Geneva – New data shows that almost a third (31%) of the world’s adults will not meet the recommended level of physical activity by 2022, with an estimated 1.8 billion. The results show a worrying trend in physical inactivity among adults. Between 2010 and 2022, it will gain about 5 percent.
If this trend continues, the level of inactivity is expected to rise further to 35% by 2030, and the world is currently falling short of the global goal of reducing physical inactivity by 2030. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults receive 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity physical activity or equivalent. Adults who are physically inactive are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers such as breast and colon.
The study was conducted by WHO researchers in collaboration with academic colleagues and published in the journal The Lancet Global Health.
“These new findings represent a missed opportunity to reduce cancer, heart disease and improve mental health,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization.
The highest rates of physical inactivity were recorded in high-income Asia-Pacific regions (48%) and South Asia (45%), while inactivity rates in other regions ranged from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14 % in. Oceania. .
Worryingly, gender and age differences persist. Physical inactivity is more common among women than men worldwide, with an inactivity rate of 34% compared to 29%. In some countries, the difference is as much as 20 percent. In addition, people over 60 are less active than other adults, stressing the importance of physical activity for older adults.
“Physical activity is a silent threat to global health and a significant contributor to the burden of chronic disease,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health at the World Health Organization. “We need to find innovative ways to encourage people to be more active, taking into account age, environmental and cultural factors. By making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable for all, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and make the population healthier and more productive.”
Although the results are worrying, there are some signs of improvement in some countries. Research has found that almost half of the countries in the world have changed in the past decade, and if the trend continues at the same pace, there are 22 countries on track to meet the global goal of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030. .
In light of these findings, WHO urges countries to implement policies to promote and promote physical activity through mass sports and active recreation and transport (walking, cycling and using public transport), among other measures.
Collective efforts based on collaboration between governmental and non-governmental stakeholders and increased investment in innovative approaches are needed to achieve the least active and reduce inequality in access to interventions to promote and improve physical activity.
