Get Moving for Health

Published May 7, 2010
By Mr. Brian Kirby USAFE Health Promotion
86th Aerospace Medicine Squadron

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England -- USAFE Health Promotion teams up with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to Get Active and Fit in May.

Various Air Force organizations within Europe will join the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to challenge Americans to get moving for health and to get active and fit during National Physical Fitness and Sports Month in May.

· 7 May: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. 8-hour Squadron Run
· 14 May: Hoop It up Basketball Tournament, 11:30 a.m. ($5.00 entry fee)
· 15 May: 5/10K Fun Walk/Run, 10:00 a.m.
· 21 May: Dodgeball Tournament, 11:30 a.m.
· 28 May: Fitness Survivor Challenge, 11:30 a.m.

"In order to produce excellent products and services, our Air Force personnel must strive to make physical, mental and emotional fitness a priority," said Maj. Cathy Snowball, 48th Aerospace Medicine Squadron Health and Wellness Center flight commander. "The Fitness Center, Health and Wellness Center, Chapel, Airman and Family Readiness Center and Mental Health Clinic offer a multitude of free, fun services right at their fingertips to help them meet this goal. Stop by or call today and see what each of these departments has to offer."

It is recommended that Americans of all ages incorporate more movement in their daily lives.

"Adults need at least 30 minutes of activity five days each week," said Melissa Johnson, executive director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, which started National Physical Activity and Sports Month in 1983. "This can be done by choosing to bike or walk instead of driving, taking stairs instead of elevators, or pushing a lawnmower instead of riding one. Children need at least 60 minutes of active play daily. They need to run, climb, jump and just get up and move around away from their desks, the television and computer games."

Twenty minutes of vigorous physical activity three times a week, such as sports, aerobics, working out in the gym, and running have added health benefits. "But, it's important to understand that you don't need to sweat in a gym or run a marathon to reap the health benefits of daily physical activity," Johnson said. "Even 30 minutes a day, broken up into shorter increments of ten or fifteen minutes, can greatly improve your health."

For more information about National Physical Fitness and Sports Month events, contact the Lakenheath Health and Wellness Center. For information about the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, visit www.fitness.gov. To start a physical activity and fitness program, visit www.presidentschallenge.org and sign up to take the President's Challenge.