Today, especially due to the technological developments, the number of inactive individuals is increasing day by day. Near East University Hospital Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department Specialist Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto emphasizes that this situation negatively affects people’s health, and says that especially children and young people spend too much time inactive during the day due to television, internet and studying. Stating that 1 out of every 4 adults worldwide is not active, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that inactivity ranks fourth in the list of risk factors that cause death worldwide, and that it is a very important risk factor in the formation of breast and colon cancers, diabetes and ischemic heart disease.

Increase moderate-intensity physical activities such as walking, cycling, swimming
Stating that physical activity is defined as any bodily movement that requires energy and produced by skeletal muscles, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that activities performed while working, playing, doing housework and in leisure time are included in the class of mild physical activity. She emphasized that physical activities such as regular walking, cycling and swimming, which are defined as moderate intensity, have significant beneficial effects on health. Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said, “In order to gain and maintain the health of adults, moderate-intensity endurance activities that use large muscle groups such as walking, jogging, cycling or swimming for 150 minutes a week, preferably 30 minutes, 5 days a week are recommended. In addition, strength exercises involving large muscle groups in different parts of the body, 2 days a week, are important in terms of preventing and protecting the loss of bone and muscle tissues.

Take action for a healthy life!
Stating that muscle strength increases with regular and sufficient physical activity, Assist. Prof. Dr. Yiğitoğlu Çeto also stated that with sufficient physical activity, endurance increases, and well-being in heart and respiratory diseases improves, and continued as follows: “With sufficient physical activity, bone mineral density increases, osteoporosis is prevented, hypertension, coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast, colon cancer and depression risks are reduced, also, the risk of falling is reduced to avoid hip and spine fractures; energy balance and weight control are provided. With physical activity, healthy aging is ensured and it is aimed to ensure more active elderly individuals.

Stating that a community-based but cultural approach covering different fields should be developed in order to increase physical activity, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto said that physical activity should be turned into a lifestyle. Emphasizing that urban design and urban planning should facilitate physical activity, Assist. Prof. Dr. Pembe Hare Yiğitoğlu Çeto stated that this situation should be supported by government policies.