There was standing room only in the Harper Ahmanson Ballroom to hear Dr. Steven N. Blair, a professor in the departments of exercise science and epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina, present “Physical Inactivity: The Biggest Health Problem of the 21st Century.”
His presentation on Oct. 24 consisted of data he has collected over the last 30 years which shows that “obesity as the leading cause of death” is “nonsense.” His research instead shows that physical inactivity plays a major role in the length of one’s lifespan.
“Low fitness is a really strong prediction of mortality,” Blair said.
Most of Blair’s data stresses that more physical activity saves the elderly, people with high hypertension, those with cancer and people with depression.
“Exercise is a medicine,” Blair said.
Nicole Boyle, an Arts & Sciences junior, was one of the many students who attended the event. She found the event relevant not only to today, but also to her future career.
“[Health issues due to physical inactivity] is a major reason why healthcare costs so much right now, and because I plan to work in healthcare, I feel it is an issue we need to address,” she said.
In order to overcome physical inactivity, Blair suggested a balance between aerobic activity and muscle strengthening.
He explained that those who are inactive go through seven steps before they become fully active. First, they figure out where they are on the spectrum of fitness by self-monitoring.
Then they set goals and go through pre-contemplation, meaning they have no intention to change. They then contemplate, meaning they think about changing, they prepare to change, take action and finally maintain that change.
Blair stated that the reason most people don’t stay physically active is because they don’t have time. However, that doesn’t stop everyone. President George W. Bush exercised regularly in his term as president. Blair also stated that President Obama stays active.
“Are you busier than President Obama or President Bush?” Blair asked his audience.
Blair insisted that everyone in the audience, including himself, has time to exercise. Each person decreases his or her future health issues in doing so, according to Blair.