In a modern world, technology has made our daily life easier; however, physical activity has become less than in earlier times.
Physical activity helps the body use glucose more efficiently through its positive effect on insulin sensitivity.
Therefore, increasing physical activity is not only the responsibility of an individual but also of families, schools, communities, and governments.
Moreover, all stakeholders have their responsibilities in increasing physical activity among people of all ages.
It is, therefore, essential to acknowledge the importance of physical activity.
The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) is rising worldwide. It has become the leading cause of illness and death worldwide in recent times. In general, NCDs are not transmitted from one person to another like infectious diseases. They are strongly associated with unhealthy lifestyles such as use of tobacco, unhealthy diets, harmful use of alcohol, and physical inactivity. Many NCDs, including heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers, can be prevented or delayed through healthier lifestyles. Among many of the unhealthy lifestyles, physical inactivity is the most overlooked cause of NCDs. Physical inactivity is, therefore, important because it is one of the modifiable risk factors of NCDs.
In a modern world, technology has made our daily life easier; however, physical activity has become less than in earlier times. Nowadays, people spend hours mostly sitting at desks or scrolling on phones as computers replace physical tasks and different means of transportation replace walking. Physical inactivity should not be viewed as a personal lifestyle choice; its effects have far-reaching consequences.
Human body
The human body is designed for movement. Regular physical activity strengthens the heart, muscles, and bones, improves blood circulation, helps maintain a healthy body weight, and is also beneficial for mental well-being. These important benefits are lost when people remain inactive for a long time. A sedentary lifestyle, through its contribution to weight gain, increased levels of blood pressure, blood sugar, and unhealthy cholesterol, has a strong association with NCDs like diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers.
The connection between physical inactivity and obesity is a scientifically proven fact. In recent times, people often consume more calories and spend less energy. A sedentary lifestyle at office or school and spending considerable leisure time watching television or using smartphones contribute to weight gain in the long run. It is a known fact that obesity is associated with increased risks for several non-communicable diseases.
Heart disease is also closely related to physical inactivity. It has been scientifically proven that regular movement helps the heart work better and reduces several cardiovascular risk factors. Physical inactivity, therefore, increases the risk of hypertension, abnormal cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. Simple physical activities, if performed regularly, such as walking, cycling, climbing stairs, and recreational sports, can have a significant effect on heart health.
Physical activity helps the body use glucose more efficiently through its positive effect on insulin sensitivity. Physical inactivity, along with obesity and an unhealthy diet, contributes to the development of type 2 diabetes in the long run. Increased incidence of diabetes and its associated consequences such as kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, retinopathy, and nerve damage take their toll on already overstretched healthcare systems, particularly in developing countries.
Nowadays, physical inactivity is increasingly seen among children and adolescents. Children and adolescents spend significant amounts of time sitting in classrooms, using computers, watching television, and playing video games. At the same time, there are limited outdoor activities and physical education in schools and colleges. Habits developed during childhood often continue into adulthood. Therefore, increasing physical activity is not only the responsibility of an individual but also of families, schools, communities, and governments. Moreover, all stakeholders have their responsibilities in increasing physical activity among people of all ages.
Another area of intervention is the workplace. Many of the occupations require workers to remain sedentary for most of the time. People who exercise occasionally also remain sedentary in those establishments. Therefore, workplaces should encourage their staff by providing opportunities for intermittent breaks, standing workstations, and active commuting. These workplace exercise programmes benefit both employees and organisations equally by improving the overall health and well-being of the employees and ultimately increasing productivity.
Governments should give attention to improving the physical environment as it influences people’s choices. Roads with safe sidewalks, bicycle lanes, parks, and recreational areas make people more active. Urban planning should consider not only economic development but also the health and well-being of its residents. In environments where walking and cycling are safe and convenient, people become more active without major changes to their daily schedules.
It is the individual’s responsibility to become physically active to reduce the burden of NCDs and improve overall health and well-being. It is undesirable to wait until the development of diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease to become active. Small and sustainable changes in daily life can improve health and well-being. Regular physical exercise, taking the stairs instead of lifts, reducing sitting time, and engaging in recreational activities are a few changes that increase our movement. Therefore, an active lifestyle significantly improves our health and reduces the chances of the development of NCDs, as well as improves the quality of life of those with NCDs.
Public health issue
Physical inactivity should not only be seen as being lazy and unfit but has long-lasting consequences with the rising burden of NCDs. Therefore, it is a significant public health issue that needs to be addressed with improvements in physical environments, awareness campaigns, and physical education from early childhood. In the coming days, people may become increasingly sedentary as cities turn more urbanised and technologically dependent.
It is, therefore, essential to acknowledge the importance of physical activity. A reasonable amount of movement with regular exercise should be a part of our daily life. By incorporating physical education in school curricula, improving physical environments, creating active workplaces, and making small changes in our habits along with a healthy diet, smoking cessation, and reduction in harmful use of alcohol, we can significantly reduce the burden of NCDs. Lastly, preventing NCDs depends on multiple factors, but encouraging people to be physically active is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to make life healthier.
(Dr. Lohani is the clinical director at the Nepal Poison Information Centre. [email protected])
