Getting more active can have a positive impact on your
health and help prevent diseases.
Coronary Heart
Disease (CHD) is the leading cause of death in the UK,
with lack of physical activity doubling your risk of dying from
CHD.
Every year about 150,000 people in the UK have a
stroke. It is the third most
common cause of death and is the single most common cause of severe
disability. Regular physical activity prevents or delays the
development of high blood pressure which is a major risk factor of
having a stroke.
Cancer is one of
the leading killers in developed countries. Lung cancer followed by
bowel and breast cancer accounts for the majority of this illness.
Being physically active throughout our lives is known to reduce our
risk of developing some forms of cancer, especially colon
cancer.
Obesity in
the UK is increasing at a rapid rate. More than two thirds of women
and three quarters of men aged 55-74 are overweight or obese. For
effective weight management you need to use more energy than you
eat. Physical activity and healthy eating are key to this.
Type 2 diabetes is rapidly
increasing in the UK and is set to double by 2010. Regular physical
activity can protect you against developing this disease by 33-50
per cent.
Osteoporosis affects one in
three women and one in 12 men resulting in bones becoming so porous
that they can break very easily. Regular physical activity,
especially weight bearing activities such as walking and dancing,
is essential in maintaining healthy bones and joints.
Active living can also have a positive impact on
your mental health and well-being.
One in four people will have some experience of a mental
health problem in the course of a year. Regular physical activity
improves mood, helps relieve depression and increases feelings of
well-being. Getting out into the fresh air has been shown to
improve mood and reduce stress.
For more information about healthy and
active lifestyles contact
our Go4Life team.
