Experts Raise Alarm Over Rising Health Risks From Sedentary Lifestyle

Experts have raised concerns over Nigeria’s growing burden of non-communicable diseases, warning that physical inactivity is fuelling undiagnosed hypertension, muscle loss, kidney failure and cardiovascular complications among adults.

The warning came at the second edition of the i-Fitness GameFest held on the Mainland in Lagos, where fitness professionals linked sedentary lifestyles to preventable deaths and long-term frailty.

Speaking at the event, the Head of Corporate Sales and Partnerships at i-Fitness Centre Limited, Derek Nwafor, said being physically active has a direct correlation with longevity, yet many Nigerians are unaware of the consequences of inactivity.

“Being physically active has a direct correlation with longevity. If you check the metrics, having a regular regime of workouts and exercise reduces some of the causes of mortality in adults,” he said.

Nwafor warned that the human body naturally deteriorates without exercise, citing sarcopenia, the loss of muscle mass. According to him, after the age of 30, a typical adult loses eight per cent of muscle mass every decade, a process that can only be reversed through regular exercise.

“If you don’t exercise now, you’ll pay for it later. The only way to reverse that so that you are not frail when you are old is to exercise,” he said.

He added that inactivity also weakens bones, reduces cardiovascular strength and increases the risk of chronic conditions, including renal failure, diabetes and kidney issues.

“When you exercise regularly, you strengthen your bones, because naturally, your bones lose strength as you age. You also help prevent the possibility of renal failure and kidney issues as you age. Building muscle mass also helps you fight diabetes,” he said.

On hypertension, which he described as a silent crisis, Nwafor noted: “Right now in Nigeria, about one in four adults is not aware that he or she is hypertensive, and of those who are hypertensive, about 50 to 60 per cent are not aware. These are things that you can combat if you make an effort to be active.”

Also speaking, the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of i-Fitness, Foluso Ogunwale, said the health challenge is rooted in perception and access. He noted that about 15 years ago, fitness centres in Nigeria were few and expensive, leaving the average urban worker without options.

He said the culture of fitness must be liberalised and made fun, so that it becomes a discipline rather than a chore.

“When fitness appears to be a lot more fun, people want to do it by themselves and it becomes a discipline, unlike if it felt like it was hard work. You can stay fit and you can have fun. It doesn’t have to feel like a chore or something that cannot be achieved,” Ogunwale said.

Ogunwale argued that health should be treated as a personal responsibility, regardless of wealth or status.

“Our health and fitness is our responsibility. No matter how rich you are, you can’t delegate it. It’s something you have to do by yourself. No matter how busy we get, if health isn’t there and we’re not strong enough to live day to day, everything falls by the wayside. If you have all the money and you’re not fit and you’re not healthy, it’s as good as having nothing,” he said.

The GameFest, which is in its second edition after the Island edition held earlier this year, brought together 14 Mainland branches and over 3,500 participants competing in football, 100 metres, 200 metres, sack race and tug of war.

At the end of the competition, Opebi emerged as male football champions with Magodo as runners-up, while Ago Palace won the female title ahead of Acme. Yaba dominated the track, winning both male and female 100 metres finals. Gbagada won the tug of war, while Egbeda and Surulere claimed victories in the sack race categories.