While many of us are overweight, few of us like to exercise or follow a diet program. Many more people are becoming couch potatoes. We prefer the sedentary lifestyle of doing as little as we can. We spend way too much time watching television. We tend to eat almost constantly while we are watching.

We're eating many more high calorie snack foods without regard to portion size. We also eat a lot of low fat foods not realizing that low fat does not mean low calorie. We take in thousands of calories and expend very few of them. A 2004 study showed that 20% of all deaths age 35 and over can be attributed to our sedentary lifestyle. We are more vulnerable to cardiovascular disease and a host of other problems than are our active counterparts.

The Paradox of Progress

The introduction of new technologies in transportation and communications has made our lives easier and more comfortable. Unfortunately, they have also lessened our physical activities. Once we walked a lot. The average person walked at least one hour a day, five days a week, and burned 2,000 calories every week. That's about 96,000 calories a year. Today, most of us walk very little. As a result, we don't burn off the calories. Instead, we store them as fat. The advent of the computer age has opened the world to our fingertips. Information has become digitalized. The problem is that we are now tied to our desks for longer and longer periods, snacking, eating meals, and not moving. We do not want to convert these calories to fat. It is the accumulation of extra calories and the lack of exercise that plays havoc on our bodies.

Television

Most of us have favourite TV shows. We like to settle down in our easy chair or on the couch and pass the evening away watching television. There are two problems associated with this. First, there are lots of commercials advertising desserts and snack foods. Second, they make us hungry and we go to the kitchen and help ourselves. Ever eat just one chip, one pretzel or one piece of candy? Most likely, you eat part or all of the bag without ever thinking about the calories you are consuming. If, for example, you like to snack on Nabisco Wheat Thins™ you are consuming 150 calories for every 16 crackers you eat. Sixteen is not a lot, especially if you are repeatedly digging into the box. If you eat the whole box in one sitting, you are eating 1350 calories. That's over half a day's worth of calories on many diet plans. Some snack foods have even more calories per portion. Now consider that you might eat those 1350 calories every night on top of the day's calories. Pretty soon, you're in desperate need of a diet. There's nothing wrong with eating Nabisco Wheat Thins™ but they and other snack foods should be eaten in moderation.

The Aging Process

Telomeres are repeat sequences of DNA that sit on the ends of chromosomes, protecting them from damage. Researchers at The King's College London found telomeres shortened more quickly in inactive people. Examining white blood cells from the immune system, the researchers found that telomeres lost 21 component parts (nucleotides) every year. The telomeres of very active people had a similar length to those of inactive people who were up to 10 years younger. This means that inactivity may actually speed up the ageing process itself. Stress is also thought to have an impact on telomere length, and the researchers suggest people who exercise regularly may help to reduce their stress levels.

Cardiovascular Disease

Your heart depends upon an adequate, uninterrupted flow of blood through the three main coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis occurs when these arteries become less flexible and constricted. The arteries are typically 3 to 4 mm in diameter. When they become constricted, blood flow diminishes and heart disease, even heart attacks, occurs. Physical inactivity increased the risk of dying from heart disease in men by 52% and in women by 28%. With daily proper exercise and diet, the heart becomes stronger. Blood flow is not constricted and these problems can usually be avoided.

Type 2 Diabetes

Physical fitness and exercise help prevent obesity and the onset of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Regular exercise aids in the regulation of glucose levels in the blood. Exercise can also be helpful for those who already have diabetes. Exercise also prevents cardiovascular disease which is leading cause of death in diabetics.

Cancer and Other Concerns

A 2004 study revealed that physical inactivity increased the risk of dying from cancer in men by 45% and in women by 28%. There is evidence that regular, moderate physical activity can decrease the risk of colon cancer, breast tumors, and other malignancies. Regular, moderate exercise can help fight off the common cold. It is important for maintaining muscle strength, joint structure, and joint function.

The answer to the title of this paper is simple. The sedentary lifestyle makes us vulnerable to disease and can kill us.