Family Health & Fitness Day USA 2023: Date, History, Facts about USA Family & Health Fitness Day

Family Health and Fitness Day USA is celebrated on the last Saturday of September and encourages physical activity and health with family and friends. We share genes with our family, but we are unaware of the everyday practices we acquire from them. When living in the same household, food and health habits tend to proliferate among family members, making it difficult to break unhealthy habits. Family Health and Fitness Day USA reminds us to prioritize family fitness.

The background of Family Health & Fitness Day USA

Prior to the 1700s, epidemic maladies posed a significant threat to historical families. The bubonic plague, cholera, and smallpox posed hazards to everyone, particularly the youth. The eating practices of a family are also related to a family’s social status. Those from affluent households could afford better, tastier, and healthier meals, while those from a lower socioeconomic status had less access to adequate portions.

The one-dish meal originated during the 1800s. There were few wealthy families, and cooking apparatus was limited. Instead of using a single pot for each meal, people frequently cooked supper in a single stew. For stews and hearty dishes, this could contain any combination of poultry, pork, vegetables, and potatoes. Nutritional value was not their primary concern. As there were many working families, they were concerned with preserving food and selecting foods with the highest caloric content.

In the early 1900s, the majority of food was prepared using ingredients from the garden, cellar, or icebox. The proximity of the nearest general store varied, requiring many to rely on their own land. The introduction of the first fast-food chain, White Castle, in 1921 shifted the nation’s focus toward manufactured foods, as did the growth of industries that caused families to migrate from rural to urban areas for factory employment.

In the 1940s, the American Medical Association and the National Committee on Physical Fitness promoted physical fitness to improve the overall health of the American population, but it was an uphill battle by the mid-1950s, when multinational fast-food chains such as McDonald’s appeared. Family Health and Fitness Day USA was established by the Health and Information Resource Center in 1996 to promote a healthier lifestyle through family-oriented health and fitness events.

USA FAMILY & HEALTH FITNESS DAY: 5 FACTS

Two or more days per week, adults need at least two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity and vigorous aerobic activity.

Every year, 110 billion dollars are spent on fast food restaurants.

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically over the past two decades.

Heart disease accounts for 600,000 deaths per year, making it the primary cause of death.

One-third of adults have high blood pressure, and there are typically no warning indications.

FAMILY HEALTH & FITNESS DAY USA DATES