Become a member
Quick Registration
Full Registration Benefits -
Free Homepages for Doctors
Free Homepages for Hospitals
Free Homepages for Medical Conference
Free Homepages for NGO's
Personal Health Record Creation
Access to all Medical Slides
Access to all Jobs & Products Sale
Lack of Physical Exercise Kills 5 Million a Year: Lancet Report | |
|
| |
One third of the world's adults are physically inactive, and the couch potato lifestyle is the cause of death for about five million people every year, experts said in the medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday.
"Roughly three of every 10 individuals aged 15 years or older -- about 1.5 billion people -- do not reach present physical activity recommendations," they said in a report that described the problem as a "pandemic."
The picture for adolescents is even more worrying, with four out of five 13- to 15-year-olds not moving enough, it said.
Physical inactivity was described for the study as failing to do 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week, 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week, or a combination of the two.
Inactivity increases with age, is higher in women than in men, and more prevalent in high-income countries, the researchers found.
A second study, comparing physical activity levels with population statistics on diseases like diabetes, heart problems and cancer, said lack of exercise claimed more than 5.3 million of the 57 million deaths worldwide in 2008.
It said inactivity was a risk factor comparable to smoking or obesity.
Lack of exercise causes an estimated six percent of coronary heart disease cases, seven percent of type 2 diabetes (the most common form) and 10 percent of breast and colon cancers, it said.
Reducing inactivity by 10 percent could eliminate more than half a million deaths every year, the report said, adding that the estimates were conservative.
The human body needs exercise to help the bones, muscles, heart and other organs function optimally, but populations are walking, running and cycling less and less as they spend more time in cars and in front of computers, the investigators said.
The Lancet series called for global efforts to promote physical exercise by improving pedestrian and cyclist safety on city roads, for example, more physical education at school or promoting access to free public exercise spaces.
Source-AFP
| |
|
|
More News on: Physiotherapy Utilities, Diet Lifestyle and Heart Disease, Tips to Live Longer, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Exercise and Fitness, Lifestyle Modification: No Big Deal!, Body Types and Befitting Workouts, Exercise To Gain Weight, Top Health Tips to Overcome Tiredness, Fitness Through Density Training Program
 Comment & Contribute
|
Related Links
Diabetes and Exercise
Regular exercise especially in type II diabetes not only helps reduce the sugar but also reduces the demand for medication by 20% and helps you stay ...
Body Mass Index
The BMI calculator helps you assess your weight indicating if it is normal or if you are underweight or overweight, based on your ...
Exercise
It is important for us to understand the power of daily exercise. Only then can we motivate ourselves to inculcate the habit of exercise on a daily ...
Cardiac Risk or Risk of Heart Attack
Cardiac Risk Calculator assesses your risk for having a heart attack in the next ten years and helps you in making the right lifestyle choices to ...
Lifestyle Related News
US Teens Share More Online, But Protect Their Privacy: Survey
American teenagers are sharing more information about themselves on social networking sites, but they are also taking steps to protect their privacy ...
Gay Ministers Voted In By Church of Scotland
Following years of debate between the liberal and traditionalist sides of the church, the Church of Scotland voted to allow gay ministers. ...
Unilever: Dove 'Sketches' Most-watched Online Ad
A three-minute study of women's self-perception that stars a forensic artist is the most-watched Internet commercial of all time and the bragging ...
Controversial Ads on Teen Pregnancy Show Heavily Pregnant Boys
The Chicago Department of Public Health has issued a new ad campaign on raising awareness about teenage pregnancies. The controversial ads feature ...
New Waterproof Fabric That Drains Sweat
New waterproof fabrics designed by bioengineers whisk away sweat using microfluidic technology. The new fabric works like human ...
Victorious Comeback Made By Cancer Survivor Kleybanova
Former World No. 20 and cancer survivor Alisa Kleybanova vowed to return to the sport's biggest competitions after a victorious comeback to ...
- Health News Index
- News Quick Links
 | News Central | | Health Watch | |
| Latest Health News | | Health In Focus | |
| News Category (500+) | | Breaking Health News | |
| Popular News | | Celebrating Life | |
| Health News and Press Release | | Medindia - Exclusive | |
| News Photo Gallery | | India Special | |
| News Video Gallery | | Lifestyle and Wellness | |
| News From Other Resources | |||
 |
Exercise
Complete Medindia Resources
|
| News Categories: |
| » | Health Campaigners Hail Brave Angelina Jolie's Mastectomy Revelation |
| » | Angelina Jolie's Breast Removal Surgery Boosts Cancer Awareness, Experts Advise Caution |
| » | Shakira Having Sleepless Nights During Pregnancy |
| » | Belgian Nobel Laureate Christian De Duve Dies |
| » | Sherri Shepherd Owes Her Life to Diabetes |
| More Celebrity News | |
|
Ask an Expert
