Sedentary Life Style
How Inactivity Fuels Non – Communicable Diseases
In today’s fast -paced world, many people spend hours sitting – at desks, in front of screens, and during commutes- without realizing the serious risks it poses. A sedentary life style is a silent threat fueling the rise of deadly non – communicable diseases (NCDs).
In many countries of the world including Sri Lanka, lifestyles are becoming sedentary especially at work. Physical inactivity is considered as the fourth largest contributor to global mortality. Besides, physical inactivity increases the risk of complications of NCDs and morbidity.
What are NCDs?
A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a medical condition or disease which is non-infectious. NCDs are diseases of long duration and generally slow progression such as Diabetes, Cardiovascular disease, High blood pressure, Cancer and Arthritis etc. Several risk factors are causally associated with the major non-communicable diseases. These include sedentary lifestyle, poor diet, obesity, tobacco usage and excessive consumption of alcohol.
Let’s talk about sedentarism.
Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in energy expenditure. Physical activity can be categorized into occupational and non-occupational physical activity.
Physical activity has a beneficial effect on physical and mental health. The clear and universal definition for the sedentary lifestyle is not available. Sedentary lifestyle is a type of lifestyle with no or irregular physical activity. The definition of sedentarism is a distinct class of behaviours (e.g., sitting, watching TV, driving) characterized by little physical movement and low energy expenditure.
Sedentary lifestyle can lead to many preventable causes of death. Many health care professionals have stated a sedentary lifestyle as a disease.
Therefore, we have to increase our physical activity to lead a healthy life.
What are the best ways to increase physical activity?
- · Do exercises
- · Do more household chores
- · Engage in gardening
- · Dance whenever you can
- · Take the stairs
- · Start stretching
- · Engage in sports
- · Start cycling
According to WHO recommendations, adults aged 18–64 should
- · Do at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity throughout the week or
- · Do at least 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic physical activity throughout the week.
Even though you wouldn’t engage in planned exercises, keep in mind that you have to be physically active while you are doing day to day activities.
Stay Safe…..
References
Physical activity (2014) www.who.int/topics/physical_activity/en [Accessed on 10.01.2015]
Biernat, E., Milde, K. and Tomzeweski, P. (2010) Physical activity of office workers, Biology of Sport ,27 ,pp.289 – 296
Registered Nutritionist