Colleges are adding wellness programs to student recreational facilities. Physical education is finding its way back into schools. Businesses are subsidizing fitness memberships and starting corporate health programs. Insurance companies, perhaps the last to change, are beginning to see the financial benefits of offering incentives for good health. Healthy Greenville, the Greater Greenville Shrinkdown, Get Fit Greenville are attracting more people each year.

Changing our culture will not be easy. It took us 60-plus years to drop the smoking rate from 42 percent to 21 percent. We don't have that long for wellness reform, maybe 10 years at best. If it takes much longer than that, we face the likely collapse of the health-care system. Many businesses will no longer be able to afford the staggering cost of employee health. Top down governmental change doesn't appear likely. It will be up to individuals, companies, community organizations, physicians and hospitals to bring about the changes that are so critically needed.

Personal wellbeing is an intensely individual matter. The barriers to exercise are well known: lack of time, intimidation, poor self image, no fun. The options, however, are plentiful, from walking, to hiking in the mountains, to cycling, to running, to aerobics classes, to yoga, to swimming, to countless others. Modern fitness apparel is lightweight, moisture wicking and stylish. Books, magazines and tapes on fitness are readily available. You can exercise to your choice of music, join classes and support groups or play with your kids. The best advice is to find a partner for mutual support and encouragement.
Click on circles for more details
Site Map