ONE in three people does so little physical exercise and their health is at risk, warns the World Health Organization.
Laziness is putting an estimated 1.8 billion adults worldwide at risk of type 2 diabetes, heart attacks, stroke, cancer and dementia.
A third of people are not active enough to stay healthy, study suggests (stock image)[/caption]
The WHO says people should get at least 2.5 hours of moderate exercise a week – just 22 minutes a day – but 31 percent of people don’t do it.
Dr Rüdiger Krech, WHO director of health promotion, said: “Physical inactivity is a silent threat to health.
“It contributes significantly to the burden of chronic disease.
“We need to find new ways to motivate people to be more active.
“By making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable for everyone, we can significantly reduce the risk of disease and create a healthier, more productive population.”
The research, published in The Lancet Global Health, found that 19% of UK adults don’t get enough exercise.
It ranks us in better shape than the US, at 34 percent, and France, at 23 percent, but less healthy than Sweden, at 9 percent, or Germany, at 12 percent.
Two-thirds of Brits are overweight and rates of dementia, cancer and type 2 diabetes are rising.
The WHO report states that inactivity levels increased by five percent between 2010 and 2022 and will continue to increase without action.
Women and people over 60 typically exercise less than men.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “These new findings highlight a missed opportunity to reduce cancer, heart disease and improve mental wellbeing by increasing physical activity.
“We must reverse this worrying trend.”
How much exercise should you do and when?
There are guidelines issued by the NHS and the Government about how much exercise people should do each day.
People should be active daily and avoid sitting for long periods.
The NHS recommends that adults – those aged 19 to 64 – should do 150 minutes of “moderate intensity activity” a week.
This equates to 21 minutes a day or 30 minutes five days a week.
Or they could do 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week, which could be less than 11 minutes a day or 25 minutes three days a week.
Adults should also do strength exercises at least twice a week.
Examples of moderate-intensity activities include brisk walking, water aerobics, cycling, dancing, playing doubles tennis, pushing a lawn mower, walking, or rollerblading.
Examples of vigorous activities include running, swimming, cycling fast or up hills, climbing stairs, sports such as football, rugby, netball and hockey, jumping, aerobics, gymnastics or martial arts.
Things like lifting heavy weights, climbing hills, spin classes, or circuit training are considered very vigorous.
What time should you exercise?
Exercising throughout your day, no matter what time of day, is a good idea.
But you may want to be more selective depending on your goal.
A 2023 US study of 5,285 middle-aged adults showed that exercising between 7am and 9am was the best time if you want to lose weight.
The researchers found that gym-goers who got up early had lower body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference than those who worked out later.
A 2022 study led by Prof Paul J Arciero, Skidmore College, New York, found that the ideal time of day to wear your kit can vary depending on your gender.
Professor Arciero said women looking to lose fat around their belly and hips would do better to hit the gym in the morning, but those looking to gain upper body strength or simply improve their mood may see more results with evening exercise. .
The results were opposite for men.
If you have trouble sleeping, it has been found that exercising in the morning can help, but exercising in the evening can help you stay asleep.
Exercise can generally improve sleep quality.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25255284/HT054_AI_writing_2.jpg?w=150&resize=150,150&ssl=1)