How physical inactivity causes chronic diseases

Lack of exercise can raise the risk of chronic diseases like: type 2 diabetes, cancer and heart disease. New research shows that the risk of such conditions could increase with as little as 2 weeks of inactivity.

In a study of young, healthy adults, researchers found that switching from moderate-to-vigorous activity to near-sedentary behavior for just 14 days led to metabolic changes that could raise the risk of chronic disease and even premature death.

Adults between 18 and 64 years must engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity every week.

Lack of regular physical activity is a key contributor to obesity. In turn, this can raise the risk of type 2 diabetes , heart disease , heart failure, and even some types of cancer. Inadeguate exercise can also hinder bone and muscle development.

The researchers enrolled 28 healthy adults with a mean age of 25 years. The adults had a mean body mass index (BMI) of 25, and they were all physically active.

For 14 days, subjects were required to participate in a step-reduction protocol, whereby they reduced their daily steps by 80 percent, to around 1,500. All participants underwent extensive health checks before and after the study, and activity trackers were worn throughout.

The 14-day step-reduction protocol led to a 125-minute reduction in daily physical activity, from 161 minutes per day to just 36 minutes. Concurrently, participants' sedentary time increased by an average of 129 minutes per day.

Reduced activity led to loss of muscle mass, increased body fat and loss of skeletal muscle mass. Total lean mass reduced by an average of 0.36 kilograms, while an average 0.21-kilogram loss was observed for leg lean mass.

Additionally, the 14-day step-reduction protocol led to an increase in total body fat. Notably, body fat was most likely to accumulate centrally, which the team notes is a significant risk factor for chronic disease.

The researchers also identified a reduction in cardiorespiratory fitness and the function of mitochondria. Lack of regular physical activity can cause obesity, heart failure and cancer.

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