(BLACK PR WIRE/FAMU-TALLAHASSEE) – America is a country whose theme is the land of the free and home of the brave. But within the last decade, the slogan could easily be changed to the land of the heavy and home of the lazy. The country is number one in obesity around the world. America is a country that is known for wanting a lot but not wanting to work hard for it. And it’s starting to show in our health. Obesity-related diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and heart disease are higher than ever.

“Exercise is a big part of overall wellness,” said Michael Solomon, a North Carolina graduate student with a bachelor’s degree in dietetics. “Physical activity enriches the body as well as the mind; with that, nutrition becomes a vital asset for this growth. It’s necessary to incorporate good nutrition with exercise for optimal physical fitness,” said Solomon. Many Americans are constantly on the move and can’t find time to sit down and prepare a well-cooked meal.

Unfortunately, many Americans find themselves eating unhealthy fast food. Fort Lauderdale native Sherine Presley understands the importance of exercise. “Working out has a lot of benefits physically. You can improve your appearance, have a healthier body mass index, and reduce your risk for heart disease and other diseases related to obesity,” said Presley. “The best thing about working out is that I always feel great afterwards.”

Working out is only half the battle of getting in shape. “You are what you eat” couldn’t be more politically correct. A car without the proper fuel can’t run, so how can you expect to get an adequate workout without the proper nutrients?

“I used to eat really badly. I would drink soda, Kool-Aid and eat pizza weekly,” said Mark Master. “I used to eat those types of foods and feel sluggish. But now I eat more fruits like bananas, grapefruits and oranges to get a variety of vitamins.

“For protein, I eat wheat bread, rice, sardines, and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, not all at once of course.” Hopefully, obesity awareness will begin to take the country by storm and we’ll see a change in the way Americans take care of their bodies. If not, many Americans will be eating their way to an early grave.