Office of Public Relations — Newsroom
News Release
America on the Move Day of Action: Taking the Pledge to Move More, Eat Less
DENVER (Sept. 20, 2005) — Coloradans who have taken the pledge to move more and eat less will gather on the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center campus for America on the Move Day of Action. The event is set aside each year to encourage Americans to add more steps to their day and reduce their caloric intake slightly, two easy steps that can enhance the well-being of most people - especially the overweight.
Colorado's America on the Move Day of Action will occur 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 28, on the quadrangle next to the CU School of Nursing and behind the bookstore on the campus at Ninth and Colorado. The event is one of many that will take place across the United States, including a national celebration in New York City, where television talk show host and America on the Move spokesman Regis Philbin will preside as master-of-ceremonies.
Statistics indicate that the eating and physical activity patterns of most Americans have made the United States the most overweight nation in the world. More than 120 million Americans are overweight, and 60 percent of the adult population does not get the recommended 30 minutes of exercise a day. America on the Move Day of Action is a day for all Americans to pledge to add 2,000 more steps to their day and reduce their food intake by 100 calories.
Apart from helping people lose weight and get fit in a reasonable time frame, walking more and eating less can become a life-long strategy to keep from gaining or re-gaining pounds.
"Most people would be surprised to know what a big impact these two little changes can have on their lives," said James Hill, PhD, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center. "Walking sounds like a simple activity, but so few of us really get the opportunity to get out and walk for fun, relaxation and fitness. We spend a lot of time in our offices, in our cars and otherwise living very busy lives. The average person takes about 5,000 steps a day. By adding as few as 2,000 more steps to their day - it only takes 20 minutes - people can help ward off weight gain and improve their overall fitness."
However, cautioned Hill, "It's not just about reducing, but keeping it off. These slight modifications can go a long way to helping people meet their goals."
Hill, a professor of pediatrics and medicine at the CU School of Medicine, is co-founder of the National Weight Control Registry and America on the Move, and co-author of The Step Diet Book. In New York City, he will join Philbin and business tycoon Donald Trump for a walk along a red-carpeted route that will run from Central Park to Trump Tower.
So far, nearly 300 Coloradans have taken the pledge this year, which puts the state in second place after California. Texas, New York and Florida rank third, fourth and fifth respectively.
Those who have been invited to participate in Colorado's event include students from several Denver schools and retirees who live near the UCDHSC Ninth Avenue campus. Local dignitaries expected to attend the Day of Action include Colorado First Lady Frances Owens, CU President Hank Brown, Broomfield Mayor Karen Stewart, Lakewood Mayor Steve Burkholder, and UCDHSC Vice Chancellor Jay Gershen, DDS, PhD.
During the Colorado Day of Action, sponsors and exhibitors such as Pepsico, Kaiser Permanente, YMCA, Boot Camp of the Rockies, 24 Hour Fitness, Tyson Foods Inc.'s Operation Frontline, the Arthritis Foundation, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and the UCDHSC Center for Human Nutrition will set up booths where participants will be able to get information about food, beverages and other products. Wendy's will provide free lunches to participants.
Anyone can take the pledge by visiting www.americaonthemove.org and participate in the annual Day of Action by walking an extra 2,000 steps alongside coworkers, friends or on their own.
The University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center is one of three campuses in the University of Colorado system. Located in Denver and Aurora, Colo., the center includes schools of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and dentistry, a graduate school and a teaching hospital. For more information, visit the Web site at www.uchsc.edu.