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Jan. 11, 2005
Contact: Susan Nielsen, WSU
Intercollegiate College of Nursing News Bureau,
509/324-7372, Health Tips for the New YearHealthy Resolutions: The word “resolution” usually brings two thoughts to mind: deprivation and results. Making a New Year’s resolution to get fit is the easy part—keeping the resolution is more difficult. The secret to keeping those healthy New Year resolutions is to maintain some perspective in expectations, and make small, realistic changes. Thinking success means food deprivation and expecting immediate results can lead to disappointment. Janet Purath, assistant professor at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, says most people resolving to exercise stay on track for only two months. Keep in mind it takes time and commitment to successfully keep resolutions and change behaviors. Purath suggests focusing on activity rather than weight loss. Promising to attend the gym each day may not be realistic. Instead, try promising to walk briskly for at least 10 minutes each day. Thirty minutes of moderate physical activity per day is enough to notice a difference in your health this year. Since flexibility is key, try breaking these 30 minutes down into three 10-minute segments of activity. Making a small change and firmly incorporating it into a daily routine can increase chances of success. For assistance in reaching Purath, jpurath@wsu.edu, contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing marketing and communications manager, at (509) 991-9151, susann@wsu.edu. Fit for School: Depending on age, gender and ethnicity, from 16 to 42 percent of the nation’s children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. It is difficult to promote healthy habits in children when they are constantly bombarded with unhealthy snack options at school and at home, fancy packaging, and television commercials. According to Ruth Bindler, associate professor at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing, one in every four children under five years of age has a television in his or her bedroom, with the incidence even higher in older children. Amid all these persuasive messages, it’s important for parents to impart on their children an extremely important message: that of a healthy lifestyle. In addition to a decreased rate of overweight, the American Medical Association has suggested a link between fit children and good performance in school. Children participating in physical activity and eating a nutritious diet are apt to focus better and longer, and achieve higher scores and school performance. It is never too soon to encourage healthy habits in your children, and the easiest way is to set a positive example. Eat healthy foods at home, provide nutritious snacks, and exercise with your children. Kids learn best through example, so show them what it is like to be fit and well. Exercising does not have to be tedious and should be fun. Ruth Bindler, associate professor at the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing suggests doing a workout video with children, going to an organized gym, riding bikes, skiing, hiking, walking to the store, and making a snow fort in the winter. Other options include persuading kids to play outside, walk the dog, roll down a hill, or play tag. For assistance in reaching Bindler, bindler@wsu.edu, contact Susan Nielsen, College of Nursing marketing and communications manager, at (509) 991-9151, susann@wsu.edu, or Teresa Koeppel, student intern, at (509) 324-7218, icncommunications@wsu.edu. Established in 1968, the WSU Intercollegiate College of Nursing is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. The college is the nation's oldest and most comprehensive nursing education consortium. Celebrating 36 years of world class nursing education, the college offers baccalaureate, graduate and professional development course work to nursing students enrolled through four consortium partners, EWU, Gonzaga, WSU and Whitworth College, and in five communities across the state. Each year the college educates more than 700 graduate and upper-division undergraduate students and prepares more entry-level nurses than any other state educational institution. For more information about the College of Nursing visit the Web site at nursing.wsu.edu. •0501• |