Lifestyle diseases are fast becoming the biggest burden on Australia’s healthcare system, with 67% of Australian adults being obese, 5.3% of Australian adults having type 2 diabetes and 42% of Australian adults having high cholesterol levels.
Whilst these lifestyle diseases are becoming more prevalent in Australian society, they are also extremely treatable and easy to control with proper management. Exercise is fast becoming one of the most recommended prevention and treatment options for these conditions, and exercise physiologists are the perfect providers for prescribing exercise programs specifically designed for this demographic.
What Are Lifestyle Related Diseases?
The term lifestyle related diseases refers to health conditions that are largely due to lifestyle factors such as diet and exercise levels. The most common ones are diabetes (type 2), obesity, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease. The good news is that while lifestyle issues can cause these diseases, improving your lifestyle can also be very effective in preventing and treating these conditions. Working with an accredited exercise physiologist is the recommended way to achieve these lifestyle changes in a consistent and sustainable way.
How Can Exercise Help Lifestyle Related Diseases?
Regular exercise can decrease triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, reduce body weight and waist circumference and improve blood sugar levels1.
Exercise, in combination with appropriate dietary changes can be effective in recuing LDL- c (bad cholesterol) levels and modestly increasing HDL- c levels (good cholesterol) by assisting with weight loss and improving cardiovascular health and fitness. Exercise is also highly effective at improving muscular response to insulin, which can also help regulate blood glucose levels for up to 24 hours post exercise2. Exercise is also efficient at increasing the uptake of glucose by muscles in ways that do not depend on insulin and can lower the dose of insulin required by some diabetic patients. Diabetic patients should carefully monitor their blood glucose levels before, during and after exercise, and ensure that they wear appropriate footwear when exercising to avoid foot ulcers from developing.
What Types Of Exercise Are Most Beneficial For Lifestyle Related Diseases?
People with lifestyle related diseases should aim to complete 150-300 minutes of moderate intensity exercise per week3. Moderate intensity exercise is characterised as activity that causes increases in both heart and respiratory rate but still allows a conversation to be maintained.
A combination of aerobic and resistance exercise is recommended for patients in this group, as it is the most beneficial combination of exercise for weight management and improving cardiovascular health simultaneously3.
Working with an exercise physiologist is very beneficial when using exercise to manage lifestyle diseases. This is especially true if you do not have a history of exercising regularly, are unsure about how to get started or what level to work at, or you don’t feel comfortable joining a gym and working independently. Your exercise physiologist can support you with high levels of reassurance and encouragement, as well as ensuring that you are doing the right exercises with correct technique.
Central Performance – Exercise Physiology In Surry Hills
Chris McCarthy – Head Of Exercise Physiology
As an Exercise Physiologist, I get great joy from watching my clients achieve their goals through exercise whilst building lasting relationships with them, and enjoy the challenge of providing stimulating yet effective treatment in order to do this. I love working with clients in order to get them back on track to exercising post injury, and have experience in doing this with clients from a Cardiorespiratory and Musculoskeletal background.
Outside of the clinic I’m a keen cricketer and rugby fan, and have recently taken up boxing for fitness. You’ll find me on the pitch, in the ring or on my off days at the beach mucking round in the surf. I’m looking forward to helping people achieve their goals and get strong!
References
- 1. Carroll, S. and Dudfield, M., 2004. What is the relationship between exercise and metabolic abnormalities?. Sports medicine, 34(6), pp.371-418.
- 2. Thomas, D., Elliott, E.J. and Naughton, G.A., 2006. Exercise for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Cochrane database of systematic reviews, (3).
- 3. Sigal, R.J., Kenny, G.P., Wasserman, D.H., Castaneda-Sceppa, C. and White, R.D., 2006. Physical activity/exercise and type 2 diabetes: a consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes care, 29(6), pp.1433-1438.
