A sedentary lifestyle is one of the new modern scourges in the same way as cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure or smoking. According to the World Health Organisation, it is the fourth leading risk factor for death in the world. In addition to improving performance and physical condition, regular physical activity helps to prevent many chronic, cardiovascular and degenerative diseases. It is also a good way to combat stress and improve sleep quality. A sedentary lifestyle increases a long list of disorders that endanger the physical and mental health of individuals.
But what is physical activity?
We mean physical activity when we get moving. Whether it's a daily trip to the shops or a running session in the nearest park. This means that sport is accessible to as many people as possible. It is estimated that a brisk walk of about thirty minutes is equivalent to twenty minutes of running.
Regular physical activity or sport is essential from a very young age to ensure the proper development of the child and to maintain good health. Thus, getting your child used to being active from a very young age helps to instil good habits in his or her mind for the future.
A vector in the fight against cardiovascular diseases and cancers
Regular physical activity improves and regulates the functioning of the heart system, considerably reducing all cardiovascular risks. Regular exercise reduces the risk of coronary events (such as angina or heart attack) by 35% and high blood pressure by 50%. Over time, sport makes the heart more resistant and efficient during physical effort.
According to a recent report by the National Cancer Institute, sport reduces the risk of cancer, particularly breast, colorectal and endometrial cancer, by 20% and by 27% for the most active people.
Physical activity also has a direct influence on the risks for people with cancer: active people have a significantly lower mortality risk than inactive people.
Source: WHO (World Health Organization)
Physical activity to combat sedentary lifestyles
Over the generations and with the spread of teleworking, we spend more and more time sitting, working behind our desk or on the sofa watching TV. To fight against sedentary lifestyles, and more particularly against the effects of a static position, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends a minimum of 30 minutes of physical activity every day.
Time to get moving
Faced with these public health issues, local authorities must now act by providing their residents and tourists (whatever their age, physical condition, etc.) with solutions to enable them to remain active. It has been scientifically proven that physical activity has beneficial effects on physical and mental health. In a professional environment, physical activity can boost the concentration, creativity and productivity of employees.
Some innovative solutions to boost mobility
MapLab, the solution that redefines commuting
Maplab wants to reinvent mobility in companies and support them in this change to reduce the carbon footprint and improve the quality of life of employees. This "all-in-one" solution allows you to visualise employee mobility via an interface, simulate the effects of an HR policy (pro-bike, carpooling, working in third-party locations, etc.) and define an action plan. The company was founded in 2017 by Jean-Baptiste Chesneau and currently has two employees.
Sportihome, the platform for sports holiday lovers.
Sportihome has become in 4 years the reference platform for sports travellers. The platform offers more than 10,000 accommodations in 40 countries around the world and nearly 20,000 sports experiences and activities. Partnering with major sports brands such as Decathlon, the Montpellier-based startup now has 7 employees and over 30,000 active members.
Runnin'City, the touristic running app
The Runnin'City solution combines a GPS and a multi-media audio guide, available in 7 languages. The mobile application, available on iOs and Android, allows you to discover more than 200 cities in the world by running or walking. It was recently named "the most disruptive global startup in the world of sports tourism" by the World Tourism Organisation. The start-up, founded in 2016 by Christophe Minodier and Olivier Lebleu, currently has 12 employees.