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

The World Health Organization (WHO) published in the journal Lancet Global Health study of the situation with physical activity in the world. Data from work carried out jointly with an international team of researchers indicate “alarming” trend of inaction among the adult population, which increased by about five percentage points (about 1.8 billion people) between 2010 and 2022.

If this trend continues, inactivity rates are projected to increase further, reaching 35% in 2030. common goal reduce physical activity levels by 2030.

Lack of exercise and movement per week puts adults at risk increased risk of disease cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon. Thus, WHO recommends Perform 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity or equivalent per week.

“These new results highlight Missed opportunity reduce cancer, heart disease and improve mental well-being through increased physical activity,” it said. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of WHO. “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.”

Cups higher physical inactivity was observed in the Asia-Pacific region with a percentage of 48% and in South Asia with a rate of 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 for men – 34% compared to 29%. In some countries this difference reaches 20 percentage points. Additionally, people over 60 years of age are less active than other adults, highlighting the importance of promoting physical activity among this population.

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health. which contributes significantly to the burden of chronic diseases“, – states Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion, 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, affordable and enjoyable for everyone, we can significantly reduce risk of non-communicable diseases and create healthier and more productive populations.

Collective effort

Despite the results, there are some signs of improvement. The study showed that practically half of the countries the world has 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 encourages countries strengthen implementing policies that encourage and facilitate physical activity. Suggested measures include exercise and active transport such as walking, cycling or public transport.

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond individual lifestyle choices: it will require Whole society and creating an environment where it is easier and safer for everyone to be more active,” states Fiona Bull, Head of Physical Activity, WHO. In addition, the doctor also emphasizes the importance of people having fun while exercising.

They are necessary collective effort between government and non-governmental stakeholders. It will also require greater investment in innovative approaches to reach the least active people and reduce inequalities in access.