To help, Davidson Parks & Rec starts a Walking Club

By LESLIE WILLIS

Many articles in health magazines feature celebrities and models who participate in yoga, jogging, or kickboxing. They make it appear as if people are doing nothing but exercising all day long.

Many newspaper articles have appeared, reporting on research about chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and cancer along with one of the major underlying chronic conditions, physical inactivity. But the reality of today’s society and our health is often very different.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than one-third of all adults do not meet the recommendations for aerobic physical activity, and 23 percent report no leisure-time physical activity at all in the preceding month.

The CDC recommends 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity (i.e. brisk walking) or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity (i.e. jogging or running) weekly.

For some people, meeting these guidelines might be difficult due to time constraints, lack of accountability, or limited measured walking routes. Meanwhile, others are meeting them, but would like to interact with new people and share their favorite walking path.

The Town of Davidson, Parks and Recreation Department would like to help connect both groups of individuals. Attend one of the start-up meetings for the Davidson Walking Club on Tuesday, Sept. 27 at either 9:30 am or 6:30 pm at the Parks and Recreation Office (416 Armour Street). If you are unable to attend one of the meetings, contact Leslie Willis at 704-940-9699.

Leslie Willis is the Town of Davidson’s Healthy Living and Wellness Supervisor.

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