Nigerians spend billions treating illnesses that could be prevented with exercise – Expert

A fitness expert, Sir Goodluck Obi, has expressed concern over what he described as poor fitness culture in Nigeria.

Obi, who blamed the situation for the high rate of non-communicable diseases, NCDs, such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension in the country, said Nigerians are spending billions treating illnesses that could be prevented with exercise.

According to him, Nigeria’s rising burden of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity is directly tied to poor fitness culture and physical inactivity.

Obi, Chairman of Gategold Fitness Ltd, said most lifestyle diseases are preventable, yet many Nigerians only seek medical care after they fall sick.

“We spend billions treating illnesses that could have been prevented with 30 minutes of daily exercise,” he stated.

Advising Nigerians to embrace fitness as a lifestyle, Obi noted that the cost of treating chronic conditions is now one of the fastest rising expenses for families and the government.

He equally canvassed for government intervention towards promoting fitness, noting that countries that invest in preventive fitness have healthier populations and lower healthcare bills.

According to him, the Federal Government should treat fitness equipment as health essentials by reducing import duties to make them affordable. “If we make

treadmills, bikes and basic gym equipment cheaper, more Nigerians can exercise at home, in offices, and in communities.

“A healthy nation costs less to run. Prevention must become our first policy.”

According to the World Health Organization, WHO, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cause about 29 percent of all annual deaths in Nigeria.

WHO classifies NCDs as long-term, non-infectious conditions, including cardiovascular ailments such as cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases largely caused by lifestyle and environmental risks.