Over a fourth of the population frequently engages in sporting activities on a regular basis
In the vast expanse of Russia, Khabarovsk stands out as a city with a notable number of sports enthusiasts. According to recent data, an impressive 43% of its population regularly participates in sports, making it the city with the highest number of sports enthusiasts among large Russian cities. This trend is particularly strong among young people aged 18-30, with 44% of them being physically active.
However, this positive trend in physical activity is contrasted by a concerning one in the realm of health. A significant 45% of the population in Khabarovsk is reported to be smokers, a figure that is also high in Vladivostok, where 41% of the population smokes. These statistics, coupled with unbalanced diets, are cited as factors contributing to the rise of chronic diseases in the city.
In a bid to combat this, there has been an increase in the number of people in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok who are incorporating fresh vegetables and fruits into their diet. This shift, along with a rise in preventive examinations (up to 73% among Khabarovsk residents), a decrease in the number of people visiting a doctor less than once a year (down to 7%), and an increase in the number of physically active people aged 51-60 (up to 18%), suggests a growing awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Natalia Kharina, Director of Medical Insurance at SberInsurance, emphasised the importance of not facing health issues alone. She underscored the role of community support in maintaining and improving health.
Regarding sports engagement in other cities, however, there seems to be a lack of authoritative or recent figures comparing Magadan to other large Russian cities. Despite ongoing sports promotion activities across Russia, including campaigns for veterans and disabled populations, no localized sports engagement data for Magadan has been found.
In terms of national trends, there has been a decrease in nicotine consumption across Russia, dropping from 24.1% to 21.8% over the past year. Cities like Kemerovo and Irkutsk and Kazan, each boasting 39% and 39% of sports enthusiasts respectively, are not far behind Khabarovsk.
Interestingly, the diagnoses that Russians fear the most include oncology (40.8%), stroke (10.7%), liver diseases (9.5%), heart attack (7.9%), and diabetes (5.9%). Yet, more Russians are incorporating fresh vegetables and fruits into their diet, with an increase of 1.5 percentage points, bringing the total to 80.2%.
The Ministry of Health emphasises that a healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of developing most serious diseases by half. In this light, the rise in sports engagement and healthier diets in cities like Khabarovsk and Vladivostok could signal a positive shift towards a healthier Russia.
- The city of Khabarovsk, known for its sports enthusiasts, also faces a concern with chronic diseases, attributable to high smoking rates and unbalanced diets.
- In an effort to combat these health issues, there has been an increase in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruits in Khabarovsk and Vladivostok, along with more preventive examinations and exercise among the elderly population.
- Mental health is a factor that also deserves attention in the discussion of health and wellness, as directed by Natalia Kharina, the Director of Medical Insurance at SberInsurance, who emphasized the importance of community support in maintaining and improving health.
- Beyond Khabarovsk, other cities in Russia, such as Magadan, lack reliable data on sports engagement, although campaigns for veterans and disabled populations and a decrease in nicotine consumption are nationwide trends.
