1.8 billion adults at risk of disease from lack of physical activity

New data from WHO shows that 31% of adults worldwide, did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022.

The concerning trend of physical inactivity in adults has?increased by around five percentage points between 2010 and 2022. If this continues, levels of inactivity are projected to further rise to 35% by 2030.

Currently, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that adults have 150 minutes of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week. Reduced physical activity 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.

High levels of physical inactivity in high-income locations

The study, published in The Lancet Global Health Journal , was undertaken by researchers from WHO and academic colleagues.

“These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease, and to improve mental well-being through increased physical activity,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “We must renew our commitments to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritise bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend.”

The data shows that the highest rates of physical inactivity were seen in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%), with levels of inactivity in other regions ranging from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania.

Low physical activity levels are more common in women

The researchers found disparities between gender and age with inactivity rates of 34% in women compared to 29% in men. In some countries, this difference is as much as 20 percentage points. People over 60 are less active than other adults, highlighting that physical activity should be encouraged in older adults.

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” said Dr Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO. “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.”

The global target set to improve physical activity levels by 2030

There are signs of improvement in some countries. The study showed that almost half of the world’s countries have made some improvements over ten years, and 22 countries were identified as likely to reach the global target of reducing inactivity levels by 15% by 2030 if their trends continue.

WHO is now calling on countries to strengthen their policies to promote and enable physical activity through grassroots, community sports, and transport.

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice – it will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy to reap the many health benefits of regular physical activity,” said Dr Fiona Bull, Head of the WHO Unit for Physical Activity.