Profile of American Athlete: Mary Lou Retton

Mary Lou Retton also known as “Americas Sweetheart” is a well know American athlete.  She has been retired from competitive women’s gymnastics since 1986 yet still holds a special place in the hearts of Americans and the history of the sport.  Here we will learn more about the child, the athlete and the woman she is today.

Background and Childhood.
Born on January 24, 1968 in Fairmont, WV Mary Lou Retton is one of five children.  Mary Lou Retton began dance classes when she was four years old and then began gymnastic classes with her older sister.  She trained in West Virginia until the age of 14 when she moved to Houston to begin studying under Bela Karolyi.  While living in Houston she lived with a fellow student’s family and continued her education while training via correspondence courses.  She almost missed the 1984 Olympics due to a knee injury which required surgery just six weeks before the Olympics.  She recovered from surgery in just three weeks and the rest as they say “is history”.
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Prevent Type 2 Diabetes With Diet and Exercise

One of the best way to prevent and deal with Type 2 diabetes is with dieting and exercising. Type 2 diabetes, sometimes called adult-onset diabetes, is experiencing rapid growth in the United States. About 20 years ago, it was thought that teenagers and young adults were immune to Type 2 diabetes, but even this group of people are experiencing the disease.  Why the sudden increase in the number of Type 2 diabetes cases?  The national lifestyle, from our diets, reduced activity levels to increased waistlines are all playing a large role in contributing to the increase of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is a serious problem.  The disease kills more Americans per year than breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
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Exercise and Asthma

For most people with asthma, exercise is possible.  Check with your asthma doctor regarding your asthma action plan, and to determine if your asthma symptoms should be cause for non-participation in activities – often, a small change in your asthma treatment will be all that is needed for asthma relief during exercise and activities.

Asthma treatment is used to help people with asthma maintain a healthy lifestyle which allows them to participate in physical activities and exercise.  You’ll need to work out what your triggers are, monitor your symptoms and keep up with your asthmatic medication to ensure your safety and health but the proper asthma treatment typically makes exercise possible.

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Kids and Obesity – On Family’s Health

Childhood obesity has become a national epidemic and a crisis for the  family’s health concern. It is estimated that 15% of the population’s kids are overweight with another 15% of today’s youth are at risk for becoming obese. Two-thirds of the nation’s overweight children will go into adulthood still obese.

Obesity in children is sometimes caused by genetics but a more common reason is improper diets, eating too many calories, and a lack of exercise. Children are often on the fast track to becoming obese because the entire family does not practice healthy eating habits and parent need to be positive role models when it comes to kids and food.

Children who have high body fat content at a young age can be taught a more healthy lifestyle but it indeed is a family affair. Without the proper support system in the family unit, obesity can become a serious health problem. Families as a whole can get on the right track to managing food intake in a positive way.

Here are some basic tips for helping children avoid problems with weight and the health issues that go along with obesity:
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