Health promotion in physical activity - Essay Example

HEALTH PROMOTION IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY due: Introduction Physical activity has been shown to be one of the major determinants of health (WHO 2007:1). Engaging in physical activity aids the body to expend excess energy stored in form of fat and therefore reduce the chances of getting lifestyle health conditions including obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension) and Type 2 diabetes, among others. Furthermore, it increases muscle strength and promotes joint health (WHO 2009:18). Physical inactivity has been discovered to be the principal risk factor for most fatal chronic diseases. Statistics show that it is responsible for 21.5% of ischemic heart disease, 14% of diabetes, 11% of ischemic stroke and 10% of breast cancer cases worldwide (Bull et al. 2004:730). As such, increasing physical activity in our daily lives is vital and also a responsibility for everyone, from policy makers to the individual. Health promoting policies Adults are the most affected group in regard to physical inactivity, more so the working class and this has been as a result of various factors. For example, the increasing demand for mobility has led to decreased use of physically active modes of travelling such as walking and increased travelling by cars dramatically. The urban planning and environment sectors have failed in this regard by increasing the distances between where people live, work and have leisure activities and sports. The aesthetic appearance of the neighbourhoods is also not appealing thus discouraging walking or cycling and most residents’ perception of security while walking, or cycling is also negative. Schools and workplaces further encourage this sedentary lifestyle by using lifts as opposed to stairs and also not incorporating physical education in the curriculum. Following much scientific research on the magnitude of this issue, there have been previous interventions at the policymaking level in the past. The World Health Organization in 2004 implemented the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) which calls on member states, the private sector and public sector to implement policies that help in reducing and preventing chronic disease. The European Charter on Countering Obesity was also formed by WHO member states in the region on 16 November, 2006. This document details actions needed to curb the obesity epidemic in the region (WHO 2007:10). However, even with the combined efforts of states in Europe, obesity is still on a continuous rise with alarming predictions of its prevalence in the future. Policies implemented to curb the pandemic need to focus on making the healthy choices easy, natural and desirable to the target groups. Four main sectors are tasked with the responsibility of incorporating physical activity in the lives of the citizens as much as possible. They are health, transport, urban planning and environment and occupation sectors. The health sector can start by promoting and engaging in inter-sectorial work at all levels, ensuring that health practitioners are motivated to promote physical activity to the public and also to lead by example. The transport sector needs to address the safety needs of cyclists and pedestrians, link with the health sector to harmonize their policies and to communicate the benefits of physically active transport as compared to using cars. The urban planning and environment sector can begin by renovating the neighbourhoods to make them more appealing thus facilitating walking and cycling. Urban sprawl and other similar designs should be discouraged (Ewing, Shmid, Killingsworth, Zlot & Raudenbush 2003:56) and the community urged to participate in urban planning and policing to create safer neighbourhoods. The workplaces can promote physical activity in their employees through various ways, for example, supporting gym memberships, agreeing on a physical activity plan with the employees and fostering of a physically active organizational culture by employers. Preventing sedentary lifestyles Even though they play a prime role in promoting a physically active life it should not be the sole responsibility of local governments and other relevant sectors. It all adds up to the willingness of the individual to maintain an active lifestyle. The person should make sure that they incorporate as much physical activity as possible in their daily lives. The daily physical activity recommendation for an adult according to the WHO is at least thirty minutes of moderate to intense physical activity most, if not all, days in the week for adults (Pate et al. 1995:402) and one hour of moderate to intense exercise for five or more days weekly for children and youth (Strong et al. 2005:732). These durations can be split into shorter periods of not less than 10 minutes each. Achieving the required time for physical exercise is easy without necessarily enrolling in the gym. There are many ways in which one can include physical activity in their daily routine, for instance, walking or cycling instead of driving to work, taking the stairs instead of elevators, parking the car at a distance from the workplace and taking lunchtime walks just to mention a few. Research also shows that having a pet can help one increase their daily physical activity levels. Dog owners were found to exercise more than non-dog owners since they take time to walk their dogs and play with them in the parks and around the neighbourhood (Brown & Rhodes 2006:131). Having a dog for company during walks is a good idea, and it can also increase one’s level of