A few weeks ago, I traveled to New Orleans to co-present two workshops at the Athletic Business Conference (ABC). I assumed this conference would be the same package, different box. In reality, there were subtle differences in attendees. Their attire was much more casual, and well, athletic. It wasn’t just a cultural thing, it was important for them to be ready to actually test drive the latest in fitness equipment on the exhibition hall floor.
Really though, I’m beating around the bush in the previous paragraph. The truth is hard to swallow sometimes and it’s even harder to be honest when the truth isn’t always good news. So, I’ll just come out and say it. The crowd at ABC was supposed to look like you and me. They were supposed to look like all the “recreation professionals” that I have seen at every other conference I have attended. But they didn’t. About 90% were fit and trim. An athletically built person was the norm, not the exception.
You could argue that a majority of the ABC attendees were “fitness professionals” and therefore in a different field. You might say, “Jarrod, they need to be slim and buff in order to sell their products and programs.” True. However, I might reply by saying, “We are our communities’ health and wellness leaders, and as such we are setting a poor example for our residents.”
Recently we’ve worked closely with our public health departments to eliminate smoking in public places. Many of you have banned smoking on all of your properties. Some of you have individually made the decision to quit tobacco and also helped other employees make that same good choice(s) too. It’s time we work together to help each be less sedentary, because sitting has become the next health hazard for our society.
Think about it. If you have made it this far in this blog, you’ve been probably sitting for 5 minutes. I’ve been sitting and typing for longer than that. How many times have you gotten lost in email or a project on your computer and suddenly it’s 3 hours later. I’m guilty of this every day.
The statistics that stand (no pun intended) against our inactive lifestyles are sobering.
According to the World Health Organization:
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Over half of the U.S. does not meet the minimum requirement of moderate exercise needed to remain healthy.
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Over 1/5 of able-bodied citizens did not complete minimal exercise such as walking even 20 minutes last week.
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Nearly 10% of deaths can be attributed to diseases caused by inactivity.
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“One major study by researchers at the Maryland-based National Cancer Institute followed more than half a million Americans ages 50 to 70 for eight years….. the key conclusions: watching more TV made you more likely to die. Those who watched the most TV (7-hour average) were 60% more likely to die during the 8 year study!” For those of us who watch less TV, I’m sure we are guilty of just as much “screen-time!
These were just a few of hundreds of fingers pointing at our sedentary lifestyles as one of our biggest health pandemics.
I’m curious to know what you do to become more active. Do you bike to your job? Do you use a standing desk? Do you get up and walk around your facility?
Better yet, how can we flip the script in our profession? What can we do to hold each other accountable? How can we get healthy together? How can we make our communities healthier together?
Help me start this conversation, because the last thing I want to see is one of your heart’s stop.
