Our Sedentary Society

Residents of all western countries and particularly Americans have experienced a gradual but marked decline in physical activity beginning around 1900. This trend has accelerated and has been particularly rapid in the last 30 years. Directly related to convenience items and mechanical devices (remote controls and snow blowers, etc) and to reduction in physical labor requirements (less farmers and more lawyers). Additionally, the flight to the suburbs that occurred in the past 60 years was supposed to get us more access to clean air and open spaces but it has had the unintended consequence of increasing our dependence on the automobile. Today, paradoxically, due to traffic congestion and parking issues, the city folk now walk more than the country dwellers. (Although we could argue that the air is better here)

This inability to walk to shopping or work is now built into our society. The average American drives 50% more than they did in the 60's. Most towns are too spread out and have too few sidewalks to encourage walking. People commute by car an average of 30 minutes each way to work thereby not only avoiding exercise but reducing potential time available to exercise before or after work.

In the 60's it was very unusual for families to have two or more cars necessitating that someone would have to walk if they really wanted to get anywhere. Now, not only do the parents each have a car but the children are likely to have one as well. The hurried pace of society makes it unlikely that we will spend any more time than is absolutely necessary to accomplish an errand and the car is so convenient...

Further, current social situations are more likely to involve eating and drinking than any form of exercise. Taking a walk after dinner has been replaced by taking a drive for ice cream.

These societal changes occur gradually and we are largely unaware of the differences in our activity levels. Since everyone else is in the same boat (or SUV) it seems normal. These changes have directly contributed to the rise in the rates of obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels that are so pervasive in America and other 'westernized' societies.

More subtly but just as important, lack of exercise has profound effects on the ability of your blood vessels to dilate (enlarge) with activity which improves blood flow to working muscles, including your heart and reduces dangerous blood pressure spikes with sudden activity. After as little a month of inactivity your blood vessels lose this ability such that they can only dilate 1/2 as much. This makes you uncomfortable and breathless even with usual activity and, of course, further reduces your inclination to walk when you could drive with the radio and the AC on.

Although recommendations vary, the best evidence suggests that 20 minutes of fairly vigorous exercise 4x a week accrues as much benefit to health as more prolonged or frequent activity.

Since almost everyone would agree that regular exercise is healthful, the tricks are in finding time and an exercise program that you are comfortable with and (eventually) even enthusiastic about. The details of how much, what kind and what intensity are compounded living on Cape Cod where seasonal weather changes and general paucity of exercise opportunities can slow even the most determined proponent.