Physical inactivity could be more deadly than obesity

It is a common notion that obesity brings along with itself a number of problems like cardiovascular diseases, depression and even cancer. However a new research has indicted lethargy and inactivity as a major cause of deaths across Europe every year. The study found that the figures are double that caused by obesity.

According to a research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition on Thursday reported that just a 20-minute brisk walk each day can significantly reduce the risk of early death. The report has been based on the study conducted by the researchers from the University of Cambridge. The study involved 334,161 European men and women whose height, weight and waist circumference, and self-assessed levels of physical activity between 1992 and 2,000 were measured. The subjects in the study were analyzed over a period of 12 years, during which time 21,438 of them died. The study estimated that physical lethargy led to 676,000 of the 9.2 million annual deaths in Europe, or twice the rate of deaths caused by obesity.

Professor Ulf Ekelund who led the study said, “This is a simple message: just a small amount of physical activity each day could have substantial health benefits for people who are physically inactive. Although we found that just 20 minutes would make a difference, we should really be looking to do more than this – physical activity has many proven health benefits and should be an important part of our daily life.”

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Tara Hamilton

Tara has graduated from the University of Oregon, with bachelors degree in Spanish Literature in 2010. She lived in Miami for one year and travelled extensively before settling down in El Paso.