Go Green and Lose Weight

Obesity is a growing problem around the world, and it's a critical problem here in the United States. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates nearly 27 percent of American adults are obese, and CDC data indicates obesity rates continue to rise.

As if excess weight weren't complicated enough, obesity is accompanied by and increased risk of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep disorders, psychological problems, and a host of other medical issues.

It's clear obesity is an epidemic that must be halted. While diets, drugs, and surgeries promise to help people shed pounds, being an environmentally conscious citizen can also help you slim down and shape up, too. Here are a few of the ways going green can help you shed that excess fat:

Leave the Car at Home

North Americans love their cars. Whether it's a month-long road trip or zipping over to the store for milk, our vehicles get us there. But if we only leave the car at home for those short trips, our bodies would thank us. A brisk 15-minute walk to the store to get that milk or a 20-minute bike ride to work gets you moving and using your body, which helps burn calories and shed pounds.

Nix Chemical Cleaners

Chemicals make great cleaners, if you don't care about their environmental or health impact. Many cleaning agents contain toxic chemicals that can contaminate water, and phosphates in detergents promote algae growth, which can have a catastrophic effect on lake ecosystems. Natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda can usually do the trick just as well as any chemical cleaner, so long as you add a healthy dose of elbow grease. Yes, it will mean more effort and time on your part, but you'll soon notice you work up quite a sweat scrubbing, and that means you're burning calories and fat.

Grow a Garden

Gardening isn't for the faint of heart. Between planting, weeding, watering, weeding, watching, weeding, and finally harvesting, you're going to do a lot of work. But a vegetable garden is as local as it gets when it comes to local eating, and you're getting totally organic foods that are fresh and packed full of vitamins and nutrients. Not only are you burning calories as you care for your garden, you're also fuelling your body with healthy foods that support healthy weight loss, and creating a chemical-free food source -- that's a win-win-win.

Eat Local

Regardless of whether you have the time to care for a garden, you can commit to eating local foods. Eating local means consuming only those foods and drinks that can be found in your area, and it's the concept of the now famous 100-mile diet. But choosing to eat with locale in mind can also help you cut back on unhealthy, processed foods and drinks, such as chips, soda pop, cookies, and French fries. On another level, if you commit to a local diet, then what you eat becomes associated with the good feelings associated with helping support the environment, rather than the negative feelings linked to weight issues.

Get Involved

Environmental initiatives can be found in communities throughout the United States, and many of them involve physical activity. Pick up trash in parks. Volunteer to sort recyclables at drop-off locations. Plant trees. Help clear an abandoned lot for use as a community garden (with the landowner's permission, of course). There are all sorts of ways you can help make your community a greener, friendlier place, and many of these options involve hard work.

Choosing to go green is about supporting the environment for today and for future generations. But the side benefits of green living often include increased exercise and a healthier diet, setting you up for a healthier future.