Lack of Exercise in Koreans: A Significant Concern Below WHO’s Recommended Physical Activity Levels

Understanding the Risks of Hyperlipidemia and the Importance of Physical Activity

The number of people suffering from hyperlipidemia (dyslipidemia) is rapidly increasing every year. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service data, last year, 3.04 million people received hospital treatment for dyslipidemia, a whopping 38.4% increase compared to 5 years ago (2019 – 2.19 million people). Dyslipidemia is becoming more serious as it is the biggest risk factor for angina pectoris-myocardial infarction and stroke (cerebral infarction-cerebral hemorrhage) in which the blood vessels of the heart and brain become narrow and blocked.

Hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for high-calorie, high-fat, high-carbohydrate food intake, drinking, smoking, etc. If you don’t want to move your body, the remaining energy will accumulate in your body, rapidly increasing your blood sugar and damaging your blood vessels. If you accumulate a lot of visceral fat (belly fat), it will cause inflammation and become the cause of various diseases such as vascular disease.

It turns out that Koreans tend to dislike moving their bodies. The rate of not meeting the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended physical activity level is as high as 52.1% (as of 2021). WHO recommends more than 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. You should move your body, such as walking briskly, riding a bicycle, or cleaning the house. If you don’t meet this, it increases inflammation in the body, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia, breast cancer, and colon cancer.

To prevent and control blood vessel inflammation, it is good to limit high-fat, high-calorie foods and eat vegetables, fruits, grains, beans, and seaweed (kelp) that are high in dietary fiber. Dietary fiber helps reduce neutral fat and cholesterol in the body, preventing rapid increases in blood sugar and preventing inflammation. The allicin component of onions and garlic contributes to blood vessel cleansing.

For a healthy lifespan, you should control your appetite and choose your food choices. However, the problem is that you know it but cannot put it into practice. To prevent and control inflammation of blood vessels, it is good to limit high-fat, high-calorie foods and eat plenty of fish rich in unsaturated fatty acids and vegetables rich in dietary fiber.