Marrakesh – The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently sounded the alarm with a new study revealing a rising trend. A staggering 1.8 billion adults globally, equivalent to nearly a third of the world’s adult population, are failing to meet recommended physical activity levels.
The study was published in the Lancet Global Health journal by researchers from WHO and academic colleagues.
This worrying trend has seen a significant rise of approximately 5 percentage points since 2010, highlighting serious health risks.
The findings underscore an urgent need for concerted efforts to address the growing epidemic of physical inactivity, which poses substantial threats to both physical and mental well-being.
Global physical inactivity is on a distressing trajectory, expected to hit 35% by 2030, marking a significant setback in global health ambitions.
“These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease, and improve mental health and well-being through increased physical activity,” emphasized Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General in the report.
He stressed the importance of revitalizing efforts to promote physical activity, and called for strengthening policies and increasing funding to reverse this concerning trend.
The WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate exercise weekly, combating the heightened risks of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers like breast and colon.
Physical inactivity rates were most pronounced in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%), contrasting with levels ranging from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania across other regions.
Disparities persist across gender and age groups. Globally, physical inactivity remains more prevalent among women, with rates reaching 34% compared to 29% among men.
In certain countries, this gender gap widens to as much as 20 percentage points.
Moreover, adults over 60 show lower activity levels compared to their younger counterparts, highlighting the critical need for initiatives promoting physical activity among older adults.
“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” stated Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s Director of Health Promotion.
He emphasized the need for “innovative strategies” to encourage more physical activity, taking into account factors like age, environment, and cultural context.
Despite concerning findings, there are indications of progress in several countries.
The study revealed that nearly half of the world’s nations have shown improvement over the last decade, with 22 countries poised to meet the global target of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030 if current trends persist.
In response to these findings, WHO urges countries to bolster policy implementation aimed at promoting and facilitating physical activity.
This includes enhancing grassroots and community sports, active recreational opportunities, and promoting active transportation such as walking, cycling, and public transit.
