An elderly woman rides a bicycle in Croatia. Inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancer. (photo from the archive) 1.8 billion people worldwide are at risk of illness due to lack of physical activity Health
Nearly a third (31 percent) of adults worldwide—approximately 1.8 billion people—did not meet recommended levels of physical activity in 2022. Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) came to this conclusion. The results of their study were published in The Lancet Global Health.
The prevalence of insufficient physical activity among adults increased by about 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022, according to WHO. If this trend continues, the rate of inactivity is projected to increase to 35 percent by 2030.
The Consequences of a Sedentary Lifestyle
WHO recommends that adults get 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity each week. Inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and breast and colon cancer. “New evidence suggests a missed opportunity to reduce the incidence of cancer and heart disease.” vascular diseases, and improving mental health and well-being through increased physical activity,” said WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
Unequal access
Highest rates insufficient physical activity was observed in Asia and the Pacific (48 percent) and South Asia (45 percent). WHO also reports persistent inequalities among population groups. Physical inactivity continues to be more common among women, with differences of up to 20 percentage points compared to men in some countries. In addition, people over 60 are less active. Read also:
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“We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, taking into account factors such as age, environment and cultural background. By making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable for everyone, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and create healthier and more productive societies,” said WHO spokesman Rüdiger Kretsch.
Encouragement physical activity
Despite the alarming results, some countries are showing some signs of improvement. The study found that nearly half the world’s countries have made some progress over the past decade. According to WHO, 22 countries are likely to meet the global target of reducing inactivity rates by 15 percent by 2030 if these trends continue. WHO is calling on countries to step up efforts to promote and enable physical activity.  ;“Promoting physical activity goes beyond encouraging individual choice – it requires a whole-of-society approach and creating conditions that make it easier and safer for everyone to lead a more active and enjoyable life through regular physical activity,” Fiona said Bull, Head of the WHO Division of Physical Activity.