Research among 50,000 patients shows that physically inactive people are at greater risk of hospital and / or intensive care admission or even death from COVID-19. This underscores the importance of exercise. Not only now, but especially for the future. Age, type 2 diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular disease are known to be risk factors for a worse course of COVID-19. The study concludes that physical inactivity is also one of the risk factors. A large part of the target group within the study was suffering from obesity. This shows that focusing on exercise is important in the current situation, but also in the future. Sufficient exercise according to the Exercise Guidelines contributes to physical, emotional and mental health. Exercise ensures that your heart and blood vessels strengthen and that your immune system is in better shape. In addition, exercise can help reduce excess fat mass, which also benefits your immune system. In addition, exercise provides an outlet and reduces feelings of anxiety and depression. The Exercise Guidelines indicate that any form of exercise has a positive health effect. The positive effects of exercise work according to an upward trend. More exercise is therefore always better. Whether this is more often, longer or more intensively. The corona crisis is therefore a good reason to reassess the preventive importance of sport and exercise (and other lifestyle factors) for health, personally but also politically.
Noor Willemsen is a specialist in exercise stimulation, exercise guidelines and behavioral change at the Knowledge Center for Sport & Exercise.
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