Health risks from lack of exercise
Lack of exercise is a current phenomenon that occurs worldwide and affects all age groups. The latest studies show that more than half of all adults and a quarter of all children in Germany do not get the recommended amount of exercise. A lack of physical activity is associated with numerous health risks. Lack of exercise is therefore a risk factor that is becoming more and more important.
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Prof. Dr. habil. Michael Tiemann is Professor of Sports Science at the SRH University of Health. He recently published a summary of the known consequences and risks of inactivity. According to the experts, lack of exercise is one of the most important health risk factors and is increasingly becoming a focus of health and health policy.
Consequences of low physical activity
Decrease in life expectancy and quality of life and a significantly increased risk of numerous diseases such as type 2Diabetes, Breast cancer, Colon cancer and cardiovascular diseases are possible consequences of a sedentary lifestyle. In addition, a lack of physical activity increases the likelihood of being overweight up to Obesity to develop. In addition, the lack of exercise in children and adolescents reduces their motor performance. The resulting health care costs are constantly increasing.
Sedentary lifestyle in Germany
According to Tiemann, a lack of physical activity has been an underestimated health problem for a long time. A number of studies in recent years have uncovered the extent of its prevalence. For example, a 2018 survey by the WHO Regional Office for Europe showed that fewer than half of adults aged 18 to 64 (46 percent) were sufficiently physically active in 2016. 58 percent of older adults aged 65 and over were affected by a sedentary lifestyle.
How much exercise is recommended
Several health institutions such as the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) recommend doing moderate aerobic physical activity for at least 150 minutes a week. This corresponds to a daily training of around 21 minutes. Activities should include muscle strengthening exercises at least twice a week.
More needs to be done about the sedentary lifestyle
The current publication by Prof. Dr. Tiemann makes it clear that systematic strategies and interventions are required to reduce the costs caused by a lack of physical activity and the health risk for children, adolescents and adults in Germany. “It is particularly important to inspire people who have previously been less physically active to exercise and an active lifestyle and to make it easier for them to access the appropriate measures,” the sports scientist sums up. (vb)
For more information, see the article: Sedentary lifestyle – consequences, causes and symptoms.
Author and source information
This text complies with the requirements of specialist medical literature, medical guidelines and current studies and has been checked by medical professionals.
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Author:
Diploma-Editor (FH) Volker Blasek
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Swell:
- Michael Tiemann: Lack of physical activity – prevalence, importance and implications for prevention and health promotion; in: Springer Reference Care – Therapy – Health (published: 07/31/2020), Springer Link
- SRH University of Health: Sedentary lifestyle – a health risk factor (published: 21.8.2020), gesundheitshochschule.de
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Important NOTE:
This article is for general guidance only and should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. He can not substitute a visit at the doctor.
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