31% of adults are not getting enough physical activity

On June 25, 2024, the Lancet Global Health published a study led by researchers at the World Health Organization (WHO) evaluating physical activity levels worldwide. According to the research and the subsequent news release from the WHO, 31% of adults, or approximately 1.8 billion adults globally, do not get sufficient physical activity.

For the sake of this study, sufficient physical activity was characterized as 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity, 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or an equivalent combination weekly.

Across the 163 countries surveyed, 31.3% of individuals had insufficient physical activity levels in 2022, higher than the 23.4% and 26.4% estimates in 2000 and 2010, respectively. Based on the current trajectory, physical inactivity levels are expected to reach 35% by 2030.

Physical activity is known to have beneficial impacts on overall health. According to the study, insufficient physical activity has been linked to multiple health issues, including poor physical and cognitive function, weight gain, mental illness, and other chronic conditions.

The increase in insufficient physical activity levels suggests that physical and mental health also suffer.

"These new findings highlight a lost opportunity to reduce cancer and heart disease and improve mental health and well-being through increased physical activity," said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, PhD, MSc, WHO Director General, in the WHO press release. "We must renew our commitment to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritizing bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding, to reverse this worrying trend.”

“Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic diseases,” added Rüdiger Krech, DrPH, 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.”

Although inactivity rates were higher in some regions, including the high-income Asia Pacific Region and South Asia, the WHO reports that over half of countries were improving their physical activity levels, and 22 countries are expected to reduce inactivity by 15% by 2030.

"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 Fiona Bull, PhD, Head of the WHO Unit for Physical Activity.