The Secrets of the Amish

Ever wonder why the Amish look so fit? In an experiment, 100 adults in an Amish farming community in southern Ontario wore pedometers and logged their physical activity for a week. Not surprisingly, the Amish, who favor a 19th century lifestyle, were quite active. The men reported 10 hours of vigorous work a week and averaged 18,425 steps a day. All told, they engaged in six times as much physical activity as did their "modern" counterparts. The bottom line? Only 4% of the Amish men were obese, vs. 31% of non-Amish men. And this despite plenty of potatoes, gravy, pies and cakes.