Second inactive

The World Health Organization (WHO)is arguably the most-talked about agency in the Covid-19 pandemic.  Just the other day, U.S president  Donald Trump said he’s cutting support for the organization after he was criticized on his delayed action on the pandemic.  Before the contagion, WHO came out with this report on fitness.  The frequent use of mobile phones, lack of public spaces, poor urban and transport planning have ranked the Philippines second in the world, with the most physically inactive adolescents.  Of the 1.6 million teens in 146 countries surveyed by WHO, the Philippines had an overall “physical inactivity (prevalence) of 93.4 percent, second to South Korea with 94.2 percent.  Some years back, I wrote that our children are losing the battle with the gadgets.  Kids as young as two years old, knows how to use mobile phones and laptops.  According to the study, teens today did not meet the WHO’s recommended minimum 60 minutes of physical activity which includes walking, biking or attending physical education classes.  There’s also a dearth of public spaces especially in big cities, where teens can be active. There’s not enough  sidewalks where teens can safely walk or bike.  Lack of physical activity also lead to unhealthy lifestyle.  In 2015 for instance, 43 percent of Filipino adults were insufficiently physically active, making them more prone to heart disease, type 2 diabetes and breast and colon cancer.

Did you know?

BILL WALTON. On February  2008, he suffered a catastrophic spinal collapse which caused him excruciating and unrelenting pain, unable to walk, he underwent surgery and slowly recovered. Walton grew up in San Diego and played for the Legendary coach John Wooden at UCLA. Walton won two national championships and a record 88 straight games.  He was NCAA Player of the Year for three consecutive years.  In 1974, he was drafted by the Portland Trailblazers (No.1 over-all pick in the NBA draft) and led the Blazers to the 1977 NBA  crown. The following year, he earned the NBA MVP.  Injuries however slowed down Walton ending his career with the 1986 NBA champions Boston Celtics, where he was named Sixth Man of the Year.  After retiring, he went to broadcasting where he won multiple Emmy awards.  Walton said his greatest influence for 43 years was coach Wooden, who died at age 99.  Bill Walton is the father of former L.A Lakers now Minnesota Timberwolves coach Luke Walton. In his book “Back From The Dead”. 

NOTES: Karl Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves lost her mother Jackie recently to Covid-19.  To our Frontliners, don’t give up, we may lose some battles but we will win the war.   Listen to Gloria Gaynor’s  “We Will Survive”.