23 and 1/2 hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health?

A Doctor-Professor answers the old question "What is the single best thing we can do for our health" in a completely new way. Dr. Mike Evans is founder of the Health Design Lab at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, an Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of Toronto, and a staff physician at St. Michael's Hospital.

Conceived, written, and presented by Dr. Mike Evans
Illustrated by Liisa Sorsa
Produced, directed, and filmed by Nick De Pencier
Picture and sound edit by David Schmidt
Gaffer, Martin Wojtunik
Whiteboard construction by James Vanderkleyn
Production assistant, Chris Niesing
©2011 Michael Evans and Mercury Films Inc.

[bobbyorrrr]

What a line. "Can you limit your sitting and sleeping to less than 23 1/2 hours a day"
Amazing to think that this is true for most people

[daftquo]

This video has changed my life. Today is my 38th day in a row of exercising at least 30 minutes a day, which is about 37 more than I ever did before. I feel much more energetic and my other health issues have seen a noticeable improvement. Thank you so much Doctor Evans.

[earthcrystal]

Dr. Evans, I need to say thank you...I watched this for the first time last February and it CHANGED MY LIFE. A sedentary 55 yr old woman, borderline obese, just diagnosed with diabetes, even though I'd quit smoking, I was not a healthy person. But since I said "yes" to the question posed @ the end of the video, everything has improved. I walk between 2-5 miles 5 days a week, have lost 30 lbs, done 2 5ks and a 10k, and all of my health stats have improved. I can't thank you enough...

[EmilieDardenne]

Oh my goodness. This really frightened me. I spend hours in front of my laptop. I always mean to go walking and I am never motivated to go. I am overweight. I have hypertension and high cholesterol both kept in check with medication.
OK I am inspired now. I want to be around for many more years.

[PlantedBrands]

I like the way you said 23 and a half hours of sitting. Instead of walk 30 minutes a day, makes that 1 hour walk seem like a breeze

[DocMikeEvans]

For those who dont understand the Orange is the New Black reference here- in episode 7 of the new Netflix blockbuster series- 23 and 1/2 hours is featured. I wont be a spoiler... but it is way cool.
Chapman is the lead protagonist (and a fan of our wee movie)....

[juliehedberg]

Thanks OITNB :) I had to know what our friend Pipes was talking about.

[mbrown]

This is very affirming. My husband and I started walking about 15 years ago. We walk almost every day for 30 minutes to an hour. We live in Minnesota, so some people think we are a little nuts, but we find walking in the winter very invigorating and use Get a Grip's to prevent falls. If we dress properly we are never cold. I am now 56 and my husband is 61. We are on no medications. If we need medical treatment we first try less invasive alternative medicine. Great video!

[BlueBoy]

He says to exercise 30 minutes a day. There, I just saved you ten minutes.

[JustAnotherProdigy]

If all my lectures were like this I would never miss a thing. Great video!

[AndyHeppelle]

This simple, elegant, brilliance and effectiveness of this 9 minutes of information ROCKS

[neozanmato]

Lissa Sorsa, thank you for making this important information not boring. :)

[whomsttheheck]

' Get off the couch and off your computers' people comment as they sit on their couch and are on their computers.

[jarrettng]

I love this video. I am studying Exercise and Disease Prevention and my Prof recommended watching this video in the first lecture. Such a good video.

[zaynebooker]

Who came here from Orange is the new black

[kymo]

My doctor put me onto this video. Makes soooo much sense. Will put these suggestions into practice and I'm positive my health will be better. Thanks Dr Evans, you're a legend.

[edes]

Wonderfully presented! I currently live in Okinawa, Japan, and I exercise regularly and eat well. The diet here is fantastic, and people of all ages walk and jog here every night- I have never seen anything like it! It's so refreshing to hear this information from a Western medical professional. As a culture, we owe it to ourselves to reduce and reverse disease and disorders we have acquired through bad habit, so we can focus on treating those that cannot be reversed and must be "cured."

[liannarevilla]

This video was a real eye-opener and a motivator for me to exercise more.

[WorldParties]

I gave up my automobile just over one year ago and walking has become a necessity which has developed into a joyful activity!

[claireobryan]

Excellent video! All healthcare providers should see this - we are asked every day "What can I do for my health", and this is clearly the simplest answer, but is so difficult to convey to patients. Thanks for summing it up at a level that EVERYONE can understand!