31% of adults worldwide are at risk of cardiovascular disease due to lack of exercise.

The World Health Organization (WHO) published a study on the situation with physical activity in the world in The Lancet Global Health. Data from work carried out jointly with an international team of researchers indicate ‘Worrisome’ trend of inactivity among adultswhich increased by about five percentage points (approximately 1.8 billion people) between 2010 and 2022.

If this trend continues, inactivity rates are projected to increase further, reaching 35% in 2030. Thus, according to WHO, the world will not be able to meet the global target of reducing physical inactivity by 2030.

A lack of weekly exercise and movement puts adults at higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon. Therefore, WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or equivalent physical activity per week.

WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity or equivalent per week.

“These new findings highlight a missed opportunity to reduce the risk of cancer, cardiovascular disease and improve mental well-being. by increasing physical activity,” says Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO director-general. “We must renew our commitment to increasing physical activity levels and prioritize bold action, including stronger policies and increased funding, to reverse this alarming trend.”

The highest levels of physical inactivity were observed in Asia and the Pacific at 48% and in South Asia at 45%. On the other hand, in high-income Western countries the percentage is lower, ranging from 28 to 14%, which was observed in Oceania.

Inequality between gender and age

Physical inactivity remains more common among women compared to men: 34% compared to 29%. In some countries this difference reaches 20 percentage points. Except, People over 60 are less active than other adultswhich highlights the importance of promoting physical activity among this population.

“Physical inactivity poses a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Rüdiger Krech, director of health promotion at WHO. “We need to find innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, taking into account factors such as age, environment and cultural context.”

Krech adds that “by making physical activity accessible, accessible and enjoyable for everyone, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and create healthier, more productive populations.”

Collective effort

Despite the results, there are some signs of improvement. The study found that nearly half of the world’s countries have made some progress over the past decade. It also found that 22 countries are on track to meet the global target of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030 if their trends continue at their current pace.

In light of these findings, WHO calls on countries to strengthen the implementation of policies that encourage and facilitate physical activity. Suggested measures include sports participation and active transport, such as walking, cycling or public transport.

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond individual lifestyle choices – it will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active,” says Fiona Bull, head of health and fitness at WHO. Physical activity. In addition, the doctor also emphasizes the importance of people having fun while exercising.

Collective efforts by government and non-government stakeholders are urgently needed. It will also require greater investment in innovative approaches to reach the least active people and reduce inequalities in access.

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This article was originally published in SINC. Read the original at this link.