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What’s Wrong with a Sedentary Lifestyle?
While many of us are overweight, few of us like to exercise or follow a diet
program. Many of us are couch potatoes. We prefer the sedentary lifestyle of
doing as little as we can. We spend way too much time watching television.
We tend to eat almost constantly while we are watching. We eat high calorie
snack foods without regard to portion size. We also eat a lot of low fat
foods not realizing that low fat does not mean low calorie. We take in
thousands of calories and expend very few of them. A 2004 study showed that
20% of all deaths age 35 and over can be attributed to our sedentary
lifestyle. We are more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and a host of
other problems than are our active counterparts.
The Paradox of Progress
The introduction of new technologies in transportation and communications
has made our lives easier and more comfortable. Unfortunately, they have
also lessened our physical activities. Once we walked a lot. The average
person walked at least one hour a day, five days a week, and burned 2,000
calories every week. That’s about 96,000 calories a year. Today, most of us
walk very little. As a result, we don’t burn off the calories. Instead, we
store them as fat. The advent of the computer age has opened the world to
our fingertips. Information has become digitalized. The problem is that we
are now tied to our desks for longer and longer periods, snacking, eating
meals, and not moving. We do not want to convert these calories to fat. It
is the accumulation of extra calories and the lack of exercise that plays
havoc on our bodies.
Television
Most of us have favourite TV shows. We like to settle down in our easy chair
or on the couch and pass the evening away watching television. There are two
problems associated with this. First, there are lots of commercials
advertising desserts and snack foods. Second, they make us hungry and we go
to the kitchen and help ourselves. Ever eat just one chip, one pretzel or
one piece of candy? Most likely, you eat part or all of the bag without ever
thinking about the calories you are consuming. If, for example, you like to
snack on Nabisco Wheat Thins™ you are consuming 150 calories for every 16
crackers you eat. Sixteen is not a lot, especially if you are repeatedly
digging into the box. If you eat the whole box in one sitting, you are
eating 1350 calories. That’s over half a day’s worth of calories on many
diet plans. Some snack foods have even more calories per portion. Now
consider that you might eat those 1350 calories every night on top of the
day’s calories. Pretty soon, you’re in desperate need of a diet. There’s
nothing wrong with eating Nabisco Wheat Thins™ but they and other snack
foods should be eaten in moderation.
The Aging Process
Telomeres are repeat sequences of DNA that sit on the ends of chromosomes,
protecting them from damage. Researchers at The King's College London found
telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people. Examining white blood
cells from the immune system, the researchers found that telomeres lost 21
component parts (nucleotides) every year. The telomeres of very active
people had a similar length to those of inactive people who were up to 10
years younger. This means that inactivity may actually speed up the ageing
process itself. Stress is also thought to have an impact on telomere length,
and the researchers suggest people who exercise regularly may help to reduce
their stress levels.
Cardiovascular Disease
Your heart depends upon an adequate, uninterrupted flow of blood through the
three main coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when these arteries
become less flexible and constricted. The arteries are typically 3 to 4 mm
in diameter. When they become constricted, blood flow diminishes and heart
disease, even heart attacks, occurs. Physical inactivity increased the risk
of dying from heart disease in men by 52% and in women by 28%. With daily
proper exercise and diet, the heart becomes stronger. Blood flow is not
constricted and these problems can usually be avoided.
Type 2 Diabetes
Physical fitness and exercise help prevent obesity and the onset of type 2
diabetes mellitus. Regular exercise aids in the regulation of glucose levels
in the blood. Exercise can also be helpful for those who already have
diabetes. Exercise also prevents cardiovascular disease which is leading
cause of death in diabetics.
Cancer and Other Concerns
A 2004 study revealed that physical inactivity increased the risk of dying
from cancer in men by 45% and in women by 28%. There is evidence that
regular, moderate physical activity can decrease the risk of colon cancer,
breast tumors, and other malignancies. Regular, moderate exercise can help
fight off the common cold. It is important for maintaining muscle strength,
joint structure, and joint function.
The answer to the title of this paper is simple. The sedentary lifestyle
makes us vulnerable to disease and can kill us.
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