Community Resources: July 25, 2019

COMMUNITY RESOURCES 2019
3
TOO MANY NEW ZEALANDERS
not exercising enough
New UK research has found that even
people who have been quite inactive much
of their life will benefit from exercise when
they are middle-aged or older.
A Cambridge University team of
researchers examined the relationship
between trends in physical activity levels
over time and mortality risk among adults
in middle age and older.
ExerciseNZ chief executive Richard Beddie
says many Kiwis will be shocked to learn
that New Zealand is the 13th-worst in the
world for physical inactivity and the worst
in the developed world.
“Exercise is the number-one sport in New
Zealand with more than half a million
participants, and growing research
confirms the health benefits of activity for
all Kiwis. But we should be much better
than that in terms of numbers,” Richard
says.
“We have a massive crisis in New Zealand
in terms of people’s inactivity. We urgently
need a co-ordinated approach to solve it,
involving government, local authorities,
schools and workplaces so we can
increase the quality and length of life of all
New Zealanders and reduce the burden on
the public health system.
“The exercise industry is ready and willing
to do its part and we want to present to a
government select committee on how to
address the issue. We need action and we
need it now.”
As countless research studies have
shown, exercise can lower the risk of
cardiovascular disease, cancer and
diabetes, and increase life expectancy.
The UK academic research looked at the
effects that exercise in middle and older
age have on the risk of premature death
and lifespan. It showed that no matter
when anyone starts to exercise in life, they
can still reap the benefits.
Richard agrees it is not too late for the
almost 50 per cent of New Zealanders
that don’t do enough physical activity to
earn the health benefits of exercise.
“World Health Organisation guidelines
say people should exercise 150 minutes
of movement a week, or 30 minutes five
times a week or 90 minutes of moderate
to intense activity a week,” he says.
“The Cambridge research showed that
even those that have been inactive for
much of their lives will make significant
health gains in life expectancy and quality
of life if they start moving more regularly.
“The UK team examined how changes in
exercise levels over time affect a person’s
risk of dying from any cause, as well as
dying from specific conditions — such as
cardiovascular disease.”
The researchers found out how much
exercise older adults need in order to
boost their reasoning skills and their
brains’ processing speed.
Also, the results suggested that even
if someone decided to exercise after
being physically inactive, the benefits for
longevity would still be significant.
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