ACSM

NEWS RELEASE

March 31, 2005
For immediate release

Contact:
Christa Dickey
cdickey@acsm.org

FINALLY, GOOD NEWS ABOUT EXERCISE
Expert says ?Enough!? to news about obesity, inactivity to motivate others

LAS VEGAS ? A little good news about exercise can impact exercise motivation and adherence, said Michael R. Bracko, Ed.D., today at the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition in Las Vegas. In light of reports on the number of overweight, obese and inactive Americans, Bracko says the public and health and fitness professionals need good news about exercise now more than ever.

?Enough with the doom and gloom about our destiny to be an obese nation,? said Bracko. ?The volume of bad news alone, as well as the statistics on inactivity and poor nutrition, profoundly affects our psyche. For many sedentary people it means they will never even bother because they feel they can?t overcome what is posed as insurmountable.?

There are good things happening in exercise and physical activity promotion, says Bracko, and its due for attention. Good news is also needed to inspire health and fitness professionals, he says, since many programs are effective and many lives are being improved with enhanced health and wellness.

Some good news, according to Bracko, includes:

  • Cities are constructing more walking, running and bike paths with lighting for safety and night activity.
  • Participation in soccer and cycling has increased.
  • Participation in females playing ice hockey has more than doubled.
  • Skateboarding parks and other venues for recreational activity are appearing in many communities.
  • Suburbs and subdivisions are more often designed to promote physical activity.
  • Participation is increasing in marathons, ultra-marathons, triathlons, adventure racing and other ?outdoor pursuits.?

Bracko also pointed to some statistics and programs that lend credibility to the number of people who are likely active on a regular basis:

  • Triathlon clubs across the country involve thousands of members across the country. The largest club, in San Francisco, has approximately 35,000 members.
  • The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has shown the number of people joining health and fitness facilities has increased by more than 16 million members in the last 10 years.
  • PE4LIFE, a nonprofit organization promoting physical education in schools, awarded a record number of grants in 2004 for programs to modernize PE. These programs maximize more movement in traditional sports and provide ?fun? fitness opportunities.
  • Florida insurers and HMOs are now required to offer up to a 10 percent rebate for healthy lifestyles as measured by certain health indicators, including weight loss and smoking cessation.
  • Washington state policy now requires daily recess for elementary kids.
  • The U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) is currently funding 28 state programs to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity.

?There are lots of legitimate reasons people do not or cannot exercise. Lack of time, fear and embarrassment, not knowing how to exercise, lack of support, cultural and social barriers are just a few,? said Bracko. ?The good news is that it doesn?t have to be ?exercise,? all the time to get and stay healthy it can be the accumulation of ?physical activity.? Busy moms can walk around the soccer field while watching the kids play, or take a walk while waiting for a child to finish piano lessons. The good news is that there are plenty of alternatives for many of the situations that keep us away from activity.?

Bracko says people move through stages representing their readiness to change, and in doing so come to the realization the advantages of behavior change outweigh the disadvantages. To be successful, Bracko emphasized not being influenced by news exaggerated to profile the negative or discouraged by factors like a busy lifestyle.

?There are still many more people who are turning the corner and becoming more active,? said Bracko. ?Do the best you can do to keep up morale with your effort because the good news is every little bit counts.?

ACSM?s Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition is going on now at The Flamingo Las Vegas Resort. For more information on the event, or to speak with staff in the on-site press office, please call (702) 784-7332 (through Friday, April 1, 2005).

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 International, National and Regional members are dedicated to promoting and integrating scientific research, education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life.

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The American College of Sports Medicine gratefully acknowledges the following Health & Fitness Summit & Exposition supporters: Life Fitness and Life Fitness Academy (Presenting Sponsors), Gatorade and Gatorade Sports Science Institute, Lipton Tea, and Amino Vital (Platinum Sponsors), New Lifestyles, CDC, and Masterfoods (Gold Sponsors), BSDI, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, SPRI Products and EAS (Silver Sponsors).