A few daily help the government

By moving more quality of life and a longer life

15/05/2013

Exercise is good for your health - but also for the state! This was the result of a study by the Center for Health (ZfG) of the German Sport University Cologne. For already five percent more physical activity can therefore save 2.6 million euros within ten years for the health service. In addition, people who walk 1,700 paces daily in at least ten-minute units die later than others. Overall, the risk of death is reduced by twelve percent.

Few steps per day significantly reduce the risk of death
„Anyone who moves regularly extends his life and increases his quality of life, "reports Professor Ingo Froböse of the Center for Health (ZfG) of the German Sport University Cologne to the news agency „dpa“. He cites a ZfG study, according to which already 3,000 steps per day reduce the risk of death by 20 percent. Small changes in the daily routine can therefore make a big difference. Who takes the stairs instead of the elevator and the bicycle instead of the car, does a great service to his health.

Froböse sees a significant problem especially in permanent sitting. Whether in the office or at home on the sofa - instead of moving, people increasingly spend more time sitting down. „Due to lack of time and convenience, we have acquired a lifestyle that makes us sick in the long run. And that, even though we can achieve great benefits with little effort, "says the expert.

Just a few steps a day means savings in healthcare
„The loss of physical activity leads to premature aging of the cardiovascular system. The heart functions diminish. Likewise, the vessels are weakening“, Froböse reports in a message on his website. Even a weakened immune system metabolic disorders, rheumatism, muscle atrophy and osteoarthritis could be caused by lack of exercise. „The cartilage, the intervertebral disc - ultimately, every articular structure and even the bones hang on the drip of movement.“ After sitting for eight hours sitting, the body lies in a coma. Froböse points out, however, that this deficit built up over the entire day can not be reduced by sport alone. Physical inactivity must be interrupted on a regular basis.

In addition to the enormous health benefits, moderate exercise also means significant health savings. According to Froböse, 1,700 steps per day could save € 335,000 a year. Calculated over ten years, the cost savings could amount to an estimated 3.3 million euros. Even if physical activity only increased by five percent, it would still be possible to save 2.6 million euros after ten years, according to the expert.

Lack of exercise leads to countless deaths
US researchers at Harvard Medical School in Boston published a study in the specialist magazine last summer „The Lancet“ on the topic of physical inactivity. As a result, too little physical activity in 2008 resulted in more than five million of the world's total of 57 million deaths. As the researchers reported, conditional physical inactivity reported six percent of cases of coronary heart disease, seven percent of type 2 diabetes, ten percent of colon cancer cases, and ten percent of breast cancers. This resulted in millions of deaths, the least of which were very likely to be avoided. Because women often move less than men, they are particularly affected by the consequences of lack of exercise. (Ag)