The Sedentary Lifestyle Connection With Debilitating Disease

Sedentary lifestyles are becoming very commonplace. According to the WHO, between 60% and 70% of individuals worldwide are not engaged in the minimum suggested amount of physical activity needed to achieve and maintain good health.

That statistic should not just concern you, but in fact, it should shock you. It's very likely that YOU are among the 60% of individuals that are not getting enough physical activity, and that is going to lead to some very serious health problems and perhaps even an early death for you.

Perhaps worse than an early death is ending up in a situation where our loved ones have to take care of us because we have suffered a debilitating stroke or heart attack, and all because of our sedentary lifestyle. This is nothing to brush off, thinking that it cannot happen to me. Think about this fact: non-communicable diseases that are the direct result of physical inactivity are now the greatest threat to public health on a global basis. In particular, insufficient physical activity is a real concern among certain high risk populations, such as older adults, young people, and women.

Some of the factors that have contributed to the increase in physical inactivity are wide spread use of the automobile, automation, and labour-saving devices. Additionally, many individuals spend significant amounts of time sitting in front of the television or on the computer surfing the Internet, chatting, or playing online games. This is of particular concern because of the numbers of young people that do not get enough physical activity. Their risk of suffering from the diseases mentioned above are multiplied many fold because they lack sufficient activity at such a young age.

Among young people and children it is common to sit for hours chatting online with their friends or playing online games. In many families evenings are spent sitting in front of the television watching programs instead of engaging in some type of physical activity. Since so many children and teenagers lack meaningful physical activity on a daily basis, the risk of them suffering from the diseases caused by a sedentary lifestyle are increased exponentially. These include:

Obesity

Physical activities should:

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Stroke

Certain types of cancer

Most individuals should be able to meet the recommendations above, as a brisk 30-minute walk would fulfill these requirements.

If you are a parent, I am sure that you do not want your child or teenager to suffer from one of the diseases above. It is imperative, then, that all of us start now to ensure that we change our lifestyle and engage in the correct amount of physical activity. The human body was made to move, so we all need to get moving. In both the US and the UK the recommendation is that you and I need regular sessions of moderate exercise on a daily basis, if possible. Exercise periods should last at least 30 minutes in order to achieve the maximum health benefits. Of course, if an individual is extremely overweight or even morbidly obese, this may not be possible. However, for individuals suffering from extreme obesity there are forms of exercise that can be done in order to get started on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

Include vigorous activity

To achiever maximum health benefits, activities should:

Include a variety of vigorous activities

Increasing and strengthening the body's lean muscle

Be maintained throughout one's lifetime

When thinking about the numerous health benefits that increasing the amount of physical activity we get each day will bring, why wouldn't anyone want to do so? The risks of suffering from diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain forms of cancer, obesity and depression are all greatly reduced by getting a sufficient amount of daily exercise. The human body also becomes better equipped to handle harder physical work as we get into better shape and increase our level of fitness. As well, our mental well being and overall quality of life is greatly enhanced by daily exercise. This is especially important as we age.

There really are no more excuses. If you really care about your health and the health and future of your loved ones, then it' time to start doing something about your sedentary lifestyle. It's time to get moving - everyday!

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