We’re Number One!
Read more articles from this story package on obesity, sedentary lifestyles, and active design.
Even if we’re careful about eating healthfully, the best diet in the world can’t make up for a sedentary lifestyle. And boy, are Americans sedentary. We commute—usually by car—to our jobs, which are mostly at desks. But as these graphics show, a surprising amount of activity can be slotted into the average workday. Commuting by foot or bicycle can translate into an hour of calorie-burning, mood-lifting exercise. Moving more while on the job can help, too. Not everyone can be employed as a mail carrier, but we can take a lunchtime walk, choose the stairs instead of the elevator, or stroll down the hall to find a colleague, instead of emailing.