41.3 per cent people in India do not meet the global health body’s recommended physical activity level, according to a recent WHO-ICMR study of 18-69 year olds released last week.
According to the WHO, adults over 18 years should engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or at least 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or an equivalent combination of moderate and vigorous intensity activity accumulating at least 600 METS (metabolic equivalent minutes a week).
Among others, the survey reveals that more than two in five adults and one in four adolescents were doing insufficient physical activity, while more than one in every four adults and 6.2 per cent adolescents were overweight or obese. Almost three out of ten adults had raised blood pressure and 9.3 per cent had raised blood glucose. A quarter of Indians were overweight (26.1 per cent), 32.2 per cent had central obesity (waist circumference higher than or equal to 90cms in men, and higher than or equal to 80cms in women).
The survey results suggest that in a day, people spent an average of 9.1 minutes in vigorous activity. Urban people moved less than their rural counterparts—those in urban areas spent 5.5 minutes while those in rural areas spent 10.9 minutes in vigorous activity. Men spent 14.7 minutes and women 3.1 minutes on an average in a vigorous activity.
This signified that a higher number of people are losing out on the easily doable and affordable opportunity to fend off such debilitating ailments as high blood pressure, Type-2 diabetes or musculo-skeletal weakness.
As they say, it is never too late to hit the ground to regain good health. Beginning slowly and gradually incrementing the intensity of workouts to the desired levels is the way out. People who incorporate regular physical activity in their daily schedule are known to have significantly lower incidence of cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality rates than the inactive ones.
The survey is a strong case in support of shunning a sedentary lifestyle. Also the government needs to provide enabling environments that encourage individuals to be more active. Better and cleaned parks for walking should be ensured. The people and the government need to encourage women to move out and carry required physical activity.
