Esercizio Fisico e Salute

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A cura di: Dott. Damiano Macone, PhD

Negli ultimi anni, la comunità scientifica ha guardato con grande interesse al contributo che l'attività fisica e lo sport possono offrire nel mantenere e/o incrementare il benessere psico-fisico. Nonostante la comunità scientifica abbia unanimanente riconosciuto tale valore, c’è una tendenza, nei paesi maggiormente sviluppati, all’inattività che mette a rischio la salute pubblica.

TRENDS OF PHYSICAL INACTIVITY: RISKS FOR HEALTH
(Estratto dalla tesi di PhD)


It is widely accepted that physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour dramatically enhance the risk of death and chronic diseases of new generations (ACSM, 2006). In the U.S., it has been estimated that inactivity results in one-third of all deaths from CHD, colon cancer and diabetes (Powell & Blair, 1994).

Meta-analyses (Powel, Thompson, Caspersen, and Kendrik, 1987) have further indicated that sedentary life seriously increases disease and premature death. In particular, the World Health Organization (WHO, 2003), estimates that physical inactivity cause 1.9 million deaths globally. Moreover, physical inactivity causes globally, about 10-16% of cases of breast cancer, colon and rectal cancers and diabetes mellitus, and about 22% of ischemic heart disease. The risk of getting a cardiovascular disease increases up to 1.5 times in people who do not follow minimum physical activity recommendations (WHO, 2003).

These date dramatically enhance considering that physical inactivity is closely related to other risks factors such as poor diet tobacco and alcohol consumption. “Unless addressed, the mortality and disease burden from these health problems will continue to increase. WHO (2008), projects that, globally, NCD (Non-communicable Diseases) deaths will increase by 17% over the next ten years. The greatest increase will be seen in the African region (27%) and the Eastern Mediterranean region (25%). The highest absolute number of deaths will occur in the Western Pacifi c and South- East Asia regions” (WHO 2008). On the other hand, there is now worldwide acceptance among scientific authorities that physical activity is an important element of healthy living.

Scientific evidence (American College of Sport Medicine, 1978, 1990, 2006) has indicated that regular physical activity and sports provide people of all ages and conditions, with a wide range of physical, social, and mental health benefits. Specifically, it has been demonstrated that physical activity and exercise prevent and reduce the incidence of stroke, cardiac events, hypertension, type2 diabetes mellitus, colon and breast cancer osteoporosis, and delay mortality (ACSM, 2006). Additionally to the above mentioned benefits, being physically active also has social and mental health benefits (i.e. depression and anxiety reduction) (WHO, 2004). Taking into account all different causes of death, moderate to high physical fitness has been associated with lower mortality, whereas low level of fitness with higher mortality. Higher levels of activity and fitness are protective factors in older as well as in younger populations. In recent longitudinal studies, people who become fitter over time reduced their risks of mortality in comparison with those who remain within low levels of fitness (Dubbert, 2002). This holds true from middle age to older age, indicating that “it is never too late to became physically active to achieve health benefit” (ACSM, 2006).

Physical activity, also interacts positively with strategies to reduce caloric excess, discourage the use of tobacco, alcohol, help to reduce violence, enhances functional capacity, and promote social interaction and integration (WHO, 2003). Despite this wealth of evidence, data show that more than 60% of adults do not engage in sufficient levels of physical activity to ensure health benefits (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005). Physical inactivity is more prevalent among women, older adults, individuals from low socio-economic groups, and the disabled (WHO, 2003). Physical activity also decreases with age during adolescence, and this decline continues throughout the adult years (Pratt, Macera, Blanton, 1999). In many countries, less than one-third of young people are sufficiently active to benefit from their present and future health and female adolescents are less active than male adolescents (Pratt, et al., 1999). This is related in part to lack of physical activity during leisure time, but is even more likely the result of people spending an increasing amount of time in sedentary behaviour such as watching television, using computer, and excessive use of “passive” modes of transport (i.e. cars, buses) (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2005).
Health promotion is, hence, an emerging field of action in public health in developed and developing countries. Given the health, economic, and social benefit of physical activity and the high costs of inactivity, it is time for urgent action to be taken in order to integrate physical activity promotion in health and social development strategies, policies, and programmes world wide (WHO, 2003).