We have started our EIM (Exercise Is Medicine) and still have a few spots if you want to join Dr. Kim Smith and me. About half of the program is learning a healthy lifestyle designed for your body, the other part is learning how to move your body to benefit you, learning moves that work for your body, and continue this long after our sessions are done. So what are the contributors to overall health status? (This research is from EIM thru the American College of Sportsmedicine) — 20 percent is genetics, the effects of family genetics on your health. Example: If high blood pressure runs in most of your family, the chance will be high you will experience high blood pressure at one point. Twenty percent is environment — do you live in an area with a lot pollution? Have you been exposed to a lot of pesticides? Ten percent is access to medical care. Unfortunately in this country, there are still too many people without proper health insurance. If you do not have proper health care, please check with our local Community Care Clinic. They will be able to help you in many ways, health related and dental, which are all so important to overall health.

Guess what the other 50 percent is? Health behaviors! Can you believe it? You have 50 percent of your overall health status in your own hands. We all have heard the phrase: “You are what you eat.” I will get into that next week. This week, I am going to tell you the benefits of moving. When you regularly move each day (goal is 150-300 minutes a week of moderate intensity exercise — build up slowly), this is what it will do for you:

• It reduces the risk of developing a new chronic health condition and progression of existing ones. (Hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis)
• It reduces the risk of seven types of cancers and lowers cancer mortality.
• Reduces the risk of dementia
• Reduces the risk of depression and anxiety, and lessons symptoms.
• Reduces risk of fall and fall-related injuries in older adults.
• Prevents weight gain and improves weight maintenance.
• Improves sleep quality.
• Improves quality of life and physical function.

These are just part of many benefits of moving. In a global study done in 2004, deaths were attributed to 19 leading risk factors, by country income level.

• 1. High blood pressure

• 2. Tobacco use

• 3. High blood sugar

• 4. Physical inactivity

• 5. Overweight and obesity

• 6. High cholesterol

• 7. Unsafe sex

• 8. Alcohol use

• 9. Childhood underweight

• 10. Indoor smoke from solid fuels

• 11. Unsafe water, sanitation, hygiene

• 12. Low fruit and vegetable intake

• 13. Suboptimal breastfeeding

• 14. Urban outdoor pollution

• 15. Occupational risks

• 16. Vitamin A deficiency

• 17. Zinc deficiency

• 18. Unsafe health care injections

• 19. Iron deficiency

Now, again this is worldwide but do you see where physical inactivity is? Fourth. Obesity is below physical inactivity. You are doing more for your health being obese and being active, than being skinny and inactive! So whatever you do, keep/start moving. Baby steps at first if needed, water exercise if better on your body or seated in a chair. But you gotta move.

Ester H. Marsh is associate executive director and director of healthy living at the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA.