Exercise - does it really matter? Take this quiz

THE PERCENTAGE of Americans who exercise is abysmally low. Indeed, without a doubt, we can categorically define ourselves as the land of the free and home of the overfed and unfit.

According to many experts, 90 percent of Americans do too little exercise to receive any measurable fitness or health benefits, and even the conservative Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than half of U.S. adults don't get recommended exercise.

Ironically, despite our national obsession with fitness and sports, our actions speak louder than our fandom, which means that most Americans are far happier on the sidelines than on the field.

You know it's true. We like talking about what we're going to do instead of doing it; we like chewing the fat more than burning it.

So, since most of us just give lip service to exercise and little action, it begs the question: Does exercise really matter?

* Yes, staying thin is best for your health at any age, but especially as you grow older.

* Being overweight is linked with a higher risk of dying, according to a study conducted by the Journal of the American Medical Association.

* Being obese or extremely obese lowers life expectancy.

* Regular exercise provides about 200 known benefits, like weight loss, stress release, improved balance, increased strength and managing blood sugar, to name a few.

* Exercise will make you look better in your clothes.

* Exercise may improve your sex life.

The CDC recommends that you get a minimum of:

* At least 2 1/2 hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, such as walking, OR

* One hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, such as jogging, or a combination of both, AND

* Muscle-strengthening activities, such as push-ups, sit-ups, or activities using resistance bands or weights, involving all major muscle groups on two or more days per week.

Now, take the quick quiz below and make a health plan for 2014.

1. What percentage of the U.S. population is overweight or obese?

A. 25

B. 65

C. 40

D. 80

2. As we age, we tend to lose mental acuity. To slow down or prevent memory loss, or, better yet, to stay sharp and on top and in the game, you should:

A. Just chill. We're all growing older everyday.

B. Take a baby aspirin every day.

C. Take more omega-3 essential fatty acids.

D. Exercise regularly and eat a diet rich in wild fatty fish.

3. Exercising regularly may decrease your risk for the following disease:

A. Heart disease

B. Stroke

C. Diabetes

D. All of the above

4. A 150-pound person walking for 30 minutes daily could potentially lose how many pounds at the end of the year?

A. 20 pounds

B. 15 pounds

C. 10 pounds

D. 5 pounds

5. Having a thicker waist could increase your risk for the following health crises:

A. Diabetes

B. Heart attack

C. Cancer

D. All of the Above

6. A waist circumference at or above _____ for men and at or above _____ for women puts you at a higher risk for heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.

A. 40 for men, 35 for women

B. 35 for men, 30 for women

C. 45 for men, 40 for women

D. 35 for men, 25 for women

7. A BMI of 24.9 is considered which of the following:

A. Underweight

B. Normal

C. Overweight

D. Obese

8. If you're trying to lose weight, how much should you realistically try to lose each week?

A. 10 pounds

B. 5 pounds

C. 1 pound

D. 3 pounds

1. B. According to the CDC, more than 65 percent of American adults are either overweight or obese.

2. D. It's been well-documented by researchers that people, especially those over 50, who remain physically fit are more alert and they maintain better memory functioning. Also, those eating a diet rich in omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are found in cold-water fish (like wild salmon and mackerel) reduces inflammation, which in turn slows memory decline.

3. D. Researchers agree that exercise helps in the reduction of all preventable diseases.

4. C. Begin walking daily and you could lose 10 pounds in a year (just don't overeat).

5. D. A thicker waist increases risk for all preventable diseases.

6. A. 40 and 35

7. B. The CDC defines a BMI of 24.9 as the upper end of the normal health weight range.

8. C. When it comes to weight loss, slow and steady wins the race. Losing 1 pound a week, you are less likely to crash and burn and more likely to make lasting lifestyle changes, as opposed to following and failing at the latest fad.