely with the Eat Right Program and the UAB center for Weight Management.
Guests authors may also include faculty from the Eat Right program and even participants who have seen the results of a healthy lifestyle of good nutrition and physical activity.
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