International Yoga Day is celebrated on June 21st—an annual event officially established by the UN in 2014. Beyond its inherent spiritual, philosophical, and cultural dimensions, the UN viewed the creation of a global day dedicated to deepening the understanding of yoga practices as an opportunity to underscore the importance of physical activity for maintaining optimal physical and mental health, and to promote initiatives that encourage its wider adoption.

The importance of physical activity in reducing the risks associated with Metabolic Syndrome

In its 2018 “Global Action Plan on Physical Activity,” the WHO notes that regular physical activity protects against the development of cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. It further highlights that one does not need to be an athlete to meet the level of physical activity recommended by the UN—which, for adults, is 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. In fact, any form of movement that expends metabolic energy can be considered physical activity, provided that its duration and intensity are appropriate and it is practiced consistently. Finally, the WHO emphasizes that the concerning level of global physical inactivity—which has remained unchanged for about twenty years—is linked to the onset of glucose metabolism disorders and their subsequent clinical manifestations, including insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome.

Insulin resistance is a condition in which the body is unable to respond adequately to the action of insulin—the hormone that regulates the use of glucose and related compounds in various tissues (primarily muscle, liver, and adipose, or fat, tissue)—in order to ensure the proper balance between energy consumption and energy storage.

The collection of cellular processes involved in energy homeostasis is known as "metabolism." It is therefore easy to understand how a failure to regulate the mechanisms underlying a proper energy balance can manifest as "metabolic syndrome"—a cluster of seemingly unrelated symptoms affecting various parts of the body, all stemming from metabolic dysfunction. Metabolic syndrome is diagnosed when at least three of the following criteria are met: (i) accumulation of abdominal fat, defined as a waist circumference greater than 102 cm in men or 88 cm in women; (ii) high fasting blood glucose levels, indicating impaired insulin sensitivity; (iii) hypertriglyceridemia (i.e., high levels of triglycerides in the blood); (iv) low levels of HDL cholesterol in the blood; and (v) hypertension.

There exists an extremely complex network of relationships connecting the factors listed above, and new, unexpected observations continue to be brought to light by both physicians and researchers. Nevertheless, it is now widely recognized that individuals with metabolic syndrome face an increased risk of developing a range of dangerous complications, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). Given the multifactorial nature of the condition, the management and therapeutic treatment of metabolic syndrome are particularly challenging, and a multidisciplinary approach appears to be the most appropriate course of action.

For some time now, the view has gained ground among experts that interventions aimed at reducing a sedentary lifestyle are of fundamental importance—both for helping to counter the risks associated with metabolic syndrome and for preventing its onset in the first place. Proponents of this approach—which aligns with several of the principles that Yoga Day seeks to promote—emphasize that low-to-moderate-intensity physical activity, such as yoga or simply walking, offers significant advantages: it is highly accessible, suitable for individuals of all ages and varying physical conditions, carries minimal risk of injury, and is free from the contraindications or potential side effects that may be associated with pharmaceutical treatments.

Contrary to what we might assume, the benefits of physical exercise are not exclusively linked to weight loss. While it is true that losing weight can reduce visceral fat—which releases inflammatory signals that contribute to insulin resistance and, consequently, metabolic syndrome—the simple act of muscle contraction during movement appears sufficient to counteract the chronic inflammation caused by an excess of abdominal adipose tissue, regardless of whether weight is lost. In fact, even without weight loss, physical activity is associated with significant improvements in lipid profiles, blood pressure, and insulin sensitivity—all of which are key markers used to assess the risk of developing various conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and renal failure.

A final consideration is financial in nature, as an approach focused on improving one’s lifestyle also offers economic benefits. It has been estimated that, for patients with type 2 diabetes, an exercise program designed to increase weekly energy expenditure would—within just two years—lead to an improvement in their clinical status, resulting in a significant reduction in overall per capita medical expenses.