Physical Activity Fact Sheet The numbers tell the story
30.0% percent of Jamaicans 15-74 years old are physically inactive
16.0% percent of Jamaicans 15-74 years old areare not active enough to achieve the health benefits
More women
43.0% 16.0% than men
are physically inactive
World Move for Health Day is a global day that unites people worldwide to engage in physical activity. The level of physical activity required for optimal growth and development is equivalent to 30 minutes of physical activity throughout the day. Lack of physical activity leads to:
Being overweight or obese, Cardiovascular Diseases Type-2 diabetes Coronary health disease Hypertension Gallbladder disease Some forms of cancer Chronic respiratory disorders Musculoskeletal diseases like osteoporosis & arthritis
23.8%
of adolescents 13 -15 years old were physically active at least
60 minutes per day
53.4%
of adolescents 13-15 years old spend three or more hours per day sitting and watching television, playing computer games, or talking with friends, when not in school or doing homework during a typical or usual day. Reference: Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey II 2008 Technical Report page 81. Wilks et al. Reference: Global School-based Student Health Survey 2017 Jamaica factsheet. National Council on Drug Abuse.
Both physical inactivity and poor eating habits are contributing to high rates of overweight and obesity among children and adults. Regular physical activity is crucial for mental, physical and social health and development. Move for Health Day is therefore aimed at promoting awareness of the importance of physical activity, not only on May 10 but throughout the year.
How can I take part in World Move for Health Day? Save the date Register your group or attend one for the activities Get screened. Get Tested. Connect with us
BACKGROUND
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WHAT IS World Move For Health Day?
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WHY IT MATTERS
Move for Health Day takes place every year on the 10th of May and unites the world under a single theme to highlight the ongoing push to be physically active! Move for Health Day aims to reduce the number of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness among the general public and pressing to take further action to prevent NCDs such as diabetes, hypertension and stroke.
Join the Global Movement!
This global day of awareness and action to get people all around the world to move - If you were going to go for a walk, run with your children, or climb the stairs – TODAY is the day to do it! Since 2007, millions of people from thousands of businesses and organizations join together every year to do
In addition, it refers to how individuals, communities and nations can promote their health and well-being through healthy lifestyles.
“Move for Health” refers to moderate to vigorous physical activity of any type that anyone can perform anywhere to improve health such as recreational activities, walking, stretching, dancing.
physical actions!
It is an international event created in 2002 by the World Health Organization to promote physical activity, with the main objectives of national and global actions on Move for Health Day being:
! To generate public awareness of the benefits of physical activity in the prevention of non-communicable diseases;
To advocate the benefits of physical activity and give attention to good practice;
To increase population-wide physical activity participation in all domains (leisure time, transport, work) and settings (school, community, home, workplace);
To promote healthy behaviours and lifestyles and address health-related issues through sports and physical activity, such as no tobacco use, healthy diet, reduction of violence,
PRESS RELEASE
Move for Health Day is a global day that unites people worldwide to move. It will take place globally on Thursday May 10, 2018. World Move for Health Day was started by the WHO (World Health Organization) back in 2003 after they found out a shocking number of facts about people who are inactive, according to their World Health Report of 2002. Some of which include the fact that physical inactivity is now the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality. Also, physical inactivity is estimated to be the main cause for approximately 21–25% of breast and colon cancers and 27% of diabetes worldwide. On this day, Jamaicans are encouraged to attend the various events that have been planned for this day across the island. “Engaging in regular physical activity is a crucial part of maintaining good physical, mental and social health,” said Dr. Chris Tufton. “Move for Health Day is about promoting awareness of the importance of physical activity, not only on May 10 but throughout our lifetimes,” he continued.
Mark your calendars! May 10, 2018 is Move for Health Day.
We encourage everyone to get out and get moving! For more information, contact:
Jamaica Moves (876) 297-6683
How To Make Every Day Move for Health Day Start walking! Seek quality fitness instruction
Promote physical activity
Whether you’re taking a group fitness class, participating in an aquatic fitness program or working with a personal trainer, make sure that you are receiving quality instruction Registered Fitness Leaders.
Get the word out in your community about the benefits of physical activity. Use the M.A.P. toolkit to raise awareness about physical activity in your community.
Make sure your community is built for physical activity
Stay active for life
The spaces where we work, live and play all have an impact on how physically active we can be. Make sure that your community is built to encourage being active.
Stay active as you age!
Get your workplace moving The workplace is an ideal location to promote a healthy active lifestyle. Find resources to make your workplace more active.
Stay Active, Eat Healthy!
Get Active in your schools
A healthy diet is a major component of a healthy lifestyle. Make healthy food choices and stay active.
Connect with Action in Schools! Help our schools raise physical activity levels and promote healthy living.
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ideas to get you moving! Challenge schools in your community to participate in a walk to school challenge and see how many students you can get walking to school. Issue a school physical activity challenge to see which school has the greatest number of active students either on the way to and from and/or during school.
Organize a game night. Invite seniors and children to play together in active games.
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Organize a walking club inside your building. Determine how many “walks� around the inside corridor of the building it takes to complete one mile. Track how far persons walk and provide prizes for certain targets.
jamaicamoves.com, 876-297-MOVE (6683)
@Jamaica_Moves