‘Substantial’ rates of death linked to inactivity
ALMOST one in every 14 deaths are because of physical inactivity, a new study suggests.
Some 7.2% of deaths around the world are attributable to inactivity, new research suggests. This rises to 7.6% when only looking at deaths attributable to heart or blood vessel disease, according to the study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.
Researchers, led by experts at the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in the United States, examined inactivity and the link between some major causes of ill health. Inactivity is linked to 8.1% of dementia cases around the world, but just 1.6% of cases of high blood pressure.
The researchers, who reviewed the scientific literature on inactivity and death and disease, also found higher rates in higher income countries.
In higher-income countries, almost one in every ten (9.3%) deaths are attributed to physical inactivity, but the authors cautioned that 69% of total deaths and 74% of cardiovascular disease deaths associated with physical inactivity occur in middle-income countries because of their population size.
People are urged to get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity. Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for premature death and several diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers.
The study comes as broadcasters are being urged to host more exercise classes for the over-50s, after separate figures suggested older people have moved around less during the pandemic.
The Centre for Ageing Better and Derrick Evans, also known as Mr Motivator, called for immediate action to stem the decline in strength and activity among older age groups.
Figures this month from Sport England showed that more than a third of over-55s believed their strength has declined since the outbreak of Covid19, compared with 17% who thought it had increased. Some 37% are doing less physical activity than they were this time last year, compared with 31% of those aged 16 to 34.
The Centre for Ageing Better and
Mr Evans, 68, said there needs to be regular televised activity slots aimed at over-50s, who watch more TV than any other age group.
Mr Evans, who made his name doing work-outs on breakfast TV, said: “The most important thing an older person can have is their health and independence.
“You cannot underestimate the impact that exercise can have on your mental and physical wellbeing.”
“Our older people deserve to have access to regular, safe, effective and fun televised activities. Nobody should be excluded.”
Anna Dixon, chief executive of the Centre for Ageing Better, said the pandemic has had a “serious impact on people in their 50s and beyond, limiting the amount of physical exercise they have been able to do and causing a knock-on effect on their strength.”
She called for more live TV classes, adding: “We need to see urgent action taken to reverse this trend, or we risk seeing serious consequences for people’s long-term health in the years ahead. Good muscle strength is crucial to staying healthy and active, and preventing falls as we enter later life.”