Advocacy Project: Issue Overview

Introduction:

• Focus Area 22: Physical Activity
• Objective 22.2: Increase the proportion of adults who engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes per day 5 or more days per week or vigorous physical activity for at least 20 minutes per day 3 or more days per week. 
• Goal: Improve health, fitness, and quality of life through daily physical activity.
• Who is affected by the issue?
• Currently, a large number of American are not getting the required daily exercise they need and obesity is on the rise.  I feel that not abiding by this rule/guideline will affect our children and generations to come.  As adults, we must learn to lead by example.  By not setting a balanced, healthy lifestyle for ourselves our children will easily follow into our footsteps.  They are susceptible to losing control of their own adult lives and become unhealthy with other diseases and health problems.
• What are the consequences of the issue?
• Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for developing forms of heart and cardiovascular diseases.  These can also contribute to further risks of obesity, high blood pressure, cholesterol problems, and diabetes.  These are all forms or long term health problems.
• What is the economic impact of the issue?
• Physical inactivity causes a tremendous burden of disease and death.  Researchers commissioned by the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports coined the phrase 'Sedentary Death Syndrome.'o And no wonder. In 2000, the Journal of Applied Physiology reported that approximately "250,000 deaths per year in the United States are premature due to physical inactivity."
• What is the social impact of the issue?
• Researchers pointed to evidence in adults that an increase in physical activity can help reduce and address symptoms of depression and anxiety.  "It seems that there is a psychological and physiological connection that help explain the beneficial effects of exercise on mental health," Kantomaa.
• What are the barriers?
• Studies investigating factors that may explain the high prevalence of leisure-time physical inactivity in the general population have indicated perceived barriers play a powerful role in keeping people from being or becoming physically active.  Analysis identified lack of motivation followed by lack of time as the only statistically significant (p<.01) predictors of membership in the physically inactive or active groups. That is, physically inactive subjects reported inadequate motivation and time as the reasons for undermining their ability to make regular physical activity a priority. Findings suggest that interventions for promoting increased leisure-time physical activity among the population group studied focus on creating strategies designed to help overcome the perceived intrapersonal constraints of lack of motivation and time.
• What are the resources?
• Being physical active is a healthy habit with many benefits.  Regular physical activity can improve health and lower risks for diseases.  Talk with a doctor or exercise specialist about starting an exercise program.  Have them help assess where you're starting out and where you should begin.  Set a goal that is realistic and achievable for your own personal situation and experience.
• What is the history of the issue?
• Prior to 1940 clubs focused on social and business networking.  Most memberships were for men and were not fitness focused.  In the mid 1940s, first appearing on the west coast, body building and weights began to appear at $60 per year.  1950's clubs became more prevalent; introduction of health club chains appeared in some larger cities.  Young Mens Christian Association (YMCA) was a popular one, who was more family-oriented.  1960s there was a rapid growth of health club chains.  They introduced the racquet club, which was still mainly run by men, and focused on weight training.  1970s there was emerging research geared towards fitness.  There was the introduction of multipurpose fitness clubs- new resistance training, aerobics, treadmills...People were now exercising for health!  The modern era (1980-2000), fitness was now recognized as an industry and served over 12 million people.  Personal training and group fitness came about.  The industry moved to a corporate model from a mom/pop model of doing business.
• Allies & opponents:
• Fitness clubs and health advocates will always work to promote physical activity in everyones' lives.  Injured people, low-income households may be opposed to physical activity since it is not readily available to them- It may be hard to incorporate into their daily lives due to cost.
• Recommendation:
• To allow people of all ages into certain fitness clubs.  Clubs that are open for those who can provide there own health care, but cannot provide their own membership at other popular organizations.