HOT TOPIC - OFF THE PRESS: The United States Sports Academy Responds to America's Obesity Crisis
In response to the recent alarming news, which cites startling facts revealing that obesity is rapidly becoming America’s most crucial physical threat, the United States Sports Academy (USSA) has re-instituted its Fitness Management program.
The March 10 edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association cites statistics in which 400,000 Americans died in 2000 due to lack of physical exercise and poor diets. This represents about 16.6% of total deaths. Leading the total category, there were 435,000 deaths due to tobacco representing 18.1% of the deaths.
“These statistics are both astounding and frightening,” commented Dr. Thomas P. Rosandich, President and CEO of the United States Sports Academy. “When that many Americans die in a culture and an economy which clearly has the resources to prevent these kinds of deaths, something must be done, and we believe it begins with educating people in how to take care of themselves.”
The Fitness Management major leads to the Master of Sports Science Degree at USSA. It consists of 33 semester hours, including a nine-hour mentorship requiring 450 contact hours. Courses such as Exercise Physiology, Exercise Testing and Prescription, Sport Strength & Conditioning, and Issues in Nutrition and Health are included in the major courses.
“Our emphasis is educating people to adopt healthy lifestyles, including proper diet and adequate exercise,” observed Dr. Albert G. Applin, USSA’s Dean of Academic Affairs. “There are specific things each of us can do to live healthy and prevent obesity, but it begins with understanding what and how to do them. This is what our Fitness Management program focuses on.”
For more information on the Fitness Management program at the United States Sports Academy, visit the USSA website at http://www.ussa.edu.
Taking a hike is healthy for you. Bill Jones, a physical therapist at River City Physical Therapy in Columbus, Georgia advises those that want to get in shape to find a track or a trail and enjoy yourself, walking. Start out slow, utilize comfortable shoes and try walking with a friend. Doctors say walking is a good cardiovascular workout that is great for the heart, helps with loosing weight and strengthens the back.