One in five put inactivity before health
by Geraldine Hinter
A study of physical activity shows that one in five South Australian
residents do no physical activity at all and about half are not doing enough
exercise to be of benefit to their health.
Professor of Exercise Science at UniSA, Kevin Norton (pictured right) said that while the State Government report showed that activity levels had remained stable since 1998, it was a ‘small victory’ given an increasingly inactive society and lifestyles.
Prof Norton chairs the Physical Activity Council Research Panel, which assists the State Government to find ways of increasing activity in the community. The other UniSA member of the panel is Professor Wendy Schiller.
“To gain any health benefit, the guidelines recommend that people undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week,” Prof Norton said.
When compared with the 1998 study of physical activity levels, Prof Norton said that those who were already exercising seemed to have increased their activity levels but those who were inactive were doing even less.
“The two-thirds of people who did not undertake enough physical activity either felt that they were doing enough or wanted to do more, but the main reason for not exercising was that people didn’t have time,” Prof Norton said.
The study found that those who were getting enough exercise were more likely to be younger, male and have a higher level of education.
Of the 2,999 people who took part in the study, more than a third (34.2 per cent) were classified as overweight and 16.1 per cent were classified as obese, as determined by their body mass index, however, almost 83 per cent of those surveyed described their health as excellent, very good or good. Only 17.1 per cent rated physical activity as extremely important in their daily life.
Increasing evidence shows a link between being physically inactive and a greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and obesity. Regular exercise should be an essential part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle, according to Prof Norton.
“Being physically active has enormous health benefits. It can help us to maintain a healthy weight, reduce risk factors for major illnesses like cardiovascular disease, alleviate depression, boost self-esteem, improve mental alertness, manage stress and much more,” Prof Norton said.
“With all of these health benefits, no one can afford not to include 30 minutes
of exercise in their daily lives.”