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Toward A Better Life

HLY MADE

M

disease prevention.
ost Americans
Schools. Since our chil-
are accustomed
dren spend so much of their
to gaining a few
time in schools, all efforts
pounds during the holiday
must be made to be rule
season. Unfortunately,
makers and role models for
more and more of us are
students. Administrators
sitting down at the table
and teachers must actively
at an already unhealthy
embrace federal and state
weight.
Dr. Pa ul R.
initiatives for healthy lunch
Nationwide, nearly seven
Ehrm ann
programs and physical fit-
in 10 adults and four in 10
Spec ial
ness curricula, adopting
children are overweight.
Comme ntary
programs at the individual
One in three children
school level.
will develop diabetes in
Business Leaders. A
their lifetime; and for the
high percentage of Michigan residents
first time in history, children have the
get health insurance through their
potential to not outlive their parents.
The progressive uptick in our longevity employers, so any effort at wellness
also threatens to reverse itself this cen- requires cooperation with businesses.
Companies should be fostering healthy
tury if we fail to address the problem
habits because it is good for business.
of obesity.
Business should create positive and
Many factors contribute to this
negative incentives for good health,
problem. We eat meals out of buckets
should select employee health plans
because it is easy and affordable to
that focus on preventive and primary
access non-nutritious foods. We don't
exercise. We don't provide our children care, and should not have employees
with healthy habits subsidizing those
with nutrition or physical education
because we think it costs too much, but without.
Policymakers. Our government
we turn around and spend $115 billion
is charged with the task of developing
annually to treat the adverse health
sound public policy. All of our elected
results that stem from obesity.
officials should be sponsors of healthy
We are in the midst of an epidemic,
living and preventive health legislation.
a public health crisis that demands
They must each be held accountable by
year-round attention. The good news
the electorate to set aside other inter-
is that the situation is not hopeless
ests and focus on the best interests of
if we just make a few simple lifestyle
the citizens.
changes and make our health a strate-
I am not naive. This will not be
gic priority. Everyone is a stakeholder
simple. There are many economic,
in combating obesity. Here are a few
social and ethnic barriers to overcome,
suggestions to get us started:
but the need for reconditioning is
Parents. The greatest role models
compelling. We can always build on
are our own families. Parents should
set examples for children in choice and small successes, so let's create a family
habits. Parents can also demand action trajectory that begins with personal
through the schools and the ballot box. responsibility!
It is up to all of us to get involved
Kids. We can't always be with them,
in our own communities and demand
so we must instill in them from early
on the importance of better food choic- action of ourselves and of others who
have an influence on our health and
es at home and in school and encour-
welfare.
age them to seek out activities that
We can continue to build healthier
provide physical benefits. We must give
communities by together leveraging
them the information and confidence
our collective talent and commit that
to make those decisions themselves.
effort toward this common goal and
Less TV!
together we can all live a better life.
Health Professionals. The
adverse health results of obesity
Dr. Ehrmann is a family practice physician
impact both primary care and spe-
in Royal Oak for the past 25 years and
cialty medicine. Therefore, all of the
father of three children. He is founder of
nearly 26,000 physicians in the state
the Children's Health Initiative Program
and the tens of thousands of other
(CHIP), a healthy living community partner-
health professionals must be involved
ship
program for elementary school chil-
in educating their patients and school
dren
and their families (www.chipkids.com ).
systems about healthy lifestyles and

• Tabouli • Fattoush • Hummus
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.

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January 25 ® 2007

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