Climate Change Decreasing Physical Activity

Climate Change

A new “wave” of scientific studies is sounding the alarm about a rather unexpected side effect of global warming: a decline in physical activity. While temperatures increase, experts predict that humans are becoming less active, which could lead to a number of health issues. “Rising temperatures are making physical activity undesirable and even dangerous in many parts of the world, and as global heating worsens, it will further affect how much people are able to move,” according to The Guardian.

One study published by The Lancet Global Health found that, due to increased heat, levels of physical activity are declining all over the world, which could have serious consequences if not addressed. Experts predict that this could lead to “hundreds of thousands of premature deaths” by mid-century.

How Heat Discourages Movement

At its heart, the problem is quite simple. Extreme levels of heat make it more difficult and sometimes dangerous for people to move around. For instance, something as simple as walking, exercising, or even doing chores around the house may become dangerous for people in extreme levels of heat.

Research has shown that the increasing levels of heat are limiting the number of hours during the day when people are safe to move around. For instance, in some areas of the world, it has become difficult for healthy adults to move around during the day.

The problem is not just a matter of discomfort. For instance, when the levels of heat become extreme, the human body is exposed to the dangers of dehydration and heat strokes. Naturally, people try to reduce movement as a way of protecting themselves.

A Measurable Decline in Physical Activity

This is already being shown through global heating’s effects on activity levels. According to the Lancet study, every month that average temperatures exceed 82°F (28°C) contributes to a 1.4 percent increase in physical inactivity.

This is not just a one-off, though. Other studies have shown that extreme heat can reduce activity levels by up to 10 percent in rural areas.

This all adds up eventually, resulting in a less active global populace. “Climate change is exacerbating physical inactivity with dire consequences, driving potentially hundreds of thousands of premature deaths worldwide by 2050, according to a study published Monday in Lancet Global Health,” according to The Washington Post.

Health Consequences of a Sedentary World

This decrease in physical activity is strongly associated with a variety of health issues. “As people become less active, they become more susceptible to a wide array of health problems, including obesity, cardiovascular disease, and diabetes.”

Research has shown that high temperatures not only reduce physical activity but also lead to a deterioration in health conditions. “For instance, less time spent outdoors has been linked to increased rates of sedentary behavior and obesity in children.”

According to the study by Lancet, due to a decrease in physical activity caused by high temperatures, between 470,000 and 520,000 more people will die by 2050.

These deaths are not caused by heat but by the indirect impact of heat-related inactivity, which is a “hidden epidemic.”

Impact

The distribution of the effects of inactivity caused by excessive heat is also unequal. Low- and middle-income countries, particularly those near the equator, are expected to be heavily affected by the impact of excessive heat.

In these areas, there is a lack of access to cooling technologies, indoor exercise facilities, and safe environments for exercising. This leaves people with fewer alternatives for exercising when the weather is extremely hot outside.

The impact of excessive heat is also felt by older people. Research indicates that excessive heat hampers their ability to carry out their daily activities. This is a major concern for the health of older people.

Women may also be affected by the impact of excessive heat. This is attributed to biological and social factors.

Extreme Heat

The broader context in which these results have emerged is a world that is increasingly witnessing extreme heat conditions. In this regard, it has been highlighted that “research suggests that the number of days each year it is too hot to safely undertake normal activities has doubled globally in the last 75 years.”

Today, more than one-third of the world’s inhabitants live in regions where heat has a significant impact on daily life.

This change in conditions is not only impacting how people go about their daily lives and how they travel from one place to another, but it is also impacting how they manage to maintain their health and well-being.

Economic and Social Costs

The Lancet study suggests that the annual productivity losses could reach up to $2.6 billion by 2050 due to the impact of heat.

Furthermore, communities may also experience the strain of healthcare services as the prevalence of chronic health problems increases. This creates a cycle where climate change causes health problems, and health problems cause strain on already strained healthcare services.

The Need for Adaptation Strategies

Experts have pointed out that while the issue is not inevitable, it is one that needs urgent attention. There is a call to rethink how cities and communities are designed to deal with increasing temperatures.

Some of the solutions that have been put forward include the creation of shaded walkways, green spaces, and climate-controlled environments where one can exercise. Changing one’s schedule is also recommended.

However, efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are still essential in addressing global warming.

A Warning

This is because the relationship between global heating and physical inactivity brings to mind one of the less discussed, yet highly significant, aspects of climate change. While there have been many discussions about extreme weather occurrences and sea levels, there is a possibility that global heating could have a negative impact on physical activity, which could prove to be just as harmful.

As global temperatures continue to increase, the real challenge would be to ensure that humans can not only live active, healthy, and safe lives, but that climate change does not fundamentally change the way humans think about their health. The message here is quite clear: climate change is not just about saving the planet, but about saving humans too.

By David Loran Jr

A successful Editor-in-Chief, journalist for over 6 years, writing about important topics that are going on within the U.S. and beyond.

Sources:

The Guardian: Reduced physical activity due to global heating will lead to rise in health issues, study says

The Washington Post: Inactivity in a warming world could spur hundreds of thousands of deaths

Featured Image Courtesy of Chris Hunkeler’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

Inset Image Courtesy of Ed Yourdon’s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License