Latin America is the region of the world with the highest percentage of the population with insufficient physical activity to stay healthy, to reach 39%. According to the results of a study by the World Health Organization (who) reported today, coinciding with its publication in the scientific journal “Lancet”, Latin America surpasses in this regard to the whole of Western countries with high income, where in general it which makes less physical activity in the of low incomes, with a 37 and 16% of their populations, respectively, in this situation. It is the first research that provides estimates about the inadequacy of physical activity – considered one of the main factors of non-communicable diseases – over a period of sixteen years, from 2001 to 2016.De America Latina, the country where the sedentary lifestyle is more entrenched is Brazil, where 47% of the population has insufficient physical activity.
Costa Rica, Argentina and Colombia are not far from Brazil in these results, because the population that does not have sufficient physical activity is in them, respectively, on 46, 41 and 36%. On the opposite side, Uruguay, Chile and Ecuador are those who have the best rates, with only 22%, 26% and 27% of its population that does not meet the minimum requirements of physical activity. Bolivia, Haiti, and Peru are the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean with more than ten million inhabitants who did not have data in this regard. Levels recommended by who of physical activity a week are at least 150 minutes in moderate to severe degree or 75 minutes of strong physical effort.
“Rapid urbanization has caused people to leave places where should exercise to work, especially in agriculture, to settle in cities where are unemployed or have jobs in the industry, much more sedentary and those who are” they make repetitive movements,”said the lead author of the study and an expert from the who, Regina Guthold.La research encourages countries to adopt national policies in favour of modes of transport, non-motorised, such as walking or cycling, as well as the people’s participation in sports activities in their spare time.” These policies are particularly important in countries in rapid, such as Argentina, Brazil and Colombia urbanization”, says the document.
Globally, one in every three women and one in four men do not have enough physical activity to maintain health, which represents a quarter of the world’s population (1,400 million).
This implies an increase in the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some types of cancer. The co-author of the study, Fiona Bull, commented that the massification of the use of electronic devices – such as computers, cell phones and tablets, among others – has much increased sedentary habits and, as a result, physical inactivity rates have increased. “Lee also: physical activity or exercise?” We all use electronic devices more often and longer, spend more time to go to work and these journeys are made of sedentary form. All these elements add up”, said Bull.A general level, women appear as less active physically than men, except for what happens in Southeast Asia. WHO considers that this indicates that action is required to promote and improve women’s access to opportunities for physical activity that are safe, affordable and culturally acceptable. EFE in this note: physical activity exercise disease prevention
