Staying healthy means getting regular exercise, but many adults around the world are not getting enough.
A recent report from the World Health Organization (WHO), released in June 2024, shows that almost one-third of adults globally did not reach the suggested levels of physical activity in 2022. This affects about 1.8 billion people.
WHO recommends that adults aim for 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of intense activity each week.
However, many people spend more time on electronic devices and computers, leading to a sedentary lifestyle. Instead of moving around for face-to-face meetings, people are now emailing or using other digital means for communication.
Fiona Bull, the head of WHO’s physical activity unit, highlights this shift, noting that less physical movement is becoming more common in our daily routines.
Asia-Pacific region has the least active population
The Asia-Pacific region, particularly in high-income countries such as South Korea, Japan, and Singapore, has the highest rate of physical inactivity, with 48 percent of adults not working out enough.
Close behind is the South Asia region, including countries like Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan, where 45 percent of adults are inactive.
Abrar Mir, co-founder of Quadria Capital, emphasized the significant health challenges in Asia during an interview on “Squawk Box Asia.”
He pointed out that although Asia makes up about 30 percent of the world’s population, it bears nearly half of the global disease burden. The region has higher numbers of people suffering from diabetes, cancer, and heart disease than any other part of the world.
The report published in The Lancet Global Health journal reveals that women, on average, are less physically active than men. Globally, 34 percent of women do not get enough exercise, compared to 29 percent of men.
This difference is especially noticeable in the South Asia region, where the rate of physical inactivity among women is 14 percentage points higher than among men.
Factors influencing physical activity among people
Fiona Bull explained that many factors influence how much physical activity people get. These factors include personal motivation, time availability, and social and environmental influences, such as the habits of those around us or the region’s climate.
Bull also highlighted that women often face additional challenges. They usually take on a larger share of family and home care responsibilities, which can limit the time they have for exercise, especially if they are also working.
Fiona Bull noted that children and adolescents often face pressure to prioritize academic work, which can reduce the time they spend on working out. These habits can continue into adulthood, leading to lower levels of physical activity throughout one’s lifetime.
Nonetheless, it can be surmised that there isn’t a single explanation for why some regions and groups are more active than others. The reasons are varied and complex.
