Doctors, educators and practically everybody we know all tell us that we need to be more physically active. On hearing such a statement the first question that comes to mind is what do we understand by physical activity. A technical definition would be any bodily movement associated with muscular contraction that increases energy expenditure above resting levels. This can loosely be taken to include any activity that causes your body to work harder than normal be it a daily chore, manual work, exercise or sporting event.

If we had to look at the human body from a purely functional perspective, one realises that it was built for movement. Physical activity is an integral part of its purpose and once it is deprived of regular movement it will start to malfunction. Leading a sedentary life has been extensively proven to be a major risk factor for the development of many diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, osteoporosis and high cholesterol levels. Conversely, leading a physically active life not only ameliorates one's life expectancy but also has a positive effect on the social and psychological well-being of an individual.

Data collected via the 2002 Eurobarometer on physical activity and the 2005 Eurobarometer on health and food indicate that 40-60 per cent of Europeans are sedentary. What is even more worrying is that Malta is consistently the country with the least active population throughout Europe.

Recently, an expert group (consisting of 22 independent experts) and the EU working group Sport & Health published draft of guidelines that will eventually be recommended for implementation throughout Europe in an effort to coordinate a pan-European drive to increase physical activity. These guidelines were endorsed by the EU Sport Ministers last November and they also proposed that the document should be forwarded to the EU Council of Ministers and, in particular, to the Council formation responsible for health (EPSCO - Employment, Social Policy, Health and Consumer Affairs Council).

However, a number of EU member states have not been idly awaiting the EU guidelines and, in fact, have already established their own national guidelines ant introduced a number of programmes to tackle physical inactivity.

The EU guidelines will not become a binding document but rather "should be perceived mainly as a source of inspiration for member states, regional and local authorities, sport organisations, civil society organisations and other relevant actors to define and implement policies that would make it easier for Europeans to be physically active as part of their daily lives".

An encouraging fact about physical activity is that it is never too late to start.

No matter how long you have been physically inactive you will still reap the health benefits from regular physical activity, whatever your age.

What is even more encouraging is that physical activity can be cumulative throughout a day.

Hence, if you do not have time or are physically incapable of undertaking, let us say, a 30-minute walk, you can break this down into two or three shorter walks and still benefit. This allows physical activity to be more easily incorporated into your daily life.

What is evident within the Maltese scenario is that we, as a nation, are inexorably becoming more physically inactive and obese, with the accompanying health implications. These factors are closely linked as hypokinesia is one of the main determinants of obesity and vice versa.

Prevention is better than cure is one of the phrases often uttered in various scenarios. Well, disease prevention is definitely one scenario we should adopt.

Promoting a more physically active nation is easier said than done and requires a strong will by the Administration to put forward a number of policies and practices that will lead to a cross-sectional national cooperation.

Disjointed efforts from various departments will lead to little more than a futile and financially draining exercise. Quoting from the EU draft report "it is rather on the basis of a large number of small changes in policy and practice across the board that our societies may become more movement-friendly".

kmicallefstafrace@gmail.com

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