World Health Day April 7th 2002 Move for Health [Archives:2002/15/Health]
April 8 2002
Prepared for publishing by Ismail Al-Ghabiry
Yemen Times Staff
And officials from the World Health Organization (WHO) are using this years day, April 7, to launch a long-term advocacy program on being active.
The organization is seeking to stimulate a global health debate why non-communicable diseases have become a major epidemic throughout the world.
Much of the reason, according to WHO, is that more people are not exercising enough, eating well and using tobacco. These trend are present in all societies, rich and poor, developed and developing, according to WHO
Poverty, violence, rapid social and economic changes, lack of education, inadequate or total absence of health services, and a lack of clear policy direction, contribute as much to the increase in cases of cancer, diabetes, or cardiovascular diseases, as they do to AIDS and malaria.
WHO believes that this is the time for global debate to focus on prevention as much as cures.
A major cause of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and obesity is lack of physical activity. WHO estimates that lack of activity leads to more than 2 million deaths per year.
It estimates one-third of cancers can be prevented by maintaining a healthy diet, normal weight and physical activity.
Poor diet, lack of exercise and tobacco use cause 80% of premature coronary heart diseases. In countries as diverse as China, Finland and the US, studies have shown that even relatively modest lifestyle changes are sufficient to prevent the development of almost 60% of Type 2 diabetes cases.
WHO officials are noting that physical activity can reduce rates of violence among young people, promote tobacco-free lifestyles, and decrease other risky behaviors, such as unsafe sex or illicit drug use. It can also reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness among the elderly and improve their physical and mental agility.
Word Health Day will have events at many types of settings: from schools to worksites, stadiums and urban neighborhoods. The international sports fraternity, represented by the International Football Federation (FIFA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), is already linked with WHOs efforts, turning the 2002 World Cup in Japan and Korea into tobacco-free, health-promoting events.
Exercise can also prevent and control certain diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and osteoporosis. Being physically active increases your energy level, reduce stress and lower cholesterol and blood pressure.
It also lowers your risk of some cancers, especially colon cancer. Regular active play promotes healthy growth and development in children and young people.
It increases confidence, self-esteem and feelings of achievement. Older adults benefit from both life-long habits or newly learned routines of physical activity. It is important for healthy ageing, improving and maintaining quality of life and independence. Daily physical activity helps people with disabilities by improving mobility and increasing energy levels. It can also prevent or reduce certain disabilities.
Physical activity is any body movement that results in an expenditure of energy (burning calories). Simply put, moving! When you walk briskly, play, skate, clean house, dance, or climb stairs, you are moving for health.
Conversely, lack of physical activity is a major underlying cause of death, disease, and disability. Preliminary data from a WHO study on risk factors suggest that a sedentary lifestyle is one of the 10 leading global causes of death and disability.
More than two million deaths each year are attributable to physical inactivity.
In countries around the world between 60% and 85% of adults are simply not active enough to benefit their health.
Sedentary lifestyles increase all causes of mortality, double the risk of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, and substantially increase the risks of colon cancer, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, depression and anxiety.
In the rapidly growing cities of the developing world, crowding, poverty, crime, traffic, poor air quality, a lack of parks, sidewalks, sports and recreation facilities and other safe areas make physical activity a difficult choice. These diseases are on the rise. They will have an increasingly severe effect on health care systems, resources, and economies in countries around the world.
Many countries that are already struggling to manage the impact of infectious diseases and other development challenges will be forced to spend their meagre resources dealing with noncommunicable diseases.
The formula is simple: at least half an hour of moderate physical activity over the course of each day. If youre new to physical activity, you can start with a few minutes of activity a day and gradually increase your pace, working your way up to 30 minutes. Remember that half an hour is only the minimum recommendation. Of course, the more time you spend moving for health, the more you gain. The most important thing is to move!
The lack of access to safe open spaces, sports facilities and school playgrounds can make moving difficult, if not sometimes impossible. Moreover, peoples behavior is influenced by insufficient knowledge about physical activity and its benefits. With insufficient budgets to promote physical activity, governments often fail to educate the public about the risks of sedentary lifestyle.
Government policies and programs can have a great impact on peoples ability to influence their own health. In order to promote physical activity, a community should prioritize and develop parks and open spaces, clean air and water, safe and attractive streets and a vibrant public life. This requires the commitment, action and cooperation of health sector as well as other sectors: transport, environment, urban planning and law enforcement.
Its easy, free, fun and virtually anyone can do it. Brisk walking, biking and dancing are only some ways to be physically active. You can get moving at school, home or work. Take the stairs instead of the elevator (at least for going down!). Do simple stretching exercises while seated at your desk, standing at your post, or talking on the phone. Walk, run or bike to places where you might have taken a car or a bus otherwise.
Many of the activities you can do at home are very useful: wash the windows, paint the walls, vacuum or sweep, rake the yard or cut the grass, walk the dog. You can even do physical activity while watching television: rope skipping, stepping, riding a stationary bicycle, or sit-ups. Or just dance!
Your goal is to be active for at least 30 minutes over the course of every day. Look for information and advice in your neighborhood, community centers, hospitals or healthcare centers, gyms or sports centers.
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