January 28, 2013
Dr. William A. Gillespie
In keeping with EmblemHealth’s longstanding commitment to the health and well-being of New York’s working men and women, I have written Health and Wellness Tips, an article series dedicated to helping you stay healthy, get well and live better. We hope you’ll find the health information in these articles useful to you and your welfare fund members. Look for Health and Wellness Tips articles in future editions of LaborPress.
Weight Management Starts With Know-How
The widespread incidence of excess weight, obesity and physical inactivity in the US poses a critical problem: These conditions are among the most important risk factors for cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and arthritis. It's a threat that has schools, policymakers and the health community searching for solutions.
Even if we know that a well-balanced diet can lower the risk for unhealthy weight, we may not know how to balance a diet. Even if our intentions are good, we may simply lack the facts and tools. Eating well requires training, know-how and practice, until eventually it clicks.
Here are some things to keep in mind as you build healthy eating skills:
- Going on a diet means you'll eventually go off it. Instead of thinking of weight management as temporary experimentation, look at it as a change of pace or a philosophical shift. Be mindful of what, how much and how often you eat, and get to know your internal cues for hunger and fullness.
- What we eat is as important as what we don't. We're often so focused on what we shouldn't eat (e.g., cake, cookies, chips) that we lose sight of what we should eat (e.g., fruit, vegetables, whole grains).
- Fitness can be fun. But many people have trouble sticking to a fitness regimen. The key? Find something you like to do and set reasonable goals. Once in your routine, you'll feel better in mind, body and spirit and your energy levels will soar.
Meeting your healthy-weight goals starts with knowledge and resources. A consultation with your primary care physician or a registered dietitian can be a helpful first step.
_____________________________________________________________________________
EmblemHealth, through its companies GHI and HIP, has over 75 years of experience covering New Yorkers and services some 2.8 million people ranging from employees in small and large groups to individuals, retirees and unionized workers.
For more information about how EmblemHealth delivers viable health care solutions to the multiemployer market, please call Jerry Gallo, Vice President of Sales, at 1-646-447-5031. You can also visit us at www.emblemhealth.com/labor.
