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Health and Fitness Tips: US Surgeon General’s Report
by Tracy Willis
Club Manager Dusit Resort Sports & Fitness Club
Last week we looked at some of the findings of the recent US Surgeon
General’s Report on physical activity and health. The scope of physical
inactivity poses a public health challenge for reducing the national burden
of unnecessary illness and premature death. Remember, the key finding is
that people of all ages can improve the quality of their lives through a
lifelong practice of moderate physical activity. Activities such as walking,
swimming and bicycling are ideal but don’t discount the value of dancing,
raking leaves, gardening or even shovelling snow. If an activity is fairly
moderate, then the longer you spend at it, the more beneficial it will be
Keep in mind that if you are contemplating an increase in physical activity,
you should start out slowly and gradually build up time spent exercising to
give the body time to adjust. This will help prevent soreness a injury.
Some of the effects of Physical activity on health and Disease were
illustrated in the report.
Overall mortality.
Even people who are moderately active on a regular basis have lower
mortality rates than those who are least active.
Cardiovascular Disease.
Regular physical activity or cardiorespiratory fitness decreases the risk of
cardiovascular mortality.
Regular physical activity also prevents or delays the development of high
blood pressure and exercise reduces blood pressure in people with
hypertension.
Osteoporosis
Weight bearing physical activity is essential for normal skeletal
development during childhood and adolescence and for achieving and
maintaining peak bone mass in young adults.
Falling There is promising evidence that strength training and other forms
of exercise in older adults preserve the ability to maintain independent
living status and reduce the risk of falling.
Obesity
Low levels of activity, resulting in fewer calories used than those
consumed, contribute to the high prevalence of obesity in the United States.
Physical activity may favourably affect body fat distribution.
Mental Health
Physical Activity appears to relieve symptoms of depression and anxiety and
improve mood.
Physical activity may reduce the risk of developing depression, although
further research is needed on this topic.
Increasing physical activity is a formidable public health challenge. The
stakes are high and potential rewards are momentous, preventing premature
death, unnecessary illness and disability: controlling health care costs
and; and maintaining a high quality of life into old age.
This report is not the final word- for many people it may well be a
beginning. A positive step into a new, more healthful direction. It is a
major challenge, but a worthwhile one. The choice is ours.
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