Sign up for “MI Healthier Tomorrow” and create your own healthier tomorrow today
Jodi Davis
| 3 min read
Everyone realizes that there is an obesity epidemic in this country. Yet when I recently learned that Michigan is now considered the fifth-heaviest state in the nation, it shocked me. I don’t like that number at all.
I thought we were doing better, or at least staying at an even keel. I didn’t think that Michigan’s weight issues were worsening. But according to James Haveman, Director of Michigan Department of Community Health, the weight problems in our great state continue to worsen. The percentages of people who are carrying around an unhealthy amount of excess weight on their bodies are definitely increasing — and so are the obesity-related medical costs.
The numbers don’t lie. Back in the mid ’90s, approximately 18 percent of adults living in Michigan were obese. By 2010, only 15 years later, the percentage increased to 32 percent! Today there are 5 million adults and 800,000 children living in Michigan who have a weight issue. If this trend continues at the current rate of increase, about half — yes, you read that correctly, 50 percent — of all Michigan residents will be obese by 2030. That’s only 17 years away.
Knowing that obesity can lead to health complications including heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and arthritis leaves me to wonder: What kind of future does this mean for Michigan? Ever ask yourself this as well?
A healthy future for Michigan is what we all wish for — certainly NOT an unhealthy one.
I want to stop wondering and worrying about Michigan’s future. Isn’t it time that we all do something in order to help get the numbers moving in the right direction for this great state of ours?
Great, I’m glad that you agree! Then let’s do it!
In order to make this goal more fun and simple, I suggest you take an opportunity to sign up for a free start-up kit! This will allow you to be part of Michigan’s new, multi-pronged “MI Healthier Tomorrow” campaign and pledge to lose 10 percent of your body weight. I know you can do it!
A 10 percent weight loss for those who are overweight can do many wonderful things for your health. How would you like to:
- Improve your blood pressure
- Lower your cholesterol levels
- Improve your heart health
- Decrease your risk of Type 2 diabetes
- Strengthen your immune system
- Decrease back and joint pain
- Improve your breathing and sleep
- Increase your energy level and stamina
- Improve your mood
- And raise your self-confidence level?
It can happen with the pledge that you make today, not only contributing to a healthier tomorrow for Michigan, but a healthier tomorrow for YOU! And I like that part best of all.
Photo via MI Healthier Tomorrow Facebook page
