So, rather than stressing the health benefits of a good workout, The Lancet researchers have decided to show the harm caused by inactivity. They estimate lack of exercise is responsible for about 5.3m deaths a year: about the same number as smoking.
Sitting around doing nothing can lead to coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and breast and bowel cancers.
The data might lack muscle as scientists have had to rely on questionnaires sent out to 122 countries in which people report their own levels of activity. It must also be difficult to separate the impact of obesity from the figures.
But Dr I-Min Lee, from Harvard Medical School, says they were very cautious: "Our estimates of ill-health from lack of physical activity are on the low side."
The researchers say the problem of inactivity has reached pandemic levels, with far-reaching health and social consequences. They call for a radical re-think in how to deal with the issue.
Quiz 測驗 1. According to the article, what are most people doing while Olympic athletes compete?
Sitting inactive in front of the TV.
2. What's the objective of this research?
To encourage people to be more active every day.
3. Is this true, false or not given? The researchers interviewed people from 122 countries.
False. The researchers had to send questionnaires to these countries.
4. What phrase in the article suggests that the results of the research aren't strong?
The data might lack muscle.
5. What phrasal verb means 'to depend on something or someone'?
To rely on (something or someone).
Glossary 词汇表 to push (their bodies) to the limit把（身體）推到了極限 inactive不活躍的 a gym session一次健身課 a treadmill一台跑步機 fitness健身 physical activity體力活動，鍛煉 a brisk walk快步行走 a pursuit一個追求 familiarity熟悉 moderate溫和的 health benefit健康益處 a workout一次鍛煉 coronary heart disease冠心病 muscle（肌肉）此處指可信度 to rely on依靠於 obesity肥胖症 ill-health不健康，身體不好
