The first National Sports Day in Abu Dhabi on November 25 will give us the chance to try 20 different activities in one place, with the goal of finding one that suits. Given the high rate of obesity, and associated diseases such as diabetes, finding ways to keep us more active can only be good.
Although leaving behind an overly sedentary lifestyle is desirable, most fitness professionals also caution against going to the other extreme by suddenly taking up vigorous exercise. As we reported this week, this is associated with a high risk of injury, potentially leaving us even less active than before.
It won’t sound nearly as impressive to your Facebook friends but instead of signing up for an event like the 100km Urban Ultra desert run, a smarter response might be to find little ways to get 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day. This can be achieved cumulatively by taking the stairs instead of the lift or going out to get coffee rather than having it delivered. Every step helps.
