Many of us would prefer to just sit and stare at a screen in our free time, but the lack of movement is bad for us. — AFP
Almost 1.8 billion adults are at risk of diseases such as cancer, stroke, dementia and diabetes due to a lack of exercise – and the situation is getting worse, according to a report.
The new study from World Health Organization (WHO) researchers and other academics found that physical inactivity globally has risen by about five percentage points between 2010 and 2022.
Overall, nearly a third of adults (31%) around the world do not exercise enough, up from 23% (900 million people) in 2000 and 26% in 2010.
If current trends continue, experts predict that by 2030, some 35% of people will not be doing enough exercise.
Research shows that a lack of exercise increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and bowel.
When it comes to gender differences, it seems women are consistently less likely to exercise than men, with inactivity rates of 34%, compared to 29%.
The new study, published in The Lancet Global Health journal, warned that the world is currently off track from meeting a global target to reduce physical inactivity by 2030.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said: “These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer, heart disease, and improve mental well-being through increased physical activity.
“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.”
WHO recommends that adults take 150 minutes of moderate intensity, or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity, physical activity every week.
Examples of moderate intensity activity include very brisk walking, heavy cleaning such as washing windows or mopping, cycling at slow speeds, or badminton.
Vigorous activity includes hiking, jogging, shovelling, fast cycling, a football game, basketball or tennis.
The WHO defines insufficient physical activity as not meeting these weekly exercise guidelines.
The new study, which included data and estimates for 163 countries and territories, found that people over the age of 60 are less active than those who are younger.
And although high-income Western countries appear to be slowly reducing their rates of inactivity (to 28% of populations in 2022), they are still off track.
The World Health Assembly, which is the WHO’s decision- making body, has set a global target – widely expected to be missed – of a 15% reduction in insufficient physical activity between 2010 and 2030.
WHO health promotion director Dr Rudiger Krech said: ”Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases.
“By making physical activity accessible, affordable and enjoyable for all, we can significantly reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases and create a population that is healthier and more productive.”
World Cancer Research Fund research, policy and innovation director Dr Panagiota Mitrou added: “This timely report is a wake-up call to the world that more needs to be done to encourage people to be more active.
“Governments must recognise that being physically active is incredibly important for our mental and physical health, including protecting against several cancers and supporting people to be a healthy weight, which in turn reduces the risk of 13 cancer types.” – PA Media/dpa
