34-35 Risk factor: Physical inactivity CYAN MAGENTA YELLOW BLACK
8
“Take a stroll after meals and you won’t
have to go to the medicine shop.”
Ancient Chinese proverb
Industrialization, urbanization and
mechanized transport have
reduced physical activity, even in
developing countries, so that
currently more than 60% of the
global population are not
sufficiently active.
Physical exercise is linked to
longevity, independently of
genetic factors. Physical activity,
even at an older age, can
significantly reduce the risk of
coronary heart disease, diabetes,
high blood pressure, and obesity,
help reduce stress, anxiety and
depression, and improve lipid
profile. It also reduces the risks of
colon cancer, breast cancer and
ischaemic stroke.
Doing more than 150 minutes
of moderate physical activity or
60 minutes of vigorous physical
activity a week – whether at
work, in the home, or elsewhere
– can reduce the risk of coronary
heart disease by approximately
30%.
Despite documented evidence
of the benefit of physical activity
in preventing and treating
cardiovascular and other chronic
diseases, more than a quarter of a
million individuals die each year
in the United States because of a
“lack of regular physical exercise”.
Only 8% of the world’s
population currently owns a car.
Between 1980 and 1998, the
global fleet of cars, trucks and
buses grew by 80%, with a third
of the increase taking place in
developing countries.
Risk factor:
physical inactivity
IRELAND
DENMARK
NETH.
GERMANY
BELGIUM
SLOVAKIA
AUSTRIA
LUXEMBOURG
Sitting
FRANCE
Time spent seated each week,
people aged 18 years and above
2000
42 hours
selected countries
37 hours
35 hours
31 hours
29 hours
CROATIA
ITALY
B&H
KAZAKH STAN
SPAIN
PORTUGAL
GREECE
C H I N A
TUNISIA
NEPAL
MEXICO
UAE
DOMINICAN
REP.
BANGLADESH
LAO
PDR
INDIA
VIET NAM
PHILIPPINES
BURKINA
FASO
CÔTE
D’IVOIRE
ETHIOPIA
SRI LANKA
GHANA
Finland,
France
Italy
Netherlands
Spain
United
Kingdom
BRAZIL
COMOROS
MALAWI
MAURITIUS
ZIMBABWE
PARAGUAY
Physical activity
URUGUAY
The following activities have similar benefits to health:
Physical activity levels
Washing and waxing a car for 45–60 minutes
Energy expenditure per week in work, leisure and transport
MET-mins
2002–2003
1 MET is the amount of energy expended while sitting quietly at rest
Washing windows or floors for 45–60 minutes
Playing volleyball for 45 minutes
Wheeling self in wheelchair for 30–40 minutes
Bicycling 8 km in 30 minutes
6000 and above
below 1300
3500–5999
no data
Both
the
inten
sity
and
durat
i
exerc on of
i
impor se are
reduc tant in
in
from g deaths
c
heart oronary
disea
se.
1300–3499
Pushing a pushchair 2.5 km in 30 minutes
y
icall
phys eases
g
n
i
Be
incr
f
tive
inac ur risk o rt
yo
e
h a
nary nd
o
r
o
c
y
se a
disea stroke b
c
emi
mes.
ischa d 1.5 ti
n
arou
Walking 3 km in 30 minutes
Swimming laps for 20 minutes
Playing basketball for 15–20 minutes
al
hysic
p
,
e
ses
dwid
Worl tivity cau on
c
ina 1.9 milli
f
t
abou s, 20% o ase
h
t
s
i
a
d
r e
de
scula ronary
a
v
o
i
card 2% of co .
se
and 2 art disea
he
Percentage of time spent seated, at work or in spare time,
by people aged 25 years and above in two Indian villages
1993–1995
82%
69%
37%
27%
lowest
Transport
Number of motor vehicles
per 1000 people
1996
selected countries
519
s
orld’
w
e
,
h
USA
of t
25% re in the just
a
h
cars ntry wit rld’s
u
o
w
c
e o
a
.
of th
5% pulation
po
The global fleet
Number of vehicles 1000
million
1950–1994,
2025 projected
630
million
24%
male
female
3%
Percentage participation in any form of sport for
at least 20 minutes, on 3 or more days a week, by age
1998
female
male
hina
, in C 50
7
9
In 19 were 2 ry
e
ther s to eve A
le
US
y
bic c ile the ne
h
o
w
car, ess than car.
l
y
r
had to eve
e
l
c
bicy
750
Singapore keeps moving
Physical inactivity by social class in India
4%
34
FINLAND
SWEDEN
UNITED
KINGDOM
6%
25%
16%
9%
14%
6%
next lowest
16%
11%
next highest
highest
32%
24%
97
81
16%
18–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60–69
years years years years years
USA Japan Brazil Hong
Kong
SAR
8
7
China India
70
million
1950
1994
2025
35