The Real Cost of Being Inactive
Date: 12 Feb, 2015 By: physio
According to a recent study, a sedentary or inactive lifestyle can be as harmful as smoking. One of its deadly effects is obesity. In fact, about 1 in 10 deaths worldwide are caused by being extremely overweight. Today, there are a large number of people who do not get active enough in their daily lives.
Below are some of the costs of being inactive:
Hypertension
Inactive individuals are endangering their hearts by not putting in the time to do any exercise. A recent study shows that people who do not engage in physical activity regularly have a 35 per cent chance of developing hypertension. This can be due to the decreased amount of High Density Lipoproteins or HDL in their body. HDL is dubbed as “good cholesterol”, able to fight Low Density Lipoprotein or LDL (“bad cholesterol”). Inactivity can lower the number of HDLs in the body, leading to hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases.
Obesity
Obesity is a condition where a person's fat percentage is significantly high, often cause by their energy expenditure being less than the amount they consume. Energy comes from the calories of the food you eat. Every day, you burn off calories and store any unused amounts in your body. Unused energy is turned into adipose tissues or fats. Frequent inactivity can lead to obesity. The dangers of obesity include cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Being overweight can also affect a person's self-esteem.
Muscle atrophy
Prolonging your lack of exercise can lead to muscle loss or atrophy. This is typically due to the body's decreased amount of physical activity. Individuals with muscle atrophy have difficulty accomplishing minor tasks such as walking. Physical exercises can keep your muscles from wasting away.
Low mental health
Being obese or overweight due to inactivity can also result in depression, impotence and insomnia. All of these can affect a person's self-esteem. Exercising keeps both your body and mind in top condition. While working out, your pituitary gland releases endorphins, which can make you feel happy or put you in a good mood.
Being inactive can be an expensive bill for your body to pay. It is important to find the time to include physical exercise in your daily routine. Pay a visit at Physio on Brunswick to know how. Their team of physiotherapists in Brisbane can help your body stay in top condition. Call (07) 3252 5277 to have a representative assist you today.