No fewer than 240,000 Nigerians die annually as a result of physical
inactivity, Dr. Babatunde Adegoke, an Associate Professor of
Physiotherapy, has said.
Adegoke, who is of the Department of Physiotherapy, College of Medicine,
University of Ibadan, made this disclosure at a lecture organised by
the Nigeria Society of Physiotherapy, Ogun State chapter.
The lecture, which has its theme: “The Aging Process, Disease and
Physical Activity”, was organised to mark the 2013 World Physiotherapy
Day.
The don, who expressed concern over the prevalence of chronic diseases
in the country, attributed the cause of the deaths to failure of many
Nigerians to engage in regular physical activities.
He said: “Insufficient physical activity and sedentary lifestyle have
been identified as one of the leading causes of chronic diseases.
“About 15 per cent of the 1.6 million chronic health conditions that are
newly diagnosed every year are caused by sedentary lifestyle alone,
independent of other risk factors.
“Physical activity encompasses exercise, walking, working, sports and day-to-day activities.
“However, exercise, which is a subset of physical activity, is more focused, planned and structured.
“Each hour spent walking reduces the risk of developing obesity by 25 per cent and diabetes by 35 per cent.”
Adegoke urged Nigerians to engage in regular physical activities.
He said 150 minutes of moderate but intensified physical activity
weekly, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensified physical activity per
week, are required to stay fit and healthy.
In his address, the Acting Provost/CMD, Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro
in Abeokuta, Dr. Timothy Adebowale, said it was erroneous to think that
physiotherapy is only meant for obese or sick people.
Adebowale, who was represented by Dr. Abolagade Amoo, a Consultant
Physiotherapist, explained that working and sweating is not a form of
exercise as believed in most quarters.
He said: “It is important to exercise.
“But it should not be just to exercise.
“Rather, it should be a target exercise for at least 30 minutes a day.”
Culled from The Eagle
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