Hyderabad: As thousands of runners took to Hyderabad’s streets for the NMDC Hyderabad Marathon on August 29 and 30, the event brought attention to a larger public-health question: Can running become more than a sport and evolve into a mass preventive-health movement?
Physical inactivity is a national health challenge
Across the world, governments are increasingly recognising physical inactivity as a major public-health challenge.
The World Health Organisation estimates that 31 per cent of adults and 80 per cent of adolescents globally do not meet recommended levels of physical activity. WHO has also warned that physical inactivity could cost public healthcare systems around $300 billion between 2020 and 2030 if current levels are not reduced.
Countries including Singapore, the United Kingdom, Japan, Australia, Canada and Finland have introduced policies and programmes aimed at making physical activity part of everyday life.
Walking, cycling, active commuting and community-based exercise are increasingly being incorporated into public-health and urban-planning strategies.
Singapore, for instance, runs neighbourhood-based physical activity programmes through its Health Promotion Board, including activities designed for people across different age groups and fitness levels. The UK’s public-health approach similarly promotes physical activity through walking, cycling, schools, workplaces and local communities.
The focus of these programmes is not necessarily to create athletes. It is to make regular movement easier and more accessible.
From walking to running
Running could potentially follow a similar path.
For someone who is physically inactive, running a marathon may be unrealistic. But beginning with regular walking and gradually increasing intensity can make physical activity more achievable.
WHO recommends that adults undertake at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, or 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or an equivalent combination. Running is one way of meeting the vigorous-intensity recommendation, although physical activity can take many forms.
The larger public-health opportunity, therefore, may not be about getting people to run long distances. It could be about creating a culture in which walking, jogging and running are normal parts of daily life.
Hyderabad’s active running community
Hyderabad has developed a strong running culture over the years, with the Hyderabad Marathon becoming one of the city’s major annual sporting events. The Hyderabad Runners Society says the event, which began in 2011, aims to promote an active lifestyle and community participation.
The marathon’s different race categories also allow participation at different levels rather than restricting the event to elite runners.
But a state-wide public-health approach would need to extend beyond an annual marathon. Beginner-friendly running groups, workplace programmes, school running initiatives, accessible public spaces and community events could potentially help people who have never considered themselves runners to become physically active.
Such programmes could also make participation more inclusive for women, older adults, people with disabilities and those who are new to exercise.
Why it matters for public health
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some cancers, while also contributing to better mental health, according to WHO.
For India, where non-communicable diseases are an increasing public-health concern, encouraging physical activity could form part of a broader preventive-health strategy.
However, running should not be presented as a one-size-fits-all solution.
People with health conditions, older adults and those who have been inactive for long periods may need to begin gradually and choose activities appropriate to their fitness levels.
The policy question is therefore not whether every person should become a marathon runner; it is whether they keep themselves physically active to live healthier, longer and better.