Coral Gables Karate School Combats Adult Obesity with Information, Motivation and Exercise

Sandor Urban, owner of Sandor Urban’s US Kenpo Kai announced today that the school has joined with the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institutes of Health to distribute important health and lifestyle information to its adult students and all members of the community, as part of a community-wide campaign to reduce adult obesity.

“Did you know that according to both the University Of Missouri and American College Of Sports Medicine that by 2044 every American child, and by 2058, every American adult will be clinically obese? Recent studies show that already more than 65% of the population is currently either clinically obese or overweight. We are well on our way to undoing the tremendous gains in average life expectancy that we have made in the last half century! January is that traditional time of the year to make New Year’s resolutions about health, physical activity and weight loss, except too many of us quickly return to old habits, loosing focus of our goals,” said Urban. “Our martial arts school is being proactive, however, by providing our adult students and all other adults with important information about how to combat adult obesity. Health and fitness are important elements of martial arts training, but we want to give our adult students even more, so we decided to seek the help of the experts at HHS and NIH.”

Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 1999–2002 indicate that an estimated 30 percent of U.S. adults 20 years of age and older (more than 60 million people) are obese. An estimated 65 percent (approximately 130 million) are either overweight or obese.

“Overweight” and “obesity” are both labels for ranges of weight that are greater than what is generally considered healthy for a given height. The terms also identify ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems. For adults, overweight and obesity ranges are determined by using weight and height to calculate a number called the “body mass index” (BMI). An adult who has a BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight; a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

According to Urban, the school is distributing information that will help adults work toward the three simple goals recommended by HHS, NIH and other agencies, such as Centers for Disease Control. Those goals are aim for a healthy weight, be active and eat well.

“These goals may be simply stated, but many busy adults have difficulty focusing on a regimen that will result in better health,” said Urban. “Most adults with whom I speak know they must take action, but don’t often know exactly what action and need a structured, motivating program to be disciplined. That is the void our school fills for adults throughout the community. We’re ready to provide the information, motivation and exercise they need.”

“I remember coming to my first class wondering what I had gotten myself into. I was actually having second thoughts on my way upstairs. I kept telling myself that I didn't have the time or that I wasn't in good enough shape (I was 35-40 pounds heavier at the time). These negative thoughts quickly disappeared as I easily got through the class and found myself enjoying it tremendously. A couple of months later I earned my yellow belt. I'll never forget it. I was very proud that I had actually gotten off of my butt to do something I wanted to do and was getting in pretty decent shape doing it.” said Rudy Eguilior a Coral Gables resident.

As a member of the National Association of Professional Martial Artists (NAPMA), Sandor Urban’s US Kenpo Kai karate school promotes and strives for the highest standards of age-appropriate curriculum, leadership training, child safety and security, business integrity and professional ethics. More information can be found obtained by contacting Sandor Urban at (305) 261-4787, or visiting http://www.uskenpokai.com/ . Sandor Urban’s US Kenpo Kai is located on Red Road between the cities of West Miami and Coral Gables, Florida (305) 261-4787.