Keeping it Moving a Black Man's Approach to Reducing High Rates of Heart Disease

by Kenny Anderson

In Pontiac, Michigan there's a fitness trainer whose been on a mission to get the Black community to "keep it moving" to reduce the prevalence of heart disease and other chronic diseases. 

This fitness trainer is Jermaine Branner aka "Max Out", Brother Max has been 'all out' in promoting the critical need for physical activity in chronic disease prevention.

Jermanie Branner

Indeed a lack of physical activity is a major risk factor for heart disease even for people who have no other risk factors. The lack of physical activity also increases the likelihood of developing other heart disease risk factors including obesity, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes.

As a fitness professional Brother Max understands his key public health role in reducing the high levels of heart disease in African-American communities. That fitness training 'aerobic cardio-vascular exercise' is best in heart disease prevention; it trains the heart to become more efficient and trains the body to better utilize oxygen. 

Cardiovascular exercise lowers blood pressure and reduces total cholesterol, two problems associated with heart disease. It increases insulin sensitivity, helping to prevent diabetes and other metabolic conditions. Obesity is often a precursor to heart disease, and cardiovascular exercise is the best method for weight loss. 

As a fitness trainer Brother Max is known as a 'real motivator', research shows that a lack of motivation is a key factor that influences a lack of physical activity. Brother Max takes a holistic approach to fitness training and motivates those to engage in being 'whole person fit' physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

Brother Max has been on a visionary mission to improve the health status in Black communities, he started out by providing a small number of folks fitness training in parks, now he's co-owner of Anytime Fitness where hundreds are getting their fitness on to reduce heart disease.