One hour of intense sport per year for obese women, four for obese men. These figures which do not weigh heavily are reported by the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States, where one in three adults is obese, this serious lack of physical activity is an aggravating factor of the dangers associated with obesity. As we know, obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease (stroke, heart attack), diabetes and cancer.
Researchers measured the physical activity of 2,600 adults and analyzed their weight, diet and sleep patterns. An accelerometer was used to calculate the movements and assess the intensity of the exercise performed. The study focused on “vigorous” physical exercise corresponding to calorie-burning activities such as jogging and skipping rope. This qualifier was considered vague by some commentators criticizing the study for not specifying all the activities corresponding to the term “vigorous” (walking or cycling, for example).
“The majority don’t exercise at all”
The researchers therefore concluded that obese women get an average of one hour of vigorous physical activity per year, compared to 3.6 hours for men. “There is a wide range of variability; some probably move a lot. But the vast majority don’t exercise at all,” said Edward Archer, a research associate with the study.
These new figures, published in the scientific journal Mayo Clinic Proceedings astonish researchers and should make federal health authorities think about new means of combating obesity, which has become a public health issue in the United States.
Federal authorities currently recommend 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity per week, based on the work of researchers who advocate 30 minutes of sport 5 times a week to maintain a stable weight.
