By: Norma Rivera
February 9, 2012. One e in three adults over 20 years old in America are overweight and one in three are obese increasing their risk for chronic diseases like heart disease, cancer, hypertension, diabetes, depression and osteoporosis. Obesity is a national health crisis that the nation is facing and it has to be addressed now. One hundred forty seven billion dollars are spent in direct and indirect cost. The obesity epidemic compounds the national debt crisis because as people get sicker, Medicaid and Medicare health expenditure increases likewise.
Some of the contributing factors identified are decrease physical activity, eating larger portion sizes, too much processed foods, stress, not enough whole grains, fruits and vegetables and inability for low-income families to access healthy foods.
United States First Lady Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move in February 2010 to help the obesity problem. Mountain Villa has joined some 50 other faith and community organizations in supporting this national initiative to fight the epidemic of obesity by launching El Paso OnThe Move. The “Let’s Move” initiative is consistent with the facility’s mission to care for the residents physically, mentally, socially, and spiritually, according to Donovan Rivera, Administrator.
Mountain Villa has set seven goals for the “Let’s Move” initiative.
- Logging miles and activity in the in the Instep for life website for employees
- Serving the residents with total plant based food once a week
- Sit and be fit exercise for the residents
- Engaging residents to do gardening at the back of facility
- Bringing residents outside for fresh air and sunlight
- Offering Full Plate Program to the employees
- Participating in the Let’s Move Day September 23, 2012 by employees
For more information: http://www.letsmove.gov/