聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Being active during the winter months can be a struggle, but it鈥檚 important to find different ways to exercise. Whether you鈥檙e shovelling snow, cross-country skiing, or going for a short walk, exercise can oftentimes make people feel better and it promotes a healthy lifestyle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 With spring-like temperatures, however, getting exercise will become easier and making the change to one鈥檚 lifestyle now and carrying it through the winter can be simpler than attempting to become active during the cold, winter months.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to Stats Canada, over half of the Canadian population, 54 percent, are overweight or obese (stats from 2014). In Saskatchewan Stats Canada reports 58.4 percent as of 2014 were overweight or obese.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Overweight is defined as having more body weight than is considered normal or healthy for one鈥檚 age or build and is determined through the Body Mass Index. Obesity is the condition of having a Body Mass Index of over 30.
Being overweight or obese increases the risk of chronic diseases, therefore being active and eating well reduces this risk and can help make one feel better.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Specifically looking at Saskatchewan, difficulties of maintaining a healthy lifestyle come with our extremely cold winters and our hot summers, while geography can also hinder people in being active as those who live in town can walk to work but many commute and do not have this option therefore finding it difficult to make time in their busy day to exercise.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to the Conference Board of Canada鈥檚 annual report card, which looks at how Canada stacks up to the rest of the world. As of February 2015 Canada had earned a 鈥淏.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Health is defined by the World Health Organization as 鈥渢he state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Health Report Card took life expectancy, premature mortality, infant mortality, self-reported health status, self-reported mental health status, mortality due to cancer, mortality due to heart disease and stroke, mortality due to respiratory disease, mortality due to diabetes, mortality due to diseases of the nervous system, and suicides, into account.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Saskatchewan鈥檚 Health Report Card read as follows:
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Life expectancy: D
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Premature mortality: D
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Infant mortality: D-
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Self-reported health status: A
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Self-reported health status: A
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mortality due to cancer: B
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mortality due to heart disease and stroke: B
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mortality due to respiratory disease: B
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mortality due to diabetes: D
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Mortality due to diseases of the nervous system: B
-聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Suicides: C
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In fact according to the study, Saskatchewan was found to be the second-to-last amongst the provinces regarding healthy living.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Across Canada it was found that cancer, heart disease, and stroke remains Canada鈥檚 deadliest diseases. Respiratory diseases, diabetes, and nervous system diseases are also high in leading causes of deaths in the country.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 All of these can be mitigated through embracing a healthy lifestyle.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In fact the study states, 鈥渙besity is one of the most significant contributing factors to many chronic conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes鈥︹��
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he rising obesity rates for Canadians of all ages clearly places them at risk for future chronic diseases.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Additionally, such activities as alcohol and tobacco consumption can also increase one鈥檚 risks when it comes to chronic diseases.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Therefore, lifestyle choices such as physical activity and diet are key to prevention.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淩esults suggest that even a modest improvement in physical activity can yield tangible benefits,鈥� the Conference Board of Canada states. 鈥淚ndeed, by simply getting 10 percent of Canadians with suboptimal levels of physical activity to reduce their sedentary behaviour and exercise more, the incidence rates for major chronic conditions like heart disease, cancer, hypertension, and diabetes would be reduced substantially. This would boost life expectancy and lessen the burden on the health care system.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淕iven the rising rates of chronic diseases and the impact that lifestyle choices have on these diseases, active participation of patients in setting their own health goals and management plans is more relevant than ever before.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Eating right includes following the Canadian Food Guide (http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/maintain-adopt/index-eng.php), eliminating 鈥渟creen time,鈥� and being active.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 According to the World Health Organization children aged 5-17 should be active for at least 60 minutes 鈥� moderate to vigorous 鈥� each day. Further activity hours will provide added health benefits and it is suggested they focus on aerobic activities that strengthen muscle and bone at least three times per week.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 For people aged 18-64, as the World Health Organization classifies, it is suggested that people participate in at least 150 minutes of moderate exercises throughout a week or 75 minutes of vigorous cardio in a week. This can also be a combination of moderate to vigorous exercise. Aerobic activity should last at least 10 minutes. For added health benefits an individual could engage in 300 minutes of moderate activity in a week or 150 minutes of vigorous intensity, or a combination. Additionally muscle-strengthening activities should be done involving major muscle groups at least two days or more in a week.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Adults 65 and older should participate in activities as those between 18 and 64, however, adults with poor mobility should perform physical activity to enhance balance and prevent falls three or more days a week. Additionally, if older adults are limited due to health conditions, they should be as physically active as their abilities allow.
