Nearly 1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from not doing enough physical activity – PAHO/WHO

June 26, 2024 | Geneva — New data shows that almost a third (31%) of adults worldwide, approximately 1.8 billion people, did not meet recommended levels of physical activity in 2022. The findings point to a worrying trend of physical inactivity among adults, which has increased by approximately 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022.

If the trend continues, inactivity levels are projected to rise further to 35% by 2030, and the world is currently far from achieving the global goal of reducing physical inactivity by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults have 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week. Physical inactivity puts adults at higher risk for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers such as breast and colon.

The study was carried out by WHO researchers together with academic colleagues and published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.

“These new findings highlight a missed opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease and improve mental well-being through increased physical activity,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We must renew our commitments to increasing physical activity levels and prioritize bold action, including strengthened policies and increased financing, to reverse this worrying trend.”

The highest rates of physical inactivity were seen in the high-income Asia-Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%), while in other regions inactivity levels ranged from 28% in Western countries high-income and 14% in Oceania. Inactivity rates in the Americas were also higher than the world average: 36%.

It is concerning that gender and age disparities persist. Physical inactivity remains more common among women globally compared to men, with inactivity rates of 34% versus 29%. This was also the case in the Americas, with women’s inactivity rates of 41%, compared to 30% for men. In addition, people over 60 years of age are less active than other adults, underscoring the importance of promoting physical activity among older adults.

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, WHO Director of Health Promotion. “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 everyone, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and create a healthier, more productive population.”

Despite the worrying results, there are some signs of improvement in some countries. The study showed that almost half of the world’s countries have made some improvements over the last decade, and 22 countries were identified as being on track to meet the global goal of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030, if their trend continues. At the same rhythm. .

In light of these findings, WHO urges countries to strengthen the implementation of policies to promote and enable physical activity through community and grassroots sport and active recreation and transportation (walking, cycling and using public transport), among other measures.

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice: it will require a whole-of-society approach and the creation of environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy.” reap the numerous health benefits of regular physical activity. ”said Dr Fiona Bull, head of the WHO Physical Activity Unit.

Collective efforts based on partnerships between governmental and non-governmental actors and greater investments in innovative approaches will be needed to reach the least active people and reduce inequalities in access to measures that promote and improve physical activity.