The Amish have it right

Recently a new study was published in Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise touting the benefits of regular daily activity versus weight gain. This is nothing new. But what is interesting is the group they studied to get the results. It wasn't a random group of participants like usual, this time it was a very specific group -- the Amish.

Amish men are mostly farmers and log an average of 10 hours per day of physical work and 18,000+ steps per day (on a pedometer). This compared to the average sedentary American who may only get 30 minutes per day of physical activity and takes around 5,000 steps a day. Only 4% of the Amish are obese (despite the fact that they eat diet high in calories, fat, and sugar) compared to the American obesity rate of 33%. And the numbers go on and on

Like I said earlier, the fact that moving and walking is good for your health and your weight is not new information. But this particular comparison really makes me feel like a lazy bum!