…Exercise Strengthens Heart, Bones, Muscles, Says Expert
The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Idi-Aba, Abeokuta, has joined the global community to commemorate the 2026 World Exercise Day with a health walk, as health professionals urged Nigerians to make regular physical exercise part of their daily routine.
The exercise, held under the theme “Move More, Think Sharper, Live Better,” was aimed at promoting physical fitness, healthy living and awareness of the benefits of regular exercise in preventing non-communicable diseases.
The walk commenced from the Ake Palace Ground and passed through Ijemo, Sapon, Ijaye, Iyána Mortuary and Idi-Aba before terminating at the premises of the Federal Medical Centre, Idi-Aba, Abeokuta.
Management and staff of various departments of the medical centre, as well as members of the Aerobics Group of the Department of Physiotherapy, participated in the exercise.
Speaking on the significance of the exercise, a Consultant Endocrinologist and Diabetologist at FMC Abeokuta, Dr. Alalade Boladale, who represented the Head of Clinical Services,Dr. Olusola Adebisi said regular exercise remained an important component of disease prevention and management.
Dr. Alalade said the walk, despite its simplicity, could contribute significantly to reducing the burden of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases.
“The exercise that we are doing today, as simple as it appears to be, has been found to be an effective way of reducing cardiovascular burden,” he said.
According to him, regular physical activity helps to combat conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and disorders associated with cholesterol and lipids, while also strengthening the heart, bones and muscles.
He noted that exercise was routinely recommended to patients as part of their overall management, stressing that the World Exercise Day celebration provided an opportunity for health workers and members of the community to practise what they advocate.
Dr. Alalade further explained that the initiative was not only about physical fitness but also about encouraging community participation and strengthening social relationships.
“Beyond exercising our body, it gives us the opportunity of meeting one another. We are building social networks by this. We are meeting our community neighbours and we are able to foster a good relationship going forward,” he said.
He added that regular exercise could also improve mood and enhance general well-being.
Some of the participants which included Chairman/Director of Oluwalogbon Electrical Electronics, Sapon, Mr. Moses Oluwalogbo Enilolobo, and Mrs Olusola Erinle a staff of FMV described the exercise as a worthwhile initiative capable of encouraging people to remain physically active.
Enilolobo said he participated because of his desire to maintain good health and remain physically fit.
“If you continue to walk, you will not feel any bad health. It is very good. Because of our sound health, that is the reason why we are walking,” he said.
He encouraged both younger and older Nigerians, including men and women, to embrace regular exercise, noting that physical activity had become part of his lifestyle through his participation in aerobic exercises.
“I want good health. I want to be able to move anytime, anywhere, morning and night,” he added.
The participants completed the walk in an atmosphere of enthusiasm, with staff members and other participants expressing satisfaction with the initiative.
World Exercise Day, observed on the first Sunday of October, seeks to promote awareness of the importance of physical activity and its contribution to healthier living.
The World Health Organization recommends that adults engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
