Nature Walk with Florida Hospital Fish Memorial Family Medicine Physician

DELTONA, Fla., April 7, 2016 Approximately 30 community members joined AdventHealth Memorial family medicine physician Dr. Joanna Wierzbicki on March 23 for a one-mile nature walk through Dewey O Boster Park in Deltona.

During the event, Wierzbicki addressed the many health benefits of exercising, recommending 30 minutes a day for five days a week. She also explained how to avoid and overcome diabetes with diet, exercise, and not smoking.

Obesity is a big problem in our community and it can lead to many chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and even cancer, Wierzbicki said. Healthy Weight Florida, a Department of Health statewide initiative, showed that 65 percent of Florida's adults are obese or overweight. As a physician, I find that statistic very troubling because it means the majority of Floridians are at risk for developing these chronic conditions. A healthy lifestyle like exercising, eating well, and avoiding tobacco can help curb those risks.

About AdventHealth Fish Memorial

AdventHealth Fish Memorial is a member of AdventHealth, a faith-based health care organization with 46 hospital campuses and nearly 8,200 licensed beds in 10 states. With 175-beds, AdventHealth Fish Memorial is one of the six AdventHealth Hospitals in Volusia and Flagler counties that composes the AdventHealth East Florida Region. As the largest hospital system in the area, the AdventHealth East Florida Region has 899 beds and nearly 5,900 employees. With a mission to extend the healing ministry of Christ, the AdventHealth East Florida Region collectively contributed nearly $120 million in benefits in 2015 to the underprivileged, the community's overall health and wellness and spiritual needs, and capital improvements.