According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (November 2020), up to 5 million lives can be saved per year from engaging in at least 150 minutes to 300 minutes of moderate to vigorous aerobic activity per week for all adults and 60 minutes per day for children and adolescents. (https://www.who.int/news/item/25-11-2020-every-move-counts-towards-better-health-says- who#.X8LVAnz72Rs.linkedin.)
In children and adolescents (5-17 years), physical activity can result or is associated with: Improved physical fitness - cardiorespiratory and muscular; Improved cardio metabolism - blood pressure, glucose and insulin resistance; Positive cognitive outcomes- academic achievement; Improved mental health- reduction in symptoms of depression; and reduced obesity.
The benefits of physical activity for children and adolescents living with a disability are the same as above in addition to improved cognition in individuals with diseases or disorders that impair cognitive function, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
In adults (18-64-plus years), physical activity can result or is associated with a reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality; hypertension; type 2 diabetes; symptoms of anxiety and depression; and obesity.
In addition to aforementioned benefits, engagement in physical activity also offers persons living with disability the following: Improved physical, mental and social benefits for adults with multiple sclerosis; improved walking functions and muscular strength for adults with spinal cord injury; and improved physical function and cognition.
The WHO recommends that to reduce the negative effects of a highly sedentary lifestyle, adults should strive to do more than the recommended levels of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity.
Engaging in physical activity provides pregnant and postpartum women with several benefits: Decreased risk of pre-eclampsia- a pregnancy characterised by high blood pressure; decreased gestational hypertension; decreased gestational diabetes; reduced delivery complications and postpartum depression; fewer newborn complications.
The WHO recommends that pregnant women should take the following safety considerations when engaging in physical activity: Avoid physical activity during excessive heat, especially with high humidity; stay hydrated by drinking water before, during, and after physical activity; avoid participating in activities which involve physical contact; pose a high risk of falling; or might limit oxygenation (such as activities at high altitude, when not normally living at high altitude)
Avoid activities in supine position (lying face upwards) after the first trimester of pregnancy; when considering athletic competition, or exercising significantly above the recommended guidelines pregnant women should seek supervision from a specialist health-care provider; pregnant women should be informed by their health-care provider of the danger signs alerting them as to when to stop; or to limit physical activity and consult a qualified health-care provider immediately should they occur; return to physical activity gradually after delivery, and in consultation with a health-care provider, in the case of delivery by Caesarean section.
Engagement in physical activity contributes not only physically and mentally, but also offers financial benefits to individuals and society in reduced health expenditure. COVID-19 social measures may have resulted in an increase in sedentary behaviour, especially among children and adolescents through online classes and lack of social movement on one hand as well as an increase in snacking as a means to deal with the monotony of social isolation.
Despite the current unending presence of COVID-19, it is important to heed the WHO recommendations to ensure, that every effort is made to encourage every sector in the society to engage in physical activity on a daily/weekly basis.
There is encouraging evidence from persons - children/adults/males/females - who walk/jog along the 2km loop roadway from the Ato Boldon Stadium to the National Cricket Centre (NCC) in Balmain, Couva on a daily basis on mornings and evenings. This is done even though the street lighting facility is not up to par.