Approximately 22 percent of the U.S. adult population meets the minimum requirement of physical activity — 30 minutes of exercise five or more days a week — according to the New York State Department of Health. Regular physical activity offers numerous benefits, including decreased blood pressure, better mood, and less risk of obesity, heart disease, diabetes and certain cancers. However, inactivity also has significant effects, many of which could affect you later in life.
Overweight and Obesity
Regular moderate physical activity helps you reach and maintain a healthy body weight. Likewise, a lack of activity contributes to weight gain and obesity in many individuals. Carrying extra weight on your body causes your heart to work harder, and puts you at risk for serious health complications and diseases, such as stroke, hypertension, cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, according to MayoClinic.com.
Diabetes
Diabetes is a threat to inactive overweight or obese individuals. A Finnish study conducted between 1987 and 1992 showed that inactive obese individuals had an increased risk of developing diabetes, according to an April 2004 issue of "Archives of Internal Medicine." The study goes on to state that increasing your activity levels and reducing your body weight greatly decreases your chances of developing diabetes.
Cardiovascular Disease
Risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease include obesity, hypertension and diabetes — all possible results of physical inactivity. Individuals who live a sedentary lifestyle are 30 to 50 percent more likely to develop hypertension, according to the New York State Department of Health. Additionally, physical inactivity contributes to cardiovascular disease at a level comparable to that of cigarette smoking, hypertension and cholesterol.
Premature Death
The World Health Organization estimates that 3.2 million people worldwide die of complications from physical inactivity. The San Francisco Burden of Disease and Injury Study published in 2002 reports that deaths related to sedentary lifestyles is comparable to deaths from the use of tobacco products. Certain diseases and health conditions, including complications from obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, help contribute to premature death.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Patients with Normal or Impaired Glucose Regulation; Gang Hu, Ph.D., et al.; April 2004
- MayoClinic.com; Exercise: 7 Benefits of Regular Physical Activity; July 2011
- World Health Organization: Physical Inactivity: A Global Public Health Concern
- HealthySF.org; San Francisco Burden of Disease and Injury Study: Determinants of Health — Contribution of Physical Inactivity to SF Burden of Disease; October 2002
- New York State Department of Health: Physical Inactivity and Cardiovascular Disease
- MayoClinic.com; Obesity: Complications; May 2011
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