What Is National Women’s Health and Fitness Day?
Wednesday, Sept. 30, is National Women’s Health & Fitness Day. Every year on this day, the goal is to bring attention to the importance of physical activity and promote health awareness for women.1 Annually, this is the largest women’s health event for all ages. Local organizations throughout the United States coordinate and host activities in a variety of settings, including health clubs, park and recreation divisions, schools, fitness centers, community centers, hospitals and senior centers.2
Why Is It Important?
Healthy People 2020 is a nationwide initiative to improve population health. It provides objectives for improving the health of all Americans, including women. Many of its topic areas address women’s and girls’ health. Topics include breast and cervical cancer; family planning and pregnancy; heart disease; and the health of mothers, infants and children.3
Two-thirds of women in the United States are caregivers who provide regular support to others, and caregivers are at a greater risk for poor physical and mental health.4 The COVID-19 pandemic can increase this stress, making it even more important to advocate for and promote the health of women.
What Can You Do?
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, National Women’s Health and Fitness Day will look different this year. However, you can still promote women’s health and be physically active while social distancing. To stay active at home:
- Get your family up and moving; play a game that requires physical activity.
- Go outside and take a socially distant walk or bike ride.
- Walk in place or do jumping jacks or push-ups during television commercials.
- Dance to your favorite song.
- Do chair exercises.
Be creative about ways to be active on National Women’s Health and Fitness Day in 2020.5 Share what you are doing with your family and friends via email, a phone call, video chat or social media. By spreading the word about women’s health and fitness, you can make a difference.
A Public Health Perspective
The public health programs offered in college focus on health promotion and community health and wellness. As a student, you can explore ways to prevent illness, promote health education and reduce the spread of infectious disease. By becoming an expert in public health, you can learn to design, implement and evaluate health promotion programs to improve women’s health and the health of communities.
Grand Canyon University offers degree programs to allow you to dive deeper into medical studies and fitness. Explore your options and learn more about health and wellness at GCU by clicking the Request Info button at the top of the page.
Retrieved from:
1 U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2020 National Women's Health and Fitness Day, August 2020.
2 Fitness Day, What is National Women's Health & Fitness Day?, August 2020.
3 Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Healthy People 2020, 2020 Topics and Objectives in June 2021
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A Healthy World for Women and Girls, August 2020.
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, How to Be Physically Active While Social Distancing, August 2020.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
