Covid -19 : Salient features of Physical and Mental well being

Kanishq Sajwan

Covid-19 and our efforts to combat it have caused a great deal of stress, be it physical, mental or psychological. According to the world obesity federation, India will have 48.3 million obese people by 2025. Pediatric Obesity report says by 2025 there will be 17 million obese children in the country. Physical and mental fitness is a prominent part of mankind and it is a serious concern for our country to have so many unfit residents, colliding the fact that India is known for its youth population. The youth of the nation are the trustees of prosperity, it is dynamic in nature as most skills and orientations are acquired in this age. Youth is a huge reservoir of energy that needs to be tapped and harnessed intelligently for the development of society.

Physical Health
Experts says Regular physical activity can help children and adolescents to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, build strong bones and muscles, control weight, reduce symptoms of anxiety depression which is now common among lots of people aged between 19 to 25 and it also reduces the risk of developing health conditions which are vulnerable during COVID-19.

Mental Health
Apart from physical health Mental health also heavily influences our quality of life. So it makes sense that mental health, just like physical health, needs to be taken care of and maintained. As of 2015, on a global level, over 322.48 million people worldwide suffer from some form of depressive disorder and as of 2017, more than 14 percent of the total population in India suffer from variations of mental disorders. The majority of this share includes older adult females in India. We’re social beings, and we are not meant to live in isolation, but Covid-19 forced us to be in that state for a long time and it has definitely affected the quality of life for so many people. Mental health and physical health are closely connected. Mental health plays a major role in people’s ability to maintain good physical health. Mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety, affect people’s ability to participate in health-promoting behaviors. Not only in India mental health has been a worldwide issue, but an estimated 18.1% (43.6 million) of U.S. adults ages 18 years or older also suffered from any mental illness and 4.2% (9.8 million) suffered from a seriously debilitating mental illness.Having a mental health problem doesn’t mean it’s inevitable that you will develop a physical health problem.

Things to do for better Physical and Mental Health
There are things you can do to give yourself the best chance of staying physically well. Physical activity is a great way to keep you physically healthy as well as improving your mental wellbeing. Research shows that doing exercise releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins in the brain. Even a short burst of 10 minutes of brisk walking can improve your mental alertness, energy, and mood. A balanced diet is one that includes healthy amounts of proteins, essential fats, complex carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and water. On the opposite side of exercise, it’s also imperative that you give your body and mind the time it needs to rest. For your physical health, rest allows the muscles time to recuperate. For mental health, rest gives your mind a break. You can’t go non-stop without any opportunity to unwind. Your health and wellness are important if you want to live a long and happy life.