Vocational School of Justice
SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE: OPEN DOOR TO DISEASAS
Sedentary lifestyle and lack of physical exercise are an open invitation for cardiovascular diseases, obesity, colon and breast cancers, high blood pressure, stroke, and etc. The experts point out the importance of exercising regularly about 60 minutes a day for kids, and 150 minutes a week for adults.
Physiotherapist Hatice Ayan, Lecturer at Physical Therapy Program, Vocational School of Health Services, Izmir University of Economics, stated that many people were experiencing various pains, functional and locomotor system disorders due to inactivity as a result of advanced technology. Ayan said, “Based on World Health Organization (WHO) data, the number of overweight individuals in 2014 is over 1.9 billion, and 600 million of those are obese. Reason behind obesity and excess weight is the imbalance between calories taken and calories used. Inactivity caused by increased urbanization, changes in means of transportation, and working a desk job is among the most important factors behind this. First of all the amount of energy through fats and sugar needs to be limited, and vegetables, fruits, legumes, and whole grain products should be consumed instead. Another important thing to do is to maintain a regular active life: physical activity about 60 minutes a day for kids, and 150 minutes a week for adults.”
‘Maintaining Health through Physical Therapy’
Ayan said that the physiotherapists not only worked with people who have inactivity or functional disorders, but also with healthy people to maintain a healthy life. Ayan indicated that the therapy was not limited to a hospital setting only, with ergonomic arrangements physical therapy could take place at homes, workplaces, schools also. Ayan also said that September 8 was celebrated as the World Physical Therapy Day. “Physiotherapists use methods such as exercises, manual therapy methods, electro physical agents, neurophysiological treatment approaches, and functional activity education. I suggest consulting a physiotherapist for more active and healthier lifestyle in order to prevent diseases and increase the quality of your life. Do not neglect leading an active life,” said Ayan.