Published On: July 18th, 2012|

Adelaide Now – Staff Writer

“A third of the world’s adults are physically inactive, and the couch potato lifestyle kills about five million people every year, experts said in the medical journal The Lancet on Wednesday…The picture for adolescents is even more worrying, with four out of five 13- to 15-year-olds not moving enough…inactivity was a risk factor comparable to smoking or obesity. Lack of exercise causes an estimated six percent of coronary heart disease cases, seven percent of type 2 diabetes (the most common form) and 10 percent of breast and colon cancers…The Lancet series called for global efforts to promote physical exercise by improving pedestrian and cyclist safety on city roads, for example, more physical education at school or promoting access to free public exercise spaces.” (more)