Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Strong evidence shows that physical inactivity increases the risk of many adverse health conditions, including major non-communicable diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and breast and colon cancers, and shortens life expectancy. Because much of the world's population is inactive, this link presents a major public health issue. We aimed to quantify the eff ect of physical inactivity on these major non-communicable diseases by estimating how much disease could be averted if inactive people were to become active and to estimate gain in life expectancy at the population level.

Methods

For our analysis of burden of disease, we calculated population attributable fractions (PAFs) associated with physical inactivity using conservative assumptions fo

SUBMITTER: Lee IM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3645500 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature