Surprising result: Being sedentary is equivalent to smoking

Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erkan Kaya, who works at Bursa City Hospital, stated that with the development of technology, the rate at which humans move their bodies has declined to 28 percent in the last century, and issued warnings against the ailments caused by inactivity.

Pointing out that inactivity harms human health more than is commonly thought, Kaya continued as follows:

"The human body consists of various systems that work in cooperation with each other. It is quite important for these systems to work together and regularly. The musculoskeletal system is one of the systems that sustains other vital activities, such as the cardiovascular system and the respiratory system, and is important for health. By nature, the human body is programmed to be active.

Therefore, since the beginning of history, humans have been in constant motion until the last century in order to protect themselves, feed themselves, and escape from various dangers. Studies show that in the last century, human movement has decreased from a level of 98 percent to 28 percent."

'WE MUST RETURN TO OUR FACTORY SETTINGS'

Kaya reported that a sedentary lifestyle invites many diseases.

Pointing out that mobility is decreasing day by day with technological developments, Kaya said, "During the pandemic process, we even started doing our shopping, which is considered a simple daily life activity, without leaving the house. We need to return to our factory settings as soon as possible. Studies show that inactivity constitutes a significant risk factor on its own for insulin resistance, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and even many types of cancer.

According to one study, remaining sedentary even creates the same risk factor as a person who smokes throughout the day."

'AT LEAST 10 THOUSAND STEPS SHOULD BE TAKEN PER DAY'

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Erkan Kaya stated that a healthy body can be achieved with some correct exercises to be done daily.

Giving examples of these exercises, Kaya noted the following:

"Movement that we will do 5 days a week, for at least half an hour a day, will meet our daily movement needs. Let us not forget that we need to take at least 10 thousand steps a day. We can choose sports branches suitable for ourselves. With the movement we make, blood circulation increases, our respiratory rate increases, and thanks to beneficial hormones released from the vessels, the oxygenation and nutrition of tissues reach a better level.

Therefore, human metabolism increases. In this way, fat burning, which can provide weight control, is also accelerated. Flexibility and endurance in the muscles increase. This is reflected in bone strength. In other words, the risk of developing osteoporosis is also reduced. The skin gains a more transparent and youthful appearance."