Think Walt Disney doesn’t care about your kid’s health? Think again! The Disney Company announced last month it will impose strict guidelines for food advertising during programming that targets kids or families. The hope is that by 2015, any food or drink advertised on the Disney family of networks will have to meet the company’s own nutrition guidelines.

Earlier, we posted a blog about childhood obesity and how the epidemic is spiraling out of control in the United States. Today, 30 percent of Americans are overweight and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says roughly 12 million children and teens are affected by childhood obesity. We encourage you to visit the CDC website to learn more about what is obesity and how to prevent it.

Of course, weight problems at any age can lead to bone and joint problems, osteoarthritis and many other serious health issues. Keeping kids active is key, and there are many local outlets like the Fieldhouse Family Fitness Center here in Zanesville that can help.

Here at Orthopaedic Associates of Zanesville, we recommend living an active lifestyle along with responsible eating habits to promote long-term health and wellness. As the American Heart Association suggests with these healthy eating tips, parents should encourage at least one hour of exercise per day while avoiding overfeeding their children. Disney is doing its part, now it’s our turn.

We all know taking the stairs can help take off the pounds, but it can also save you time. According to a study featured in a recent Men’s Health article, doctors saved nearly 20 seconds per trip when opting to climb a flight of stairs instead of riding an elevator. This new study was conducted in a six-story hospital, so it might apply to your office building.

Ronnie Guie, a Queens, New York native, changed his life by taking the stairs. Guie told the New York Times in 2009, he has the same waist size and weight range as his 17-year-old self. He credits his healthy lifestyle to rediscovering the stairs. A Preventative Medicine study found that after 12 weeks, people who regularly chose to climb the stairs:

• Increased stamina
• Cut nearly 2 percent off their waistlines
• Lowered weight by 1 percent
• Lowered blood pressure
• Lowered “bad” LDL cholesterol

The Boston Public Health Commission encourages businesses to implement a “Take the Stairs” campaign, citing better retention of healthy employees and lower health care costs.

So the next time you have the option, take the stairs. It will not only save you time, but it might change your life.