A recent report highlights a worrying trend in global health, with 1.8 billion adults worldwide, or nearly a third of all adults, not engaging in the recommended amounts of physical activity in 2022.
This represents an alarming increase of about 5 percentage points since 2010, indicating that adults are becoming less physically active over time.
The global aim of eliminating physical inactivity by 2030 is currently far from being met. If the current trend persists, the degree of inactivity is expected to rise even further to 35% by that time. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that individuals engage in 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes a week of sustained-intensity exercise, or the equivalent. Adults who are physically inactive have a higher risk of developing type 2 diabetes, dementia, cardiovascular disorders like heart attacks and strokes, and cancers like breast and colon cancer.
In partnership with academic colleagues, WHO researchers conducted the study, which was then published in the journal The Lancet Global Health. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that these new findings highlight the lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease and improve well-being and mental health through increased physical activity. To halt this alarming trend, he emphasized the need to reaffirm our commitment to raising physical activity levels and prioritize bold initiatives such as stricter laws and increased financing.
The high-income Asia-Pacific area (48%) and South Asia (45%) had the greatest rates of physical inactivity, while levels in other regions ranged from 14% in Oceania to 28% in high-income Western countries. Regrettably, differences by age and gender still exist.
Globally, women experience higher rates of physical inactivity than men, with rates of 34% and 29% respectively. This disparity can reach 20 percentage points in certain nations. Additionally, those over 60 are less active compared to younger individuals, emphasizing the importance of encouraging physical exercise in older adults.
Dr. Rüdiger Krech, Director of the WHO’s Department of Health Promotion, warned that physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of disease due to chronic conditions. He called for creative strategies to encourage individuals to be more active while considering their age, environment, and cultural background. According to Dr. Krech, a healthier and more productive population can be attained by lowering the risk of non-communicable diseases and increasing accessibility, affordability, and enjoyment of physical activity for everybody.
Despite the concerning outcomes, there are indications of progress in certain countries. Nearly half of the world’s nations have made progress in the last ten years, and 22 nations are predicted to meet the global goal of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030 if the current trend continues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging nations to accelerate the implementation of their policies to support and facilitate physical activity through recreational pursuits, active modes of transportation (such as walking, cycling, and public transportation), mass and community sports, and other means.
