New findings showed that nearly 1.8 billion people did not meet the recommended physical activity levels in 2024.
The study was undertaken by researchers from the World Health Organisation and academic colleagues and published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
The findings released on Wednesday point to a worrying trend of physical inactivity among adults, which has increased by about five percent between 2010 and 2024.
The researchers warn that if the trend continues, levels of inactivity are projected to rise further to 35 percent by 2030, and the world is currently off track from meeting the global target to reduce physical inactivity by 2030.
WHO recommends that adults have 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week, as physical inactivity puts adults at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon.
“These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease and to improve mental well-being through increased physical activity.
“We must renew our commitments to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritize bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend,” said WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus.
The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48 percent) and South Asia (45 percent), with levels of inactivity in the other areas ranging from 28 percent in high-income Western countries to 14 percent in Oceania.
The data showed physical inactivity is still more common among women globally compared with men, with inactivity rates of 34 percent compared to 29 percent.
In some countries, this difference is as much as 20 percent. Additionally, people over 60 are less active than other adults, underscoring the importance of promoting physical activity for older adults.
“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases. We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, considering factors like age, environment, and cultural background.
“By making physical activity accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for all, we can significantly reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases and create a population that is healthier and more productive,” said Director of Health Promotion at WHO, Dr Rüdiger Krech.
The study showed that almost half of the world’s countries have made some improvements over the past decade, and 22 countries were identified as likely to reach the global target of reducing inactivity by 15 percent by 2030 if their trend continues at the same pace.
In light of these findings, the global health body is calling on countries to strengthen their policy implementation to promote and enable physical activity through grassroots and community sports and active recreation and transport (walking, cycling, and using public transport), among other measures.
The information appeared physical dormancy is still more common among ladies universally compared with men, with inertia rates of 34 percent compared to 29 percent.
In some countries, this distinction is as much as 20 percent. Furthermore, individuals over 60 are less dynamic than other grown-ups, underscoring the significance of advancing physical action for more seasoned adults.
“Physical dormancy is a quiet risk to worldwide wellbeing, contributing essentially to the burden of persistent illnesses. We are required to discover inventive ways to spur individuals to be more dynamic, considering components like age, environment, and social background.
“By making physical action open, reasonable, and pleasant for all, we can altogether diminish the chance of non-communicable infections and make a populace that is more beneficial and more productive,” said Chief of Wellbeing Advancement at WHO, Dr Rüdiger Krech.
The consider appeared that nearly half of the world’s nations have made a few changes over the past decade, and 22 nations were recognized as likely to reach the worldwide target of decreasing dormancy by 15 percent by 2030 if their drift proceeds at the same pace.
In light of these discoveries, the worldwide well-being body is calling on nations to fortify their approach execution to advance and empower physical movement through grassroots and community sports and dynamic diversion and transport (strolling, cycling, and utilizing open transport), among other
“Promoting physical action goes past advancing a person’s way of life choice – it will require a whole-of-society approach and making situations that make it less demanding and more secure for everybody to be more dynamic in ways they appreciate to procure the numerous wellbeing benefits of normal physical activity,” said Head of the WHO Unit for Physical Action, Dr Fiona Bull.
“Collective endeavors based on organizations between government and non-governmental partners and expanded speculations in imaginative approaches will be required to reach the slightest dynamic individuals and to decrease imbalances in getting to measures advancing and making strides physical activity,” WHO said.
