Exercise trends

Increases in sedentary behaviors such as overuse of electronics may lead to a decrease of physical activity.

Worldwide there has been a large shift towards less physically demanding work and a more sedentary lifestyle.[1] This has been accompanied by increasing use of mechanized transportation, automobile dependency, a greater prevalence of labor saving technology in the home, and less active recreational pursuits.[1] At least 31% of the world's population does not get sufficient physical exercise.[2] This is true in almost all developed and developing countries,[2] and among children.[3][4] Some experts refer to sitting as "the new smoking" because of its negative effects on overall health.[5]

These exercise trends are contributing to the rising rates of chronic long-lasting diseases such as: obesity, heart disease, stroke, preventable causes of death, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.[6] Active transport (walking, bicycling, etc.) has been found to be inversely related to obesity in Europe, North America, and Australia.[7] Thus exercise has been associated with a decrease in mortality.[6]

  1. ^ a b "WHO: Obesity and overweight". World Health Organization. Archived from the original on June 4, 2004. Retrieved January 10, 2009.
  2. ^ a b "WHO | Physical Inactivity: A Global Public Health Problem". WHO. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Kids2005 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Salmon J, Timperio A (2007). "Prevalence, trends and environmental influences on child and youth physical activity". Pediatric Fitness. Medicine and Sport Science. Vol. 50. pp. 183–99. doi:10.1159/000101391. ISBN 978-3-318-01396-2. PMID 17387258. {{cite book}}: |journal= ignored (help)
  5. ^ "Is Sitting the New Smoking?". Discovery. 2012-03-01.
  6. ^ a b "N C H S - Health E Stats - Physical Activity Among Adults: United States, 2000 and 2005". CDC. 2018-09-04.
  7. ^ Bassett DR, Pucher J, Buehler R, Thompson DL, Crouter SE (November 2008). "Walking, cycling, and obesity rates in Europe, North America, and Australia". Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 5 (6): 795–814. doi:10.1123/jpah.5.6.795. PMID 19164816.