Importance of Diet and Exercise

The University of Illinois Medical Center is deeply concerned about the health of our employees. Scientific studies have demonstrated that obesity and sedentary lifestyles may lead to serious medical problems (e.g., diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis). Improving one’s health through weight loss and exercise, based on reasonable long-term goals, will improve your overall health. Faculty and staff from the Nutrition and Wellness Center have generously offered to serve as walking mentors, in conjunction with the American Heart Association’s Start! Moving campaign. These NWC walking mentors will plan to meet on the southeast plaza of the Medical Center (open area outside of the blood bank’s windows - 1740 W. Taylor Street) each week, on Wednesdays at noon, to help our employees to Start! Moving to improve their overall well-being.

This coordinated effort, by our Nutrition and Wellness Center staff, is merely a first attempt to invigorate your participation in the Start! Moving program. Should you be unavailable to attend the Wednesday walks at noon, there are a number of simple steps that one can take to incorporate dietary and exercise changes into one’s lifestyle. We have assembled a number of useful tools that you may find useful as you prepare to Start! Moving.

More Information
- Healthy Living Tools
- Eat Better & Lose Weight

If you would prefer a customized health plan designed for you by faculty from our Nutrition and Wellness Center, please know that these professionals are readily available to assist you with your personal goals. The NWC’s Weight Management Program is a multidisciplinary, medically-supervised weight loss program for overweight and obese patients. The program is housed in our Nutrition and Wellness Center and includes staff from several departments, including Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Clinical Nutrition, Psychology, Psychiatry, and Nursing. Please make an appointment for a personal consultation by calling our employee appointment line 5-CARE (312-355-2273).

The Benefits of Daily Physical Activity

Reduces the risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation throughout the body
Keeps weight under control
Improves blood cholesterol levels
Prevents and manages high blood pressure
Prevents bone loss

See more benefits.

Nutrition and Weight Loss

Even if you're not ready to change your eating patterns, take a few minutes to think about what a healthier diet could mean by reviewing this information.

Suggestions for Physical Activity in Your Daily Life

It's easy to get bored with the same old thing, so freshen up your exercise routine to avoid getting in a rut. Think of ways you can add a little flare to your workout… here are just a few.

Tips for Exercise Success

Swimming, cycling, jogging, skiing, aerobic dancing, walking or any of dozens of other activities can help your heart. They all cause you to feel warm, perspire and breathe heavily without being out of breath and without feeling any burning sensation in your muscles. Whether it is a structured exercise program or just part of your daily routine, all exercise adds up to a healthier heart.

Body Composition Tests

What is body composition, and why is it important?

Your body is made up of water, fat, protein, carbohydrate and various vitamins and minerals. If you have too much fat — especially if a lot of it is at your waist — you're at higher risk for such health problems as high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and diabetes. That increases your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Obesity is now recognized as a major, independent risk factor for heart disease. If you're overweight or obese, you can reduce your risk for heart disease by starting a weight management program.

Waist circumference and body mass index (BMI) are indirect ways to assess your body composition. Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is another index of body fat distribution. However, WHR is less accurate than BMI or waist circumference and is no longer recommended.

Health Tools

Track Your Physical Activity and Diet with MyStart! Online. The Start! Tracking Tool helps you balance your daily physical activity with what you eat. At MyStart! Online you'll also get newsletters, recipes and more. Remember, with every hour of regular, vigorous exercise, you could live another two hours of life. So track your activity and diet and get Start!ed towards your health goals!

New User - Start! Tracking Now! | Returning Users

University of Illinois Medical Center at Chicago © 2008
Notice of Privacy Practice | JCAHO Public Notice
University of Illinois at Chicago | University of Illinois College of Medicine