Carly Noah

September 19, 2018

Informative Speech
The Importance of Taking Care of Your Health at a Young Age
Introduction
I. Did you know less than 3% of Americans live a “healthy lifestyle”? (The Atlantic, 2016)
II. Through this speech I wish to inform you about the importance of taking care of your
health at a young age. In order to do this, I will focus on two major areas: first, eating
habits, and then exercising.
III. Throughout my research, I found some startling information through a survey conducted
by The National Health and Nutrition Examination. They tested 4,745 people and some
of the qualifications were more easily met than others: 71.5 percent of adults were non-
smokers, 46.5 percent got enough exercise, 37.9 percent had a healthy diet, but only 9.6
percent had what the study calls “a normal body-fat percentage.” Just 2.7 percent of
people met all four. (The Atlantic, 2016)
IV. What can we do to prevent this from happening in us?
V. Why is it important to start taking care of our health now? I mean we do have the rest of
our lives to figure this out, right?
Body
I. First, we will focus on eating habits.
A. Specifically- unhealthy eating habits.
Unhealthy eating habits have contributed to the obesity epidemic in the United
States: about one-third of U.S. adults (33.8%) are obese and approximately 17%
(or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.
Even for people at a healthy weight, a poor diet is associated with major health
risks that can cause illness and even death. By making smart food choices, you
can help protect yourself from these health problems. (HHS, 2017)
B. In addition to the quality of the foods you consume, the quantity matters when
considering good eating habits. Taking in the same number of calories as you
burn ensures your weight remains steady over time. Consuming more than you
burn, on the other hand, results in weight gain as your body converts extra
calories to fat tissue. When you accumulate fat tissue, you increase your risk of
developing one or more health problems, including heart disease, hypertension,
respiratory issues, diabetes and cancer. A healthy meal plan without excess
calories helps you not only feel better but can prolong your life. (SF Gate, 2018)
C. Now, let's focus on Healthy Eating
Eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet may
reduce risk for heart disease, including heart attack and stroke.
Eating a diet rich in some vegetables and fruits as part of an overall healthy diet
may protect against certain types of cancers.
Diets rich in foods containing fiber, such as some vegetables and fruits, may
reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.
Eating vegetables and fruits rich in potassium as part of an overall healthy diet
may lower blood pressure, and may also reduce the risk of developing kidney
stones and help to decrease bone loss.
 Eating foods such as vegetables that are lower in calories per cup instead of some
other higher-calorie food may be useful in helping to lower calorie intake.
(Choose My Plate, 2016)
II. Now, we will focus on exercising.
A. Benefits of regular physical activity include the following:
1. It can reduce your risk of a heart attack
2. manage your weight better
3. have a lower blood cholesterol level
4. lower the risk of type 2 diabetes and some cancers
5. have lower blood pressure
6. have stronger bones, muscles and joints and lower risk of developing osteoporosis
7. And lowering your risk of falls (Better Health Channel, 2018)
B. To maintain your health and reduce your risk of health problems, health professionals
and researchers recommend a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical
activity on most, preferably all, days. (Better Health Channel, 2018)

C. Exercise also helps to control weight:

1. Exercise can help prevent excess weight gain or help maintain weight loss. When
you engage in physical activity, you burn calories. The more intense the activity,
the more calories you burn. (Mayo Clinic, 2016)
D. Exercise also helps to improve your mood

1. Physical activity stimulates various brain chemicals that may leave you feeling
happier and more relaxed. You may also feel better about your appearance and
yourself when you exercise regularly. This can help to boost your confidence and
improve your self-esteem. (Mayo Clinic, 2016)

E. Exercise also promotes better sleep and more energy.

1. Studies show regular physical activity can help you fall asleep faster and deepen
your sleep. (Mayo Clinic, 2016)
2. Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your
endurance. Exercise delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your
cardiovascular system work more efficiently. And when your heart and lungs
health improve, you have more energy to tackle daily chores. (Mayo Clinic, 2016)
Conclusion
I. In conclusion, we do not have the rest of our lives to figure out a healthy lifestyle. Matter
of fact, if we do not begin to take care of our bodies now, we may not live to see much
further into our future.
II. So, to answer the questions I asked earlier, We can prevent this from happening to us by
eating healthy and exercising. And, it is important to start taking care of our health now
because the decisions we make will have an effect on us in the future. It may not feel like
this is the case, but it certainly is.
References

Better Health Channel. (2018). Physical Activity- It’s Important. Retrieved from
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/physical-activity-its-important
Choose My Plate. (2016). Nutrients and Health Benefits. Retrieved from
https://www.choosemyplate.gov/vegetables-nutrients-health
Mayo Clinic. (2016). Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity. Retrieved from
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/exercise/art-20048389
SF Gate. (2018). Why Is Eating Healthy Important? Retrieved from
https://healthyeating.sfgate.com/eating-healthy-important-7166.html
The Atlantic. (2016). Less Than 3 Percent of Americans Live A ‘Healthy Lifestyle’. Retrieved
from https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2016/03/less-than-3-percent-of-americans
-live-a-healthy-lifestyle/475065/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services . (2017). Importance of Good Nutrition. Retrieved
from https://www.hhs.gov/fitness/eat-healthy/importance-of-good-nutrition/index.html