BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES - Universitatea de Medicină şi Farmacie

Sedentary lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle is a mode of living in which a person, an adult
or child, does not engage in sufficient physical activity or exercise for
what is generally considered healthy living. The term is often used by
doctors or professionals within the medical community to describe a
lifestyle among many people in highly developed countries that does not
afford them opportunities for physical activity. This type of living has
been heavily influenced by the propagation of passive forms of
entertainment such as television, video games, and computer use. Along
with such inactive types of entertainment, shifting of large numbers of
adult workers from physical labor to office jobs has also increased the
tendency for many people, especially in technologically developed
nations, toward a sedentary lifestyle. Numerous studies conducted by
doctors and researchers have indicated a variety of negative impacts on a
person’s life due to living a sedentary lifestyle. Some of the negative
effects mentioned by researches are as follows:
The major effect of a sedentary lifestyle is increased weight gain
and obesity. Ingesting a lot of calories and not really burning any of them,
body deposit them as excess fat. Obesity is a big problem of contemporary
society because it causes many difficult health problems such as heart
disease, diabetes, and increased chances of certain types of cancer.
Lack of physical exercise increased risk of heart diseases. Heart
in order to keep functioning efficiently must get a proper supply of blood
from the blood vessels (coronary arteries). Leading a sedentary lifestyle
can slow the blood circulation and blood vessels can get stiff and blocked.
In serious cases, this can lead to arteriosclerosis and cardiac arrest.
According to a study, lack of physical activity in middle age can increase
risk of dying from heart disease by 52 percent in men and 28 percent in
women.
Sedentary lifestyle increased risk of diabetes. According to study
conducted by researchers at Duke University Medical Center, regular
exercise helps in regulating the blood glucose levels. The lack of exercise
results in increased blood sugar levels putting excess stress on your
pancreas (which secretes the hormone Insulin), which increases chances of
diabetes.
Decreased activity increases the risk of developing certain types
of cancers such as breast cancer, colon cancer, and other types of
malignant tumors. According to a study carried out by the University of
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