American Chiropractic Association Urges Americans to Take an Extra 2,000 Steps Per Day

America on the Move' Program Fits Chiropractic Model of Wellness ARLINGTON, Va. -- Revitalizing your health could be just steps away, according to the American Chiropractic Association (ACA). While seeking out the latest, trendiest exercise craze can be an intimidating endeavor, a good, old-fashioned walk may be all you need to help you feel great and get into shape. In support of a program called "America on the Move" -- a national initiative dedicated to helping individuals and communities make positive changes to improve their health and quality of life -- the ACA is urging Americans everywhere to simply take 2,000 more steps and consume 100 fewer calories each day than they normally would. And it's even easier to do than you might think. Dr. George McClelland, ACA Chairman and member of ACA's Wellness Committee, explains that, "Adding a short walk to your lunchtime schedule, coupled with taking the stairs at work rather than the elevator, could add up to 2,000 additional steps for many of us. And cutting just one can of soda from your day and replacing it with water can eliminate more than 100 calories." The easiest way to keep track of your extra 2,000 steps is to get your hands on a pedometer -- a small device that can count the number of steps you take. It just might be the best 10 dollars you ever spend. A lack of physical activity and poor eating habits have earned the United States the dubious distinction of being the most overweight nation in the world. The ACA aims to reverse that trend by encouraging people to take control of their own health and prevent disease before it sets in. In fact, ACA's official vision statement indicates that the ACA "seeks a transformation in health care from a focus on disease to a focus on wellness." According to Dr. McClelland, "Many health care providers are now beginning to talk with their patients about healthy lifestyles -- an approach doctors of chiropractic have taken for many years. It's simply not good enough to wait until someone gets sick to start thinking about making them well. As we've seen, that model of health care is just not working." The ACA and America on the Move hope to inspire Americans to engage in fun, simple ways to become more active and eat more healthfully. Putting their words into action, the staff at ACA not only participated in and promoted Prevention magazine's recent "National Walk to Work Day," but also formed a walking club through which staff members will take a lunchtime walk together on at least one selected day each month. As part of its mission to promote a more wellness-centered society, ACA regularly promotes and participates in national observances and programs that help people live healthier lives. To this end, promotes National Public Health Week (www.nphw.org) and participates on the steering committee of the U.S. Bone & Joint Decade (www.usbjd.org), among other initiatives. In addition, the ACA recently partnered with the Healthy People 2010 Consortium. Healthy People 2010 is a set of national health objectives designed to identify the most significant preventable threats to health and to establish national goals and objectives to reduce these threats. Through this partnership, ACA joins over 600 national membership organizations and state agencies in promoting public health. For more information, please visit www.healthypeople.gov. To learn more about how chiropractic care can help you achieve a healthier lifestyle, visit the American Chiropractic Association's Web site at:

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