Walk With a Doc Attends Second White House Biden-Harris Administration Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Conference.
On Wednesday, September 28, Walk with a Doc, founded by OhioHealth Cardiologist, David A Sabgir, MD, was invited to attend the second White House Biden-Harris Administration Hunger, Nutrition, and Health Conference. This conference was last held in 1969.
“Every day, millions of us are afflicted with food insecurity and diet-related diseases. These are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States,” Dr. Sabgir says, “Those diet-related diseases are precisely why we started Walk with a Doc.”
The conference brought Americans together to accelerate progress toward ending hunger, improving nutrition and physical activity, and reducing health and nutrition disparities.
“This disproportionate impact on underserved communities, including communities of color, people living in rural areas, people who are differently-abled, older adults, LGBTQIA+ people, military families, and military veterans is clear,” Dr. Sabgir said.
For Dr. Sabgir, it was an honor to attend the conference and raise awareness to what this program can do for communities; to what focusing on nutrition, physical activity and health can do for communities.
“To be sitting next to people and having conversation was huge cause it’s been a while,” Dr. Sabgir says, “To me the big thing was this was only the second time they’ve had this conference, so to have this administration wanting to turn off the faucet if you will instead of mop up the floor is a game changer.”
Since 2005, Walk with a Doc has grown as a grassroots effort with a model based on sustainability and simplicity. A doctor gives a brief presentation on a health topic and then leads participants on a walk at their own pace. The reach of Walk with a Doc now extends all around the globe with over 500 chapters worldwide, including Walk with a FUTURE Doc chapters led by medical students. The program is in 48 states, and 48 countries.
Exercise as simple as walking goes a long way physically and mentally.
“It's incredibly powerful in that it can cut our heart attack and stroke risk by up to 50%, but it can dramatically lower our risk of Alzheimer's, cancer, and so many other diseases as well," Dr. Sabgir continues to say, “Social connection is dropping, so there’s more and more strong data supporting even keeping people out of the hospital by just having them be socially connected.”
