Rabat – Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) has shown that 1.8 billion adults, equating to 31% of the world’s population, are considered physically inactive. This displays a 5% increase in physical inactivity since 2010, with current trend projections expecting rates of inactivity to increase to 35% by 2030.
Physical activity has been defined by WHO as “any bodily movement activated by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure”. Movement is pivotal in improving physical health, as well as quality of life, mental health, overall well-being, and reduces risk to all causes of mortality.
WHO advises 2.5 hours of moderate physical activity a day, recommendations one-third of the world population is not meeting. On a global scale, women have shown less activity than men by 5%. Adolescents aged 11 to 17 are displaying higher levels of inactivity, with 81% not reaching activity requirements, and males being more active than females by 7%.
The World Health Organization has a global action plan on physical activity, outlining how countries and communities can promote increasing physical activity in populations. Policy implementation according to the plan requires cooperation from multiple sectors of the government, in education, transportation, urban planning, and health. Prioritization of policies will address the discrepancies in current rates of physical inactivity and encourage physical activity for all demographics.
