On June 20, 2002 President George W. Bush called on all Americans to become more active as he unveiled his administration’s Healthier U.S. Initiative. The President stressed that “every little bit counts: and encouraged Americans to do what they can to be more active in their daily lives.

The President’s Challenge consists of four main elements:

• Be physically active every single day
  The evidence is in. Regular physical activity is important throughout life. Healthy lifestyles help to avoid deterioration traditionally associated with aging. Currently, almost one-third of the total U.S. health care expenditures are for treatment of chronic diseases in older Americans, many of which could be prevented through regular exercise.

  Did you know that, according to HHS Secretary Thompson, simply walking 30 minutes a day can have a measurable impact on a person’s health and in preventing diseases such as diabetes? Playing with your children for an hour each day in the backyard improves the entire family’s health. You don’t need to join a gym or be a great athlete to get active and make a difference in your health.

• Eat a nutritious diet
  As a nation, only one-fourth of American adults eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables each day. Unfortunately, poor adult eating habits are taught to children. Currently more than 60 percent of young people eat too much fat and less than 20 percent eat the recommended daily servings of fruits and vegetables.

  Did you know that the costs for treating obesity-related health problems in the U.S. are more than double the Gross Domestic Product for New Zealand? In 1995, obesity among U.S. adults cost $99.2 billion, of which $51.6 billion was for direct medical costs. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/pe_factsheets/pe_pa.htm

• Participate in preventive health screenings
  Preventive health care is not just for “well babies”. Periodic screenings help to detect health problems early, often when treatment is most effective. Examples of just some of the most effective screenings include: Regular blood pressure checks, Cholesterol and Colorectal Cancer Screenings, Mammograms, and Pap Smears. Check with your Doctor to determine how often you should participate in preventive health screenings.

  Did you know that Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of deaths from cancer? If it is caught early, it can be treated. If you are 50 years of age or older, you should be regularly tested to check for signs of colorectal cancer.

• Make healthy choices by avoiding risky behaviors such as using tobacco, illicit drugs or abusing alcohol
  What exactly is risky behavior? In terms of health risks, risky behaviors include those that are known to increase the chance of premature death by causing chronic diseases such as cancer; promoting addiction to harmful substances; or by encouraging behaviors that could result in serious injury.

  Did you know that having more than one drink per day for women or more than two drinks per day for men can raise the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and some forms of cancer? American adults who drink should use alcohol responsibly in all social and recreational settings. The effects of alcohol abuse can be devastating, from adverse health consequences, to domestic abuse, to drinking and driving. Source: http://www.healthierus.gov/behaviors.html

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