by Annierra Matthews
The University of West Georgia is proud to be partnered with Tanner Health System, a health system that provides a variety of medical facilities throughout west Georgia as well as a wide range of projects to get the west Georgia community on a healthy track. The College of Social Sciences and the College of Education took on a few health projects that Tanner Health System needed help with researching and promoting, including the “Green Belt” and “Maintain, Don’t Gain,” which are projects under the initiative “Get Healthy, Live Well.”
For “Get Healthy, Live Well,” speakers come to UWG to talk to students and faculty about healthy eating habits and making healthier choices. One of the speakers was CEO of WellSteps, Dr. Steven Aldana.
On Wednesday, October 16, 2013, in the Kathy Cashen Hall, he gave an interesting presentation titled, “10-20 Years of Extra Life—The Choice is Yours,” where Dr. Steven Aldana explained a way to achieve a lengthier life. By displaying a variety of maps portraying the U.S. over the years, Dr. Aldana demonstrated the rate at which the country, specifically Georgia, has had an increased population of obese adults and type 2 diabetics, which has decreased the life expectancy to age 76. There were four main points that Dr. Aldana stated that have contributed to the spike in unhealthy adults.
“There is more fast food, there are larger serving sizes, there is more salt, sugar, and fat, and you are less active than you were in the past,” he explains.
During the presentation, Dr. Steven Aldana took a short poll where he asked the audience what food they craved. A slab of ribs, bacon, chili cheese fries and a Five Guys hamburger were just a few of the items mentioned. He even went as far to show photos of the Cheesecake Factory and a Cinnabon restaurant in Huarache, Pakistan. Even though these foods are delicious, Dr. Aldana said that they are combined with salt, sugar and fat. He described it as a “trifecta of flavors” since it tastes wonderful and causes cravings.
In order for anyone to add 10 to 20 years to their life, we can change our behavior and make better decisions when it comes to our diet and physical activity.
Dr. Aldana says, “Our culture causes us to change our behavior. If we change our behavior, we can change our health risks. If we change our health risks, we prevent the chronic diseases that most of us have.”
Overall, Dr. Aldana made it clear we can change our lifestyle and live a long, full life by making the best healthy decisions that we can.
