Sedentary lifestyle could be more dangerous than smoking according to research
New research by the World Health Organisation predicts Ireland is on course to be the fattest country in Europe by 2030.
The proportion of obese and overweight men in Ireland is projected to rise to 89% by 2030 with a corresponding 85% of women falling into this category.
It is now believed that a sedentary lifestyle is linked to increased risk of heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and even early death, and could be just as big a threat to public health, if not more so, than smoking according to new research at Queens's University Belfast. The researchers have already shown that mothers who sit more during pregnancy are likely to have heavier babies, while men who spend more time sitting at work have poorer kidney function.
Increasingly people are leading inactive lives, therefore, joining a gym is now more important than ever.
If you're planning on joining a gym for the first time or getting back into it after an extended 'rest' period, check out the list we've composed of a few simple rules to stick to to ensure everyone has a more enjoyable experience. Technology has become an integral part of life, but be prepared to leave the phone behind at the gym. The rules are simple.
We've all had to grab that important phone call while at the gym. If you're in earshot of someone and you need to take an important call, get off the machine and walk to a non-workout area. If you're using weights or on a workout bench, step away so someone else can use them while you're discussing that important business deal.
The only acceptable uses of a phone in the gym are as a timer, to play music or to take videos of exercises to check form. Taking selfies or texting between sets is a joke and, in my opinion, you should be removed from the gym for such behaviour. In saying this, I've no doubt that it won't be too long before we see someone with a 'selfie stick' in the gym.
When the sweat runneth down, wipe it up
You may be getting your sweat on while running to "Shake It Off," but flinging your sweat onto the person next to you is a total gross out to anyone who isn't stalking you or enraptured by your body fluids. The same goes for leaving your juices on benches or machines for the next person to encounter. You're not a dog marking your territory so there's no need to let others know you were there. If your gym doesn't provide towel service, make sure you bring one larger than a washcloth.
Regardless of whether you’re a male or female, young or old, overweight or skinny…you have just as much of a right to use the free weights section as anybody else.
Whether you’re squatting 45 lbs and someone else is squatting 450 lbs, it doesn’t matter – you pay the same as they do, and your workout is just as important as theirs.