By Physiq Fitness | Gilbert, AZ
Prioritizing health and exercise is one of the most important things any Arizonan can do in their life. Unfortunately, Arizona ranked as one of the least physically active states in America in 2022. Diabetes and Depression rates are also on the rise in the Grand Canyon state, which can affect how often someone exercises. As you try to get fit in Arizona, review the three main challenges that make Arizonans less active and how to overcome them.
The 3 Main Factors Affecting Fitness in Arizona
Whether it’s financial issues, diabetes, or depression, Arizonans face many challenges when trying to prioritize their health. If you live in Arizona and want to be a part of making the state fitter, take a moment to learn how the following three factors impact fitness levels in Arizona:
1. Potential Financial and Time Constraints
According to a study conducted from 2011-2019, less than 40 percent of Arizonans met the recommended amount of aerobic and strength training metrics each week. The study also included statistics comparing families on food assistance programs to those who were not, with the group on food assistance consistently scoring lower in fitness metrics.
These numbers indicate potential factors that may be impacting physical fitness in Arizona, two of which are time and access. If you’re a household that requires the benefit of food assistance programs, you may not have the means to access a traditional gym setting, which requires membership payments.
The amount of time it takes to get the proper amount of exercise may also be impacting these numbers, as working more hours to provide for your family usually takes precedence over hitting the gym.
2. High Rates of Diabetes in Arizona
Type 2 diabetes has surged in America in younger people over the past two decades, and Arizona is one of the states that’s seen over a 20 percent increase in individuals diagnosed with the disease over the past few years. Since exercise can cause blood sugar swings, Arizona residents with diabetes may feel discouraged and avoid working out.
However, Arizonans can take steps to better manage diabetes or reduce the risk they suffer from the disease in the first place. Below, you can find a breakdown of the ways to manage diabetes for a healthier life:
- Exercise: Losing weight and lowering your blood sugar is a proven way to keep yourself healthy and keep diabetes in check. Aerobic exercise, weight training, and limiting periods of inactivity are all things everyone should be doing. If you work a desk job, try to get up to walk around every 30 or so minutes. Due to the potential for blood sugar swings, it’s typically recommended to start slow and consult with your doctor about the safest exercises for you.
- Diet: Diet plays a huge role in diabetes management. Eating a balanced diet with fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats is key to keeping diabetes symptoms in check. Try to avoid sugary foods, such as sodas and candy, while consuming more leafy greens and healthy fats, like nuts and avocados. Just because you have diabetes doesn’t mean you can’t eat delicious food! You just have to be more aware of what you’re putting in your body to maintain a healthy weight.
- Keep Up With Your Doctor Appts: Keeping in contact with your doctor about your risk of contracting diabetes or diabetes management is crucial. You should be getting a yearly physical no matter what your health status is, and going to your scheduled appointments for any chronic illness you may have. Ignoring problems will only make them worse, so do what’s best for yourself and try to be as informed about your own health as you possibly can!
3. Low Mental Health Support
More than 1 in 5 Americans live with a mental health issue, and unfortunately, Arizona ranks quite low when it comes to adult access to mental health help. Living with a mental health problem can be debilitating and have a massive impact on an individual’s quality of life, so it’s important to take as many measures as possible in order to mitigate and address the causes of the problem. Learn more about the ways you can combat mental health issues below:
- Exercise: Regular exercise is proven to have a positive impact on mental health. Working out will not only get your endorphins flowing but can also increase your confidence and self-image. Even just working out a few times a week will have you seeing results and feeling better in a small amount of time. It can be hard to get started, but once you start feeling the benefits that exercise can have on your mind, you won’t ever want to stop.
- Limit Screen Time: In an increasingly digitized world, it can be hard to limit yourself from all of the screens in your life. Social media has a direct negative impact on people’s self-image and emotional well-being, so try to stay off of it if you’re starting to notice negative thought patterns. Staring at screens also lowers sleep quality. Even just two hours of screen time in the evening is shown to reduce melatonin production, a hormone that helps your body’s sleep cycles.
- Consider Seeing a Specialist: If you have issues with anxiety or depression, it’s worth seeing a doctor about what you might be able to do to help manage some of your symptoms. Going to therapy can help improve your mood, attention, and management strategies, which can help raise your motivation to exercise. Medication is also an option if you feel that’s the right decision for you, as many medications can help reduce depression and anxiety symptoms.
What Are Some Easy Ways Arizonans Can Become More Fit?
If you want to rise above the challenges listed above, you should know that Arizona still has plenty of options for people looking to get in shape. Besides joining a gym and working with personal trainers, you might want to try some of these opportunities for exercise in Arizona:
- Walking: Getting out of your house and going for a walk is a fantastic way to get a quick workout. Even if you’re just going around the neighborhood, walking at a good pace is considered great aerobic exercise and is extremely low-impact.
- Hiking: Getting out in nature and going for a hike is an awesome way to explore more of Arizona while getting some exercise at the same time! From beautiful desert trails to glorious mountain views, Arizona has so much to offer when it comes to the great outdoors!
- Biking: Biking places instead of using your car will not only have you breaking a sweat but also save you some money and help with environmental impact. Even if you’re not interested in ditching your car for a bike, recreational cycling is a fun way to get outside, explore your city or a local trail, and improve your overall fitness. Just make sure to wear a helmet!
- Sports leagues: For younger Arizonans, sports leagues are an awesome way to make new friends and stay active at the same time. Less than half of Arizonans in high school reported playing a sport in the last 12 months of 2019. Youth sports are a great way for kids to build confidence and stay in shape, so trying out a few different ones and seeing if one sticks can have both social and physical benefits.
Physiq Fitness for All Arizonans
At Physiq Fitness, we’re proud to call ourselves Arizonans and want what’s best for the population of this great state. Our location in Gilbert, AZ, is affordable, accessible, and full of highly trained staff who are excited to help you get in shape. Alongside our pristine fitness equipment, we offer fitness classes like our QFIT Team Training, which includes five different styles of HIIT classes. We also offer many larger group fitness classes to ensure beginners have a place to learn proper form and all of our members’ fitness needs are met.
Learn more about our membership options today. We’d love to help you on your way to a happier, healthier lifestyle. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out and ask.
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Brandon Bennett, VP of Fitness Operations at Physiq Fitness, is a passionate and results-driven professional with over 20 years of experience in the fitness industry, holding 17 certifications from NASM, Precision Nutrition, Certified Functional Strength Coach, and others. Skilled in team training environments, he excels in crafting tailored programs for optimal performance and injury prevention. He has mentored over 100 trainers throughout his career and has worked at Physiq Fitness for over 10 years.
