Health Minister Says
Ticos Getting Fatter And
Obese
According to Ministerio
de Salud (Health
Ministry) officials,
Costa Ricans are getting
fatter and obese due to
lack of physical
exercise and is calling
on the population to
dedicate a few minutes a
day to some form of
physical activity to
better their quality of
life.
In addition, Salud
officials announced that
Sunday 30 March will be
the "Día Nacional del
Deporte" (national
sports day) which will
be celebrate will types
of physical activities -
both recreational and
sports - from the La
Merced park in downtown
San José to the La
Sabana park on the west
side.
The ministra de Salud,
María Luisa Avila Agüero,
cited a report that
indicates that 2 million
people around the world
die each year for
physical inactivity and
the combination of a
poor diet and smoking is
responsible for 75% of
all chronic
non-communicable
diseases.
Obesity leads to
diabetes, colon cancer,
osteoporosis, high blood
pressure, depression and
anxiety, according to
the Salud minister.
The minister added that
high school and
university students
dedicate time to watch
television but not to
physical exercise.
According to studies
done in the Area
Metropolitana (San José)
on the subject of
overweight, the last
study which was done in
2004 showed that 59% of
the 2.400 people over
the age of 20
interviewed were
overweight or obese.
The minister added that
studies of minors show
similar results and that
overweight and obesity
attacks all ages,
especially the elders.
The results indicate
that people between the
ages of 45 and 54 are
overweight, in the ages
of 34 to 44, men are
more overweight than
women and over the age
of 55, women tend to be
more overweight.
Avila said that in
general there is a high
prevalence to
sedentarism around the
world and in Costa Rica
the numbers show between
15% and 70% sedentarism,
depending on the groups
studied.
The minister said that
the major excuses used
by Ticos not to exercise
are: lack of time, lack
of resources and lack of
access to appropriate
places to exercise.
A good diet and 30
minutes of
moderate-intensity
activity a day is
sufficient to maintain
good cardiovascular and
metabolic health. The
World Health
Organization (WHO)
recommends 60 minutes a
day of
moderate-intensity
exercise, such as brisk
walking, to maintain
healthy body weight,
attain greater health
benefits and avoid
obesity. Sixty minutes
of physical activity is
particularly important
for people with
sedentary occupations.
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