20 Random Health and Fitness Facts

Here are 20 random health and fitness facts that I've put together for you. Some may surprise you and some may not. Take a look...

1. In the 1950's, the average size of a dinner plate was 9". By the 1980's, the average size had reached 11". Today the average size of a dinner plate is 13". The growth of the dinner plate has been directly linked to the growth of obesity in America.

2. The human body is 60% water,

3. A pound of muscle burns 9 calories per day. A pound of fat burns only 2.

4. If you are 25 pounds overweight, your body has almost 5000 more miles of blood vessels that your heart needs to pump blood through.

5. 100 calories-too-many per day could pack on up to 10 extra pounds of excess body weight per year. 100 calories is a half a glazed donut.

6. There's a reason the jump rope has been around forever: Jumping rope for 15 minutes can burn up to 200 calories, making it one of the most efficient forms of cardiovascular exercise.

7. The human body has more than 650 muscles and 206 bones. One quarter of our bones are in our feet.

8. The importance of vitamin D (ya know, the one we can easily get from the sun) cannot be overstated. People who get their RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of vitamin D are on average 16 pounds lighter than those who don't.

9. A 220-pound person running an 8-minute mile burns up to 150 calories per mile, while a 120-pound person running an 8-minute mile only burns about 82 calories per mile.

10. It takes 200 muscles to take a single step.

11. Body temperature can affect appetite. A cold person is likely to be hungrier and consume more food than a warm person.

12. Colorado is the least obese state in the U.S. (21%), while Mississippi is the most obese (34%). My home state of Maine is the 25th most obese state in the nation (26.8%).

13. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36 states (36!) had an obesity rate of 25% or more in 2010. Of these 36 states, 12 of them have a prevalence of 30% or more. Check out the cool but terrifying graphic at the CDC website.

14. This next one is more of a prediction than a fact: By the year 2030, it is predicted that 86.3% of adults in the U.S. will be overweight and 51.1% will be obese. This is scary as hell.

15. Wonder why number 14 is scary as hell? See #1 and this next one: According to studies, kids from ages 8-18 spend an average of 7 hours, 38 minutes per day watching TV, surfing the Internet, and playing video games. This is up from 6 hours, 21 minutes in 2004.

16. It takes approximately 20 minutes for your brain to tell your stomach that it's full. So slow down!

17. Coronary heart disease accounts for approximately 40% of all deaths in the U.S. The good news is that heart disease-related deaths has decreased since the mid-1900's.

18. Studies have shown that walking at a brisk pace for 3-plus hours per week can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease by 65%.

19. There are an average of 47,000 products in most U.S. grocery stores. Why do we need so many when all we really need to eat is lean proteins, complex carbs, healthy fats, and fruits and veggies?

20. Kids and adolescents (up to 17 years old) should be getting at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. This includes aerobic activity (capture the flag, tag, etc.) muscle strengthening (push-ups, etc.) and bone strengthening (jump rope, etc.) Adults 18 years and older should get a minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate intensity aerobic activity per week (preferably spread out throughout the week) and muscle strengthening activities at least 2 days per week.

Now get off your butt and go get healthier!