Physical inactivity as a risk factor for chronic disease

Introduction

The questions in this module measure: Physical activity at work Physical activity during travelling to and from places Recreational physical activity Sedentary behavior

Research findings

Some research findings related to physical inactivity are as follows: Physical inactivity causes about 1.9 million avoidable deaths per year worldwide.1 Physically inactive persons have a 20% to 30% increased risk of all-cause mortality as compared to those who adhere to 30 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity on most days of the week.2 Globally, physical inactivity accounts for 21.5% of ischemic heart disease, 11% of ischemic stroke, 14% of diabetes, 16% of colon cancer and 10% of breast cancer.3 Physical inactivity is a major risk factor in promoting obesity, which itself is a risk factor for other chronic diseases.2 Physical activity may have a protective effect against development of cognitive impairment and dementia, and reduces severity of symptoms among the depressed .4, 5, 6 Physical activity is associated with the prevention of osteoporosis and related fractures.2

Reference

1. The World Health Report 2002: Reducing risks, promoting health life. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2002. 2. Ilkka Vuori. Physical inactivity as a disease risk and health benefits of increased physical activity. In: Oja P, Borms J (eds) Perspectives-The multidisciplinary series of physical education and sport science: Health enhancing physical activity. Vol 6, 2004:29 - 73. 3. Bull F, Armstrong T, Dixon T, Ham S, Neiman A, Pratt M. Physical inactivity. In: Ezzati M, Lopez A, Rodgers A, Murray C (eds) Comparative quantification of health risks: global and regional burden of disease attributable to selected major risk factors. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2004:729881 4. Elwood P C et al. Smoking, drinking, and other lifestyle factors and cognitive function in men in the Caerphilly cohort. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Vol 53, 1999:9-14. 5. Stewart R et al. Vascular risk and cognitive impairment in an older,

British, African-Caribean population. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, Vol 49, 2001:263-269. 6. Mutrie N. The relationship between physical activity and clinically defined depression. In Biddle S J H, Fox K R, Boutcher S H. (eds) Physical activity and Psychological Well-being. London:Routledge, 2000.