The World Health Organization warns against the pandemic being invoked to neglect physical activity

In its new guidelines on physical activity, the World Health Organization stressed that the Covid-19 pandemic should not be an excuse to stop this activity, but rather it should be continued regardless of the person’s age or status.

"If we don't stay active, we risk creating an epidemic of ill health due to lack of movement," said WHO health promotion officer Rudiger Kreich.

The pandemic and the accompanying lockdown measures have restricted movement, which encourages reduced movement and long time sitting to watch movies and TV shows.

There are no reliable statistics available, but lockdown measures and restrictions on movement and exercise halls have forced many people to stay at home, regardless of their healthy habits and regular physical activity.

Even before the pandemic, the majority of people were not moving enough, and this is what the World Health Organization confirms in its guidelines that encourage everyone to move more.

Regular physical activity is essential for both physical and mental health and for the prevention of heart disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, as well as helps reduce depression, anxiety and cognitive decline, improves memory and boosts overall brain health.

"Every movement counts," the slogan of these new guidelines, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director general of the organization, said in a statement.

He stressed that "physical activity is essential to health and well-being, and can help add years to life, and add life to years."

The guidelines indicated that between four and five million deaths could be avoided each year if the world's population was more physically active.

The World Health Organization believes that adults should engage in "at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week, or at least 75 to 150 minutes of continuous physical activity, or an equal mixture of moderate and continuous physical activity, in order to reap significant benefits." .

The organization called for making sure to exercise muscles twice a week.

As for children and adolescents, the agency recommends "an average of 60 minutes a day of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week."

The organization highlighted the red color in its summary of recommendations: "Reduce the time you spend inactive lifestyle, especially the free time in front of the screen."