Transcripts

Howard Eisenson M.D. :
And I've heard it said by some public health experts that the current generation of youth may be the first generation with a shorter life expectancy than their parents - because of the occurrence of diabetes, heart disease, and other medical problems linked to inactivity and excess weight.

Dr. Howard Eisenson, Program Director of the Duke University Diet & Fitness Center and co-author of the book The Duke Diet, says we need to understand that eating healthy and being active does not mean a diet of deprivation and strenuous work-outs in the gym.

Well that's a non-starter, if people are going to be miserable they're not going to do it - I wouldn't do it, you wouldn't do it. But I think if people can give this a try and experience that they can do it without feeling deprived, that they can actually have fun; they can, believe it or not, look forward to being physically active - then you have a chance of really engaging them.

So, what is a realistic expectation?

I think it's realistic for people to spend two or three hours a week exercising. And it's important to realize that exercise is basically any physical activity - it doesn't have to be formal or structured or gym exercise. It can be so-called activities of daily living: taking a brisk walk, washing the car, walking the dog. If we try to get more activity into our day routinely, it doesn't take a whole lot of time. And even small increments add up and the same is true of eating. Let's see where you can make a few modest changes with a big payoff.

You can link to the Duke Diet website from ours: somethingyoushouldknow.net - I'm Mike Carruthers and that's Something You Should Know.