Health and Fitness: Past, Present and Future

Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely absence of disease . Fitness is an ability to execute daily functional activities with optimal performance, endurance, and strength to manage minimalist of disease, fatigue, stress and reduced sedentary behavior . In the modern era with advancement in technology, erosion of physical activity has drastically led to retardation in health and fitness. Hoods of luxurious and competition among students for scores/grades and professionals for promotions/incentives/benefits have deviated people from concentrating towards their health and putting it secondary . Since the last few decades, studies have documented inactive and sedentary life style to make individuals prone towards chronic diseases . Despite our increased understanding of importance of being active, data from the World Health Organization (WHO) instigates, inactivity prevalent today in the society, contributing to the 6-10% burden of chronic disease and premature mortality. A review document from 2012 expressed prevalence of physical inactivity to exist in wide regions of the world; 27.5% in Africa, 43.3% in America, 34.8% in Europe, 17% in South East Asia and 33.7% in the Western Pacific . To support further, in June 2018, WHO reported, 1 in five adults, and 4 of five adolescents to pose reduced physical activity. Girls, women, geriatric population, under privileged population, individuals with disabilities and chronic diseases, marginalized groups, and indigenous people to have further fewer opportunities to keep themselves active. It is not surprising that the prevalence of inactivity is more evident in urban community when compared to rural . As it’s a general trend physical activity slows with aging and is reduced in retired, unemployed and less educated people, in the current ongoing pandemic era this scenario has been further negatively impacting the society to suffer from psychosocial, financial and economic loss, contributing to lack of physical activity . Policies encouraged by WHO, such as Global Action Plan for Physical Activity 2018-2030 and The European Physical Activity Strategy 2016-2025 promised to encourage and makes the society aware on benefits of being physically active.

Benefits of physical activity have been documented since early 20th century. Study show rate of coronary heart disease lower among physically active London bus conductors than bus drivers and government clerks . Health benefits of physical activity are not limited only to improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness, bone and cardiometabolic health, and positive effects on weight status, but it also boosts mental health and social health . Sibold and colleagues showed remarkable decline in suicidal thoughts and attempts by 23% in bullied adolescents engaged in physical activity than physically inactive people. Acknowledging the significance and urgency of decreasing insufficient physical activity globally, WHO endorsed a Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA) at the World Health Assembly in 2018, wherein the member countries agreed to reach a new target of 15% relative reduction in insufficient physical activity among adolescents by 2030 .

In many researches males are found to be more active when compared to their female counterpart . On the flipside, sitting time throughout day is higher in males than females . Researches also document students to be poorly active than adults .

FITNESS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR VARIABLE:

1)General considerations

2)Daily modifications and upgradations

3)Exercises/Movements

4)Fitness trackers