500 Million Risk Developing Chronic Illness Due to Physical Inactivity, According to a WHO Report

Nearly a 1/2 billion people worldwide will develop diseases due to physical inactivity between 2020 to 2030, according to a new report on the global status of physical activity from the World Health Organization (WHO).

Unless action is taken to address the sedentary pandemic, 500 million people will develop heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other noncommunicable diseases during that period. Looking at data from 194 countries, the WHO estimates that treating new cases of those diseases will cost the global community $27 billion annually for a total of $300 billion by 2030.?

The report also found that more than one in four adults and more than 80% of adolescents don’t meet the WHO’s recommended levels of physical activity for optimum health.

More countries need to implement policies to support people to be more active through walking, cycling, sport, and other physical activity.?