By Richard Tardif
A World Health Organization (WHO) study estimates that in 2016 more than a quarter of adults worldwide, 1.4 billion of us, mostly in high-income countries would rather sit at home than move more during our leisure time, and it hasn’t improved since 2001. The consequences of our slothful behaviour, the report continues, is a precursor to the development of heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol, type-2 diabetes, all the baddies, and increased body weight, though that one is debatable.Still, this prolonged inactivity won’t improve in the next seven years. The report’s recommendation, of course, is…move.
Considered the first report to assess trends in physical inactivity over time (2001-2016) it recommends an average of 30 minutes of physical activity per day, over five days of moderate-intensity aerobic activity. Two of those days should include resistance training or body-weight exercises. Sound familiar?
For good measure, because of our sedentary lifestyle, to beat off developing these non-communicable diseases, WHO recommends we double the intensity, and recommends running and swimming. Adults aren’t the only ones.
Earlier in 2018, the organization also warned that more kids will be obese or overweight globally than underweight by 2022. The number of obese five to 19-year-olds is 10 times higher than in 1975. Canada’s 2018 ParticipACTION report card, an annual card titled this year, The Brain + Body Equation, reporting on physical activity for children and youth, fairs a little brighter.
While 62 percent of three to four-year-olds are reaching their recommended physical activity, only 35 percent of five to 17-year-olds are achieving the recommended activity levels for their age group. A great deal of the blame is being pinned on increased screen time. According to ParticipACTION, 76 percent of three to four-year-olds and 51 percent of five to 17-year-olds are engaging in more screen-time than in the past.
The recommendation? Move. The concern here is not the recommendation. Moving is great. The concern here is the assumption that physical activity is the cure all for disease, and not nutrition. Of course, WHO and ParticipACTION are not oblivious to the influence of quality nutrition, and their reports are valid – we just don’t move like we used to – at work or at home. We don’t take the time to eat well, either. The two must go together.
Richard Tardif is a personal fitness trainer, author, and an award-winning journalist writing and teaching about health and wellness. Richard’s first book Stop the Denial: A Case for Embracing the Truth about Fitness, challenges, surprises, and inspires you to embrace a fitness lifestyle that will work in achieving your individual goals.
You can hire Richard to speak at your event, fitness centre.
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