lack of exercise now causing as many deaths as smoking

Paul Dancey on 22/07/2012

In a report published in the Lancet during the run up to the London Olympics, co-author Dr I-Min Lee claims that "Being inactive increases your risk of developing chronic diseases", and that around one third of adults are simply not doing enough physical exercise on a regular basis.

The report claims that a lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths world wide as smoking, with something like 5.3m deaths a year that can be linked to a lack of physical activity. This equates to around one in 10 deaths from the likes of heart disease, diabetes and breast and colon cancer.

The report also suggests that the public should be warned more about the real dangers of inactivity, rather than just stressing the benefits of being active.

The researchers also found that adults in the UK were amongst some of the most inactive in the world.

One of the lead researchers, Pedro Hallal, said: "With the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games, sport and physical activity will attract tremendous worldwide attention.

"Although the world will be watching elite athletes from many countries compete in sporting events... most spectators will be quite inactive.

"The global challenge is clear - make physical activity a public health priority throughout the world to improve health and reduce the burden of disease."

Prof Lindsey Davies, president of the UK Faculty of Public Health, agreed and said "We need to do all we can to make it easy for people to look after their health and get active as part of their daily lives".

Source: BBC

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