According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2022, nearly one-third (31%) of adults worldwide, or about 1.8 billion people, were not engaging in physical activity at recommended levels. Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases.
New data shows that by 2022, almost a third (31%) of adults worldwide, or around 1.8 billion people, were not engaging in physical activity at recommended levels. The results show a worrying trend in physical inactivity among adults, with it increasing by around 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022.
If the trend continues, the level of inactivity is expected to increase further to 35% by 2030, and currently the world is far from being on track to meet the global target of reducing physical inactivity by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults spend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or the equivalent, per week. Physical inactivity puts adults at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers such as breast cancer and colon cancer.
The study was undertaken by WHO researchers in collaboration with academic colleagues, and published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.
“These new findings highlight the lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease, and improve well-being and mental health through increased physical activity”lamented the Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of WHO. “We must renew our commitment to increasing physical activity levels and prioritising bold action, including stronger policies and broader funding, to reverse this worrying trend.”
The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia-Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%), with inactivity levels in other regions ranging from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania.
It is worrying to note that disparities persist according to gender and age. Physical inactivity is still more common among women than men globally, with inactivity rates of 34% versus 29%. In some countries, this difference can be as much as 20 percentage points. Furthermore, People over 60 are less active than younger adults, hence the importance of promoting physical activity among older people.
« Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases »recalled the D.r Rüdiger Krech, Director of the Health Promotion Department at WHO. “We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, taking into account factors such as age, environment and cultural context. By making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable for all, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and achieve a healthier and more productive population.”
Despite the worrying results, there are some signs of improvement in some countries. The study found that nearly half of the world’s countries have made progress over the past decade, and 22 countries were identified as likely to meet the global target of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030, if the observed trend continues at the same pace.
In light of these results, WHO calls on countries to strengthen the implementation of their policies to promote and enable physical activity through mass sport and local practice, as well as leisure activities and active modes of transport (walking, cycling and use of public transport), among other measures.
“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting an individual lifestyle choice – it will require a holistic approach from all stakeholders in society and the creation of environments that enable each and every everyone to practice the activity they enjoy more easily and safely in order to benefit from the many health benefits of regular physical activity,” said the Dre Fiona Bull, Head of the Physical Activity Unit at WHO.
Collective efforts based on partnerships between stakeholders, both government and others, and increased investment in innovative approaches will be needed to reach the least active people and reduce inequalities in access to measures to promote and improve physical activity.
Press release, WHO June 26, 2024
