Resources for Healthy Eating and Exercise

Enjoy the benefits of a healthy weight

The National Institutes of Health encourage you to maintain a healthy weight so you can enjoy the benefits of  feeling good about yourself, having more energy to enjoy life, and a lowered risk for developing serious health problems.  It is important to assess your body fat, learn about the healthy foods you should eat, and find fun ways to increase your activity level:

• Calculate your Body Mass Index (BMI )

          Assess your weight & health with these key measures:

          * BMI
          * Waist circumference
          * Risk factors for Diseases and Conditions Associated with Obesity

• Be Active Your Way:  The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans describe the major research findings about the health benefits of physical activity:

         * Regular physical activity reduces the risk of many adverse health outcomes.
         * Some physical activity is better than none.
         * Benefits occur as the amount of physical activity increases through higher intensity, greater frequency, 

            and/or longer duration.
         * Most health benefits occur with at least 2 1/2 hours/week of moderate-intensity physical activity

        * Episodes of activity that are at least 10 minutes long count toward meeting the guidelines.
         * Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are beneficial.
         * Health benefits of physical activity occur for children through older adults in every studied racial and 

            ethnic group.
        *  Health benefits of physical activity are attainable for people with disabilities.
         * The benefits of physical activity outweigh the risks of injury and heart attack.

• Track Your Food and Exercise with MyPyramid Tracker, an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool that provides information on your diet quality and physical activity status.  You can also find links to:

         * Nutrient information

         * Physical Activity Information

         * Calorie/Energy balance

It's important to make lifestyle changes with a focus on reducing calories from food and beverages, a healthy eating plan, and portion control. You will find information on how to eat right with menus, recipes, and food exchange lists to help get you started.

Click here for more resources on food, nutrition and fitness from USA.gov.