Physical inactivity
Physical inactivity
By Reiner Gloor
PHYSICAL INACTIVITY is one of the four leading risk factors for global mortality associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs) that have grown to become the world’s biggest killer diseases.
Major NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases took the lives of about 36 million people in 2008.
Apart from physical inactivity, NCDs share three other risk factors namely tobacco-use, unhealthy diet and harmful use of alcohol.
The “Global recommendations on physical activity for health” published by the World Health Organization (WHO) said that 6% of deaths are attributed to physical inactivity. It follows high blood pressure (13%), tobacco use (9%) and is equal to high blood glucose (6%). Physical inactivity is also the main cause for the 25% of breast and colon cancers, 27% of diabetes and 30% of ischaemic heart disease.
It has been observed that physical inactivity is on the rise in many countries. The National Statistical Coordinating Board (NSCB) said that about 26.7% Filipinos were overweight in 2008. Among Filipino children between five and 10 years old, the prevalence of overweight has consistently increased to 6.6% in 2008.
Gadgets, some forms of entertainment, and even social media sometimes contribute to a sedentary lifestyle. A study by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute found that schoolchildren ages nine to 12 years are physically inactive. In general, the study said that children were sedentary more during weekdays than weekends, engaging in activities such as watching TV, VCDs and DVDs, and playing video games. About half (49%) watched TV for three to four hours a day during weekends.
Evidence showed that participation in regular physical activity reduces the risk of NCDs and some conditions like depression.
Physical activity is not just sports or exercise. It could mean any bodily movement produced by the skeletal muscles that uses energy, explained the WHO.
This includes sports, exercise, playing, walking, doing household chores, gardening, and dancing, among many others. Intensity varies depending on the rate at which the activity is being performed or “how hard a person works to do the activity.”
The WHO global recommendations include levels of physical activity for three age groups: five- to 17-years-old, 18- to 64-years-old, and 65-years-old and above.
Children and youth are encouraged to participate daily in a variety of safe and enjoyable physical activities as part of play, sports, transportation, recreation, physical education, or planned exercise, at home, school and community, Children and youth aged five to 17 are recommended to accumulate at least 60 minutes or more of moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity daily. Protective equipment like helmets will be important in reducing any risk of injuries among children.
For all healthy adults aged 18 to 64, recommended physical activity includes leisure time physical activity, transportation (e.g. walking or cycling), occupational (i.e. work), household chores, play, games, sports or planned exercise. They must have at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity. Aerobic activity includes brisk walking, running, cycling, bicycling, jumping rope and swimming.
The WHO cautioned that pregnant and postpartum women, and persons with cardiac events and other medical conditions may have to seek medical advice before engaging in a physical activity.
Adults aged 65 years and above, on the other hand, should do at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or do at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity throughout the week, or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous- intensity activity. The WHO added that when adults of this age group cannot do the above recommendations, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions allow.
Meanwhile, policies and environments that advance physical activity are crucial in achieving the target of reducing physical inactivity.
These may include reviewing urban and town planning and environmental policies at national and local level to ensure that walking, cycling, and other forms of physical activity are accessible and safe; providing local play facilities for children (e.g. building walking trails); and facilitating active transport to work and other physical activity strategies for the employed.
With the opening of classes, schools may also create programs for physical activity while providing safe and appropriate spaces and facilities so that students can spend their time actively.
Comments (0)