Undoubtedly, with time progressing, individuals’ lifestyles have shifted, and people now engage in less physical exercise than in the past. This trend can lead to a variety of negative effects, and several solutions can be proposed to address the issue.
One significant effect of this trend is that participating in less exercise can directly harm people’s physical and mental health. To be more specific, physical exercise plays a vital role in reducing stress and stabilizing emotions; therefore, a lack of regular activity can disrupt physical function and, in turn, have a negative impact on mental well-being. For instance, during the pandemic, the lack of outdoor exercise negatively affected the public’s mental health. I personally experienced this, as I often felt depressed when I could not engage in regular physical activity. In addition, reduced physical activity can also lead to higher medical expenditure. Specifically, once the public gradually engages in less physical exercise, they are more likely to suffer from illnesses such as obesity and high blood pressure, which increases the demand of healthcare services and places a higher financial burden on both individuals and governments.
To tackle this phenomenon, several measures can be implemented. Firstly, governments can promote public fitness by investing in more sports facilities. Take Taiwan as an example. The government allocates funding to develop infrastructure such as parks and bicycle paths, not only encouraging people to use bicycles for short commute but also significantly increasing residents’ frequency of outdoor exercise. Secondly, corporations can provide subsidies to employees for gym memberships or fitness programs, which would encourage them to exercise more regularly outside working hours. For example, some technology companies in Taiwan have already offered wellness benefits, such as partial subsidies for gym fees, and this policy has successfully motivated employees to stay active despite their busy schedules.
In conclusion, based on the aforementioned, while the decline in physical exercise has led to mental issues and higher health costs, this issue can be mitigated if governments invest in public facilities and corporations provide wellness benefits.