A quarter of the world's population does not get enough exercise
More than 1,400 million adults are at risk of contracting diseases due to not performing enough physical activity, according to a study by the World Health Organization. The levels of physical activity did not improve the period between 2001 and 2016.
More than a quarter of the world's adult population (1,400 million) did not perform enough physical activity in 2016, a situation that puts them at greater risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and some types of cancer.
These data are part of the first study to estimate trends in global physical activity by researchers from the World Health Organization (WHO) and published in the journal The Lancet Global Health, which involved 1.9 million adults. in 168 countries.
The study indicates that little progress has been made in improving levels of physical activity between 2001 and 2016. In addition, it maintains that, if current trends continue, the global objective that seeks a 10% reduction in physical inactivity for the year 2025
In 2016, approximately one in three women (32%) and one in four men (23%) worldwide did not practice the recommended amount of exercise to stay healthy, that is, at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes of strong physical activity per week.
Women exercised less
Women exercise less than men in all regions of the world, with the exception of East and Southeast Asia.
The greatest inequalities by country occurred in Bangladesh (40% of men by 16% of women), Eritrea (31% by 14), Philippines (49% by 30%) South Africa (47% by 29%), Turkey (39%) by 22%), USA (48% by 32%) and the United Kingdom (40% by 32%).
"Combating these inequalities in levels of physical activity between men and women will be critical to achieving global activity goals and will require measures to promote and improve women's access to opportunities that are safe, affordable and culturally acceptable. "said the co-author of the report, Dr. Fiona Bull, WHO.
Growing sedentary lifestyle in rich countries
Adults living in high-income countries are more sedentary (37%) than those who live in low-income countries (16%).
The sedentary lifestyle increased especially in the western high income countries (from 31% in 2001 to 37% in 2016) and Latin America and the Caribbean (from 33% to 39%). Among the countries that led this trend are Germany, New Zealand, USA, Argentina and Brazil.
On the contrary, in East and South-East Asia (from 26% in 2001 to 17% in 2016) it decreased, largely due to the increase in the number of people who exercised in China, the most populous country in the region.
The highest rates of sedentary lifestyle in 2016 were found in adults in Kuwait, American Samoa, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, with more than half of all adults in this situation. Comparatively, about 40% of adults in the United States, 36% in the United Kingdom and 14% in China do not perform enough physical activity.
In the richer countries, the evolution towards more sedentary occupations, leisure and motorized transport could explain the higher levels of inactivity, while in the lower income countries, more physical activity is practiced at work and in transport, according to the authors of the report.
Although the decrease in physical activity, both at work and at home, is inevitable as countries prosper and the use of technology increases, the WHO warned that governments should promote infrastructures that facilitate travel on foot and on bicycle and sports.
