{"id":86278,"date":"2017-02-06T12:00:08","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T12:00:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/?p=86278"},"modified":"2017-02-02T17:09:45","modified_gmt":"2017-02-02T17:09:45","slug":"want-to-prevent-stroke-diabetes-cancer-get-moving-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.transcend.org\/tms\/2017\/02\/want-to-prevent-stroke-diabetes-cancer-get-moving-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Want to Prevent Stroke, Diabetes, Cancer? Get Moving\u2026 Now!"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Worldwide, 81 per cent of school-aged children are not active enough. Photo: WHO<\/p><\/div>\n

2 Feb 2017<\/em> – Tired, lazy, bored, laying down long hours watching TV or seated checking your email? Wrong. And dangerous: not enough exercise contributes to cancer, diabetes, depression and other non-communicable diseases.<\/p>\n

The warning is bold and comes from the United Nations top health organisation, which is urging people to get up and get active.<\/p>\n

And the risks of inactivity are expanding alarmingly: according to a new document by the World Health Organization<\/a> (WHO<\/a>), less and less people are active in many countries \u2013 with nearly a quarter of all adults and more than 80 per cent of adolescents being too sedentary.<\/p>\n

WHO\u2019s Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs [Non-Communicable Diseases] 2013-2020<\/em> recommends that inactive people start with \u201csmall amounts of physical activity\u201d and then gradually increase duration, frequency and intensity over time.<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysical activity can be any activity \u2013not just sport\u2013 that uses energy\u2026 from playing and doing household chores to gardening and dancing\u2026 Any activity, be it for work, to walk or cycle to and from places, or as part of leisure time, has a health benefit,\u201d according to the Geneva-based UN agency.<\/p>\n

Not really sure? See these 10 facts that the United Nations top health agency has prepared:
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\nFact 1: Physical Activity Reduces Risk of Disease<\/strong><\/p>\n

Physical activity reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke, diabetes, hypertension, various types of cancer including colon cancer and breast cancer, as well as depression.<\/p>\n

Physical activity is also fundamental to energy balance and weight control. Globally, about 23 per cent of adults and 81 per cent of school-going adolescents are not active enough. Generally, women and girls are less active than men and boys, and older adults are less active than younger adults.<\/p>\n

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Photo: WHO\/A Loke<\/p><\/div>\n

Fact 2: It Helps to Maintain a Healthy Body<\/strong><\/p>\n

People who are physically active:<\/p>\n