exercise when playing with them (Foster & Hillsdon 2004: 755-769). The local government can also make it easier for residents to engage in physical activities during their leisure time, especially those that cannot afford to pay for expensive gym sessions or sports. In Kardikoy, Turkey, for instance, the local government has set up walkways and exercise equipment in public parks for people to use in the open air; especially those who cannot afford to pay for gym membership or don’t have the time (Edwards & Tsouros 2006:14). Making sure the parks and other similar public amenities are safe is also one way in which the local government can encourage active living among its citizens. Health education to promote physical activity Physical education is important, not only to the citizens but also all stakeholders involved. The public sector which encompasses the transport and urban planning and environment sectors can be shown how promoting physical activity is a win-win situation. When people walk and cycle more often as opposed to using cars and trains, there is less environmental pollution as a result of exhaust fumes, less noise pollution and traffic congestion, more revenue savings due to less maintenance and construction of roads, more energy saving, safer neighbourhoods and a healthy population in the end. The health sector should in particular be at the forefront of the physical activity campaign since they are the most reliable source of data for all the other sectors. Physical activity has been found to affect sick leave positively. Through reduction of sick leaves, employers are benefit from increased productivity, improved team spirit and better employee relations. An organizational culture that promotes physical activity can also benefit both the business and the people working within it. Education can be done through putting up posters on walls on staircases or inside the elevators. The institution can also conduct several training sessions on the importance of physical exercise in regard to the business. The individuals also need to be educated about the importance of physical activity through every other channel available. This is inclusive of print and electronic media, in the health facilities, social gatherings and other relevant ways. The school curriculum should also incorporate physical education, both in theory and practice, to ensure that the importance of physical activity in sustaining health is taught to children early in their lives and emphasized even in their adult lives. Conclusion Urban planning, increased need for mobility, insecurity and poor neighbourhood aesthetic value coupled with the poor diet of citizens are some of the factors that have led to the rise in chronic diseases in the recent past. With the right interventions derived from a multisectoral approach, chances of reversing this detrimental trend are high (Evans, Coustaftiki & Fathers, 2014:1). Everyone needs to take responsibility in his or her capacity, beginning from the highest federal office to the least of citizens. More studies require to be conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of changes in the environment aimed at increasing physical activity and their effect on general health of the population (De Nazelle et al. 2011:13). Bibliography Brown, S. G., & Rhodes, R. E. (2006). Relationships among dog ownership and leisure-time walking in Western Canadian adults. American journal of preventive medicine, 30(2), 131-136. Bull FC, Armstrong TP, Dixon T, Ham S, Neiman A, Pratt M. Physical inactivity. In: Ezzati M, Lopez AD, Rodgers A, Murray CJL, (Eds). Comparative quantification of health risks. Geneva : World Health Organization; 2004 De Nazelle, A., Nieuwenhuijsen, M. J., Antó, J. M., Brauer, M., Briggs, D., Braun- Fahrlander, C., ... & Lebret, E. (2011). Improving health through policies that promote active travel: a review of evidence to support integrated health impact assessment. Environment international, 37(4), 766-777. Edwards, P., & Tsouros, A. D. (2006). Promoting physical activity and active living in urban environments: the role of local governments. WHO Regional Office Europe. Evans, D., Coutsaftiki, D., & Fathers, C. P. (2014). Health Promotion and Public Health for Nursing Students. SAGE Ewing, R., Schmid, T., Killingsworth, R., Zlot, A., & Raudenbush, S. (2003). Relationship between urban sprawl and physical activity, obesity, and morbidity. American journal of health promotion, 18(1), 47-57. Foster, C., & Hillsdon, M. (2004). Changing the environment to promote health-enhancing physical activity. Journal of Sports Sciences, 22(8), 755-769. Gregory, S., Dixon, A., & Ham, C. (2012). Health policy under the coalition government. A mid-term assessment. The Kings Fund, London. http://tinyurl. com/c7rdqtb (accessed 24 April 2014). Pate, R. R., Pratt, M., Blair, S. N., Haskell, W. L., Macera, C. A., Bouchard, C., ... & Wilmore, J. H. (1995). Physical activity and public health: a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine. Jama, 273(5), 402-407. Strong, W. B., Malina, R. M., Blimkie, C. J., Daniels, S. R., Dishman, R. K., Gutin, B., ... & Trudeau, F. (2005). Evidence based physical activity for school-age youth. The Journal of pediatrics, 146(6), 732-737. World Health Organization. (2007). Steps to health: A European framework to promote physical activity for health. World Health Organization. (2009, December 18). GLOBAL HEALTH RISKS: Mortality and burden of disease attributable to selected major risks. Retrieved October 25, 2014, from http://www.who.int/healthinfo/global_burden_disease/global_health_risks/en/in dex.html Read More