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You probably know by now that you have to stay active to stay fit. But if you are of an average weight and eat incredibly healthy, do you have to stay active?
It is entirely possible to be inactive and of a "normal" weight, and it's equally possible to be obese and active--but which is worse?
How much you move can be an incredibly important factor for your health. There are twice as many deaths due to lack of exercise than to obesity, a new study in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition shows.
Shape Magazine explains that "while physical inactivity does contribute to an increased BMI and obesity, it also ups your risk of deadly diseases such as heart disease and cancer, giving it a stronger influence on your lifespan than obesity alone."
Thankfully, you don't need to be moving all day in order to be considered "active." Just 20 minutes of brisk walking can be enough to reduce the risks up to 30 percent.
Sounds easy, right? Just 20 minutes--everyone probably walks 20 minutes every day just to get around, so that must be enough, right?
Not so fast.
You should be aiming for 10,000 steps a day, and you should also be aiming to walk for 20 consecutive minutes--that 5 minutes walk around CVS doesn't count.
Sadly, many Americans only average about 5,117 steps a day according to a study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise—and that includes everything from "leisurely walking to full-blown runs."
The great news? It seems that fitness is now on everyone's mind and that number is increasing every day. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 145 million adults now include walking as part of a physically active lifestyle.
What do you think about all this? Let us know what you think in the comments!
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