By PRINCE GOLEZ
Manila Reporter
MANILA — Sen. Manuel “Lito” Lapid has proposed the establishment of a community fitness center in every municipality or city.
A full-time fitness instructor, appointed by the local chief executive, shall oversee the center, Lapid’s Senate Bill 2411 said.
“Regular exercise or physical activity helps many of the body’s systems function better and keeps a number of diseases at bay,” the senator said in a statement.
Individuals who do not exercise enough are prone to heart diseases, Lapid said, citing a government study.
There is an independent risk of developing mild to moderate diastolic dysfunction when the body mass index increases, he said.
Diastolic dysfunction is a “new heart problem” that occurs when “ventricles become stiff” and thus fail to “refill with blood to prepare for the next contraction,” according to Dr. Richard Fogoros, an American heart disease expert.
“Stiff ventricles cannot fully relax during diastole,” said Fogoros.
Lapid said sedentary lifestyle — lack of regular physical activity — is a major cause of obesity among children and adults in the country.
Under the bill’s Section 6, the fitness instructor shall conduct regular consultations with residents and formulate an annual fitness plan for them.
He/she must also implement physical activities and sports program for the community./PN
