Physical Activity
Physical Activity is one of the ways Live HealthSmart Alabama supports healthy choices. As one of our program’s four keys, we work to make physical activity more accessible through programs, access, coaching, and counseling.
Walking Clubs
Sedentary people generally walk about 2,000-3,000 steps each day, which equates to about one mile. Increasing your steps to 6,000 per day can significantly reduce risk of death. To help motivate people on their walking journey, we have incorporated walking clubs into our diabetes prevention program.
Forming a team is easy, simply grab a group of friends or co-workers and start walking.
Health Promoting UniversityStairway to Wellness Initiative
Research has shown the built environment has a direct impact on people’s behavior. Through the Stairway to Wellness initiative, we’re trying to increase physical activity at the University of Alabama at Birmingham by creating spaces that inspire movement. As a Health Promoting University, we help facilitate improvements and cultivate a culture of health and well-being. To do this, our physical activity committee and its leaders—Michele Gould, MPH and Holly Wyatt, M.D.—have been working to identify locations, select artists, and establish a process for installing murals in 11 stairways across campus.
Interested in Stairway to Wellness, but not at UAB? Increase your physical activity by taking the stairs in everyday places such as work, home, and the mall. Download our Stair Dare flyer to hang near elevators and encourage others to do the same.
Exercise is Medicine
When you visit a doctor about a medical concern, you might receive a prescription for medication. However, Dr. Irfan Asif—Associate Dean for Primary Care and Rural Health, Professor, and Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine— also recommends exercise as medicine. Working in conjunction with Parks Rx, physical activity and fresh air can help you on the path to better health. Studies have shown that people who have access to parks and green spaces get almost 50% more exercise. In Birmingham alone, there are more than 100 parks, with new trails being built all the time. Use the interactive Parks Rx website, to find local parks, walking trails, and paths to exercise.
Fact Sheet: Creating Healthier Environments
Adapting your environment to reinforce an active, healthy lifestyle doesn’t have to be hard. Start with one of the ideas in this flyer.
Fact Sheet: Energy Balance
Managing a healthy weight is a balance between what we eat and drink, as well as how much exercise we get. Think of this as “energy balance.”
