Medical research has warned about the risks of physical inactivity for years now. It has correlated an inactive lifestyle with serious diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. Obesity and hypertension are two grave threats to the human body, which have sadly been normalized. It’s rare to find an individual without a pressing health problem nowadays
Physical inactivity appears as a fairly harmless aspect of the modern lifestyle –until it starts showing an effect on our health. Since, with the exception of a few, jobs today require a huge amount of time sitting, our bodies miss out on that essential dose of activity.
Few ways in which our bodies show this effect are:
Obesity
Everyone knows about the health risks that accompany the cozy couch potato lifestyle. While not the only risk, gaining weight is still a significant outcome. Since so many of us do not realize the importance of taking out the time to burn calories, we put on pounds that are not only difficult to shed but can quickly turn into lethal results. It’s not good for your heart, and it’s not good for your brain. Women, especially, develop hormonal imbalances that challenge a healthy and stress-free life. However, it must not be ignored that someone who is not obese is automatically healthy. Body types vary due to various factors, and someone with the conventionally ideal waist size may also have disturbing health issues.
Weakness
Hitting the gym is not a mere affair of vanity. It is going to save you from weaker muscles and unreliable endurance. With regular exercise of the muscles, you’ll develop noticeably different endurance and strength. Your muscles work better when they are regularly used and stretched. It is also commonly noted that a part of an inactive lifestyle easily relies upon unhealthy food, further escalating severe issues for the body. Hiring a certified Personal Trainer can be advantageous for individuals confused about how to tread this journey. Consulting experts and checking your nutritional deficiencies is a crucial but often forgotten step.
Weaker bones
Some health risks, like poor blood circulation and weaker bones, escalate into severe problems with aging. Engaging in sedentary behaviour is also associated with a worsened metabolism. With the rise of options in processed foods, we neglect our nutrition. Many deficiencies need to be addressed in our early years, lest they affect our old age. Calcium-rich foods are important for the bones and also help in mood regulation. Someone with weaker bones and muscles is likely to feel tired and frustrated. This ends up negatively impacting productivity levels and other areas of life.
Stroke
With a sedentary lifestyle that goes unchecked, many people succumb to the risk of a stroke. Since an unhealthy lifestyle and high blood pressure are strongly linked, a brain stroke is, unfortunately, a common health complication many people have to suffer from. It’s tragic that something so preventable happens at such an alarming rate. High blood pressure can be managed with proper care and a fit lifestyle. The need to pay extra attention to health has rocketed after the pandemic since people who suffered from COVID-19 have struggled with long-term health risks.
Bad Mental Health
The modern person is aware that mental illnesses and overall mental health issues have been on the rise. While being physically active cannot be a treatment for depression, anxiety, or other disorders, it is an underrated part of the lifestyle that can help make it manageable. Exercising regularly releases hormones that assist in coping better with stress. And it boosts your confidence! Many burnt-out young adults may benefit from signing up for lifestyle coaching to better navigate health, career, and relationships.
You’re Missing Out on that ‘Glow’
When you exercise regularly, you’re allowing your blood circulation to do its job better. This not only helps reduce the visible signs of stress and aging on your skin but removes toxins, too, giving that much-coveted glow to your skin. People benefiting from regular exercising have reported improvement in skin conditions like eczema and acne. It’s also essential to put on sunscreen if your workout involves a lot of sun exposure!
An Overall Better Life The life offered in the twenty-first century is nothing short of a wonder. It may not have panned out the best way as far as our health is concerned. Modern transportation, as convenient and necessary as it is, has sharply reduced the necessity of walking to reach somewhere. Jobs dependent on new technologies have emerged, sharply reducing the need to be physically active.
But it is never too late to work on how you engage with your health. The WHO has warned multiple times nations all over the world have drafted policies to urge citizens to participate in an active lifestyle, and fitness challenges have taken social media by storm. Yet, how aware are we of the long-term effects of sitting on our computers the whole day? For a better and healthier life, action needs to be taken now.
