The key to leading a healthy lifestyle is simple: eat a balanced diet and exercise.
But as a registered dietitian, I understand that marrying these two things is more of an aspiration than a reality. Unfortunately, of the two, exercise is often found at the bottom of our list of priorities. And it is this disconnect that is driving poor health in our community.
"The Weight of the Nation," a four-part HBO documentary that aired last week, took on the issue of Americans' expanding waistlines from the angle of what's in our refrigerators and pantries. The series focused heavily on certain foods and beverages as a reason for America's weight problem, followed by lack of exercise.
The truth of the matter is studies show that calorie balance - that is, equalizing our food and drink consumption with calories burned through physical activity - is what truly makes the difference.
