Here’s a little-known stat for you:
Physical inactivity is the fourth leading cause of death globally!
People that do not exercise are at a higher risk of developing chronic illness. Recent data reveals that an estimated half a billion people could develop a chronic illness by 2030 unless they engage in more physical activity.
Physical activity is not restricted to general forms of exercise. Any activity that involves exertion is classed as physical activity; ie. Cleaning the house, walking the dog and having sexual intercourse.
Guidelines offered by the World Health Organization (WHO) suggest children and adolescents aged between 5 and 17 years old should target at least an hour’s worth of moderate to vigorous physical exercise a day.
The recommended amount of exercise for most adults is 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity; or an equivalent combination of moderate- and vigorous-intensity activity throughout the week.
Call To Exercise
The growing prevalence of chronic illness worldwide in recent decades prompted WHO to introduce its Global Action Plan on Physical Activity. The goal is to encourage children and adolescents to engage in physical activity more often.
However, data collected over the last six years shows that governments and institutions are failing to promote the Global Action Plan. Studies show that physical activity among children and adolescents has not gotten better.
Data for adults is non-existent, but given the increase in chronic illness over the last five years, it’s safe to assume strategies are failing in the older cohorts of society as well.
The findings indicate that a significant proportion of the global community is at risk of developing chronic illness at an earlier age than would ordinarily be expected. It also shows that governing bodies need to do more to promote active and healthy lifestyles even when resources are limited.
In the absence of strong leaders supporting healthy lifestyles, the onus is on schools and businesses to promote physical activity. Factors such as organising fun runs, health awareness campaigns and exercise breaks (see our article on five-minute light walks) can all make a difference.
Health experts have also signalled the need to “persistently advocate for policies and practices” that promote opportunities for children and adults to engage in physical activity. Governments need to ensure that everybody has access to safe, free public spaces, green spaces, playgrounds and sporting facilities.
Earn Money By Walking
We’re not surprised by the new findings mentioned above. Sweatcoin has long been an advocate of health and well-being and has been promoting healthy lifestyles for many years.
In 2016, we built an app fitted with a pedometer specifically to promote walking as a means of improving global health. The pedometer converts your steps into a digital token which can be used to purchase discounted merchandise online with over 300 retailers.
For every 1000 steps you take, you will earn 1 SWC which you can exchange for goods promoted through our app. The more you walk, the more you have to spend and the more you save.
Our aim is to encourage people to walk more and use the car less. Not only does walking improve your health, but it also lowers pollution and improves the health of the planet. If you want to avoid chronic illness at any time in your life, walking is shown to deliver a number of benefits that significantly lower the risk of chronic illness.
Download the Sweatcoin App
You can download the Sweatcoin app directly to your mobile phone. Simply click on this link to go to the Sweatcoin home page then click on ‘download the app’ in the top right-hand corner and choose either the Apple Store or Google Play.
Once you are in the appropriate app store, download the Sweatcoin app as you would any other app then follow the on-screen instructions to set it up on your phone. You also have the option to select personal settings and browse through the latest deals offered by our retail partners.
Remember the more you walk, the more you earn — but more importantly, the more you walk, the less likely you are to contract a chronic illness. It pays to walk finically and for your health!
