Inactivity as deadly as smoking

Inactivity is reportedly as deadly as smoking?

How does that make you feel? Are you scrambling for excuses such as smoking is not deadly for all smokers?

​But no matter how you spin inactivity there is no escaping it is not good for you. That is common sense.

For a few years we have been hearing how lazy we in the UK are. Perhaps lazy is the wrong word as it is more like how inactive we are.

We may work our socks off but hardly move a muscle in this techno, fast pace age.

Researchers claim to have discovered that too much inactivity is as bad if not worse for you than smoking. As we all exclaim, "for heavens sake what next?" most of us know that is true.

Don't believe it?

Well try a little exercise for yourself and enjoy those feel good hormones as they are released.

As always it is about the level of exercise. Try to transform from couch potato to exercise freak in one day and you will ache till the cows come home. In order to do more good than harm follow a sensible approach.

So how did we in the UK become this sedentary?

It is a culmination of many things.

In the past children would play in streets and parks but now parents fear for their safety. People in the UK are techno savvy and love gadgets. This means too many of us relax sat at the computer, X Box, IPad or the like. We love kindles and for many the only exercise is the occasional use of a Wii

Then of course there is the weather in the UK. It has always been unpredictable but lately it has been dismal. Who wants to walk home from work in torrential rain? The same goes for cycling, although both these methods of movement also can cause safety concerns.

Many people in the UK love their cars and choose to use them as much as possible. This can mean that even a short journey is done by car. This is costly and bad for the environment but now we know it is also bad for us.

Check out NHS Choices for some sensible advice on exercise and you.

Inactivity can cause obesity and health issues such as diabetes and heart problems. A recent study has indicated that currently inactivity in the UK is killing more people than smoking. The report wsa published in the Lancet.

It should not be necessary for a government initiative.

If we organise our daily activities better we should be able to incorporate some exercise time. You will need to be disciplined and stick to timescales, especially if you use a computer. If you can include a little extra walking, swimming gardening, housework, walking and more, an actual exercise program will be unnecessary.

No matter what government initiatives there are it will ultimately boil down to you and your choices.

OK, as Baloo says in The Jungle Book, "Get with the beat Baggie."

More;
https://www.bhf.org.uk/-/media/files/publications/research/bhf_physical-activity-statistics-2015feb.pdf