Physical Inactivity Is A Serious Health Problem

How serious of a health problem is physical inactivity?

In the year 2008 physical inactivity, or lack of exercise, was responsible for the deaths of 5.3 million, almost ten percent of the total annual death from all around the world. As if that wasn't scary enough, today lack of physical activity kills as many people as smoking. And that's saying something. 

The death caused by physical inactivity could be avoided if only people would take a total of 150 minutes or more of moderate exercise weekly, which calculates down to approximately 25-30 minutes a day. If you lead an active daily life, you may even don't have to exclusively spare some time to work out. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator in your office, for example. Read all about it in my previous entry how exercise can be made easy and enjoyable.

climbing stairs

What diseases can be prevented with regular physical exercise?

The four major disease that are related to physical inactivity are coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, bowel cancer and breast cancer. Around 6% of coronary heart disease cases are associated with physical inactivity. The number varies from 3.2% in southeast Asia to 7.8% in the eastern Mediterranean. Around 7% of type 2 diabetes cases (ranging from 3.9% to 9.6%), around 10% of breast cancer cases (5.6%-14.1%) and (5.7%-13.8%) colon cancer cases are linked to lack of exercise.

if you ever need a push to get out of bed...

"Physical inactivity affects both your physical and mental health." 

Not only that physical inactivity detrimental to your physical health, it also have a negative impact on your mental health. Researcher suggests that people who are physically inactive are twice more likely to suffer from depression. It also suggests that there is a connection between physical activity and the incidence of Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia. People who were physically active have 30-40% lower risk of developing dementia as they get older compared to people who were inactive. This effect was seen in both women and men despite of their education and socioeconomic status.

So if you ever find yourself in need of a push to get you up in the morning and do some exercise, remember that physical inactivity is a serious health problem and you could actually die or contract dementia from it.

---

Other articles in exercise:

• A lot of seniors feel discouraged to do physical exercises because concerns about injury or falls. Sometimes a health condition such as heart disease and osteoarthritis can also prevent them from staying active. Read more about exercise for older adults and the elderly
• Even though they may not look like much of a calorie burner, these activities are just as effective as the more complicated exercises. Read more about this small list of easy exercises
• Obesity increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and interferes with a person's normal functioning and quality of life. Read more about obesity overview
  

The Cost of Healthy Diet: Is It Worth It?

Do you care to spare extra dollars for healthier foods?

Let's pretend we're in a supermarket doing grocery shopping and deciding what to eat for dinner. Take a look at those fresh, organic, selenium rich broccoli in display. Now look at the price tags. Are you having second thoughts? On the other end of the supermarket, there's a fast food corner selling microwaveable pizza. Does that appeal to you?

Yes, the healthier diet costs a lot more than the junk food you can get for cheap. Often times, you will think that the junk food tastes a lot better too. But is it wise to sacrifice your health in exchange of the extra dollars and palatable gourmet?

Let's look at the facts.

Green salad costs $3-$5, contains fiber, vitamins, and minerals

Health expenditures in the United States were $2.6 trillion in 2010, over ten times the amount spent thirty years back in 1980. Since 2002, employer-sponsored health coverage for family premiums have increased by 97%, placing increasing cost burdens on employers and workers. In 2010, total health spending accounted for 17.9% of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A large percentage of these numbers were used for treatment and rehabilitation.

"Getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables can cost as little as $2 a day."

Muffin costs $2 each, contains empty carbs and saturated fat

Compared to the premiums you will pay for health insurance, it's actually a lot cheaper to invest a little more on healthy diets. The government estimates that getting the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables can cost as little as $2 a day. So, is healthy diet worth the cost? The answer is yes. You're going to spend a lot more when you've contracted a health problem, especially chronic diseases like diabetes and hypertension.

Can fast food be healthy?

It's an inevitable fact that the world changes in a way that people's lives became so busy that the demand for easy meals that require little or no time to prepare. But even if you need fast food , you can make still make healthier choices without spending too much. Consider bringing seasoned fruits instead of french fires, eat salad with your pizza, and ask for extra vegetable instead of extra cheese in your subs or burgers.

---

 

Other articles in diet and nutrition:

• A lot of people are trying to find the most healthy nutrition habit that would work for them. If you have the right information, it's easy to design your personalized eating plan. Read more about finding the nutrition habit that is right for you
• Vitamins are a group organic substances occurring naturally in small amounts in every organism. They are needed for normal growth and body function. Read more about vitamins and their function
• The glycemic index (GI) measures how quickly blood sugar levels rise after eating a type of food. Low GI foods will improve blood glucose control in diabetes and provide other health benefits. Read more about glycemic index of different types of food