Physical Inactivity Costs Health Systems US$27 billion: WHO

Physical inactivity is linked with chronic diseases and premature death, warned the WHO in its?Global status report on physical activity 2022. This report measures the global progress on the implementation of recommendations of the?Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030.?. To face this problem, it is essential for governments to implement policies that meet the specific needs of each country.?

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“This report issues a clear call to all countries for stronger and accelerated action by all relevant stakeholders working better together to achieve the global target of a 15 percent reduction in the prevalence of physical inactivity by 2030,”?said?Ruediger Krech, Director Department of Health Promotion, WHO.

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This is the first report of its kind and further reports will continue to track the path towards the achievement of 2030 physical activity targets. From 194 evaluated countries, the report shows that less than 50 percent of countries have a national physical activity policy and that only 30 percent of countries have national activity guidelines for all age groups.?

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“Accelerating physical activity policy implementation is vital to achieve targets set for 2030. It will require identifying opportunities across government and mitigating policy constraints within each country,” reads the report.?

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Inactivity costs health systems up to US$27 billion a year due to the costs attributed to noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). In Mexico, for example, the IMSS reported that diabetes mellitus, hypertension and renal insufficiency cost MX$58,283 million (US$ 2,907,522.64) in 2020.?

?In 2021, overweight and obesity were Mexico’s primary risk factors for the development of NDCs such as type 2 diabetes, arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarticular diseases, sleep apnea and certain types of cancer such as breast, prostate and colon, as reported by?MBN.?

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“[Physical activity] is good for public health and makes economic sense to promote more physical activity for everyone,” added Krech.

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In Mexico,?over 16.5 percent of adults?between 20 and 69 years do not meet the minimal WHO recommendation of physical activity, which involves between 150 and 300 minutes of exercise per week. In 2021, over 60 percent of the population older than 18 percent claimed to be physically inactive, according to?INEGI.?The lack of security and infrastructure limit the population, especially women, to exercise outdoors in Mexico, according to the?INSP. Also, the promotion of physical activity has been mainly guided by the processed food industry, which has led to a conflict of interest.

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To help countries strengthen their policies, the WHO urges countries to integrate physical activity in all relevant policies. Additionally, the report recommends reinforcing data systems, monitoring and knowledge translation. It also invites countries to secure and align funding with national policy commitments.