Physical Inactivity, Non-Communicable Diseases and National Fitness Plan of China for Physical Activity

Abstract

Rashid Menhas,1 Jianhui Dai,2 Muhammad Azeem Ashraf,3 Sohail M Noman,4 Sumaira Khurshid,5 Sajid Mahmood,6 Yu Weng,2 Rizwan Ahmad Laar,7 Xuehui Sang,2 Muhammad Kamran,8 Babar Shahzad,9 Waseem Iqbal9 1Research Center of Sports Social Sciences, School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 2School of Physical Education and Sports, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Research Institute of Educational Science, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of China; 4Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, 515041, People’s Republic of China; 5School of Education and Science, Neijiang Normal University, Neijiang, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China, 641112; 6Department of Zoology, Hazara University, Mansehra, 21120, Pakistan; 7School of Sports Science and Physical Education, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210023, People’s Republic of China; 8NRSP Microfinance Bank Shorkot City Branch, Shorkot, 35050, Punjab, Pakistan; 9School of Energy, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Muhammad Azeem AshrafResearch Institute of Educational Science, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, People’s Republic of ChinaEmail [email protected]: China has the world’s largest population, going under health transition due to industrialization, urbanization, and a sedentary lifestyle. About 82% of China’s disease burden is due to the prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Physical activity (active travel) is the best preventive measure against NCDs. The Chinese government has introduced several steps to improve national fitness and overcome NCDs among the aging population. Exercise and sports play a vital role in promoting physical activity and helpful in accomplishing the national fitness level for Healthy China under the national fitness plan (NFP).Objective: The current study aimed to explore the role of national fitness plan (NFP) in promoting physical activity and health well-being preventing NCDs under built environment intervention.Methods: The study was exploratory, and the mixed-method approach was used to analyze the primary and secondary data. Quantitative content analysis was used to analyze the collected data. A purposive sampling technique was used to collect the primary data from those individuals rich in knowledge about the National Fitness Plan (NFP) of China and its role in promoting physical activity for physical fitness.Results: The majority of the participants (32.0%) said that the national fitness plan helps promote sports environment and health. About 28.0% reported that NFP helps promote cycling and walk environments for physical activity and health promotion and preventing non-communicable diseases (NCDs).Conclusion: Participation in physical exercise and sports is the preferred approach to prevent different diseases. In the context of rising active living among the Chinese people, the facilities such as built environment and green parks under the national fitness plan (NFP) for sports play a crucial role in the mitigation of NCDs.Keywords: non-communicable diseases, physical activity, built environment, sports, national fitness

Keywords

• non-communicable diseases
• physical activity
• built environment
• sports
• national fitness