And the cost of inaction and on the couch, will be severe, WHO say – around $27 billion in additional health care costs.
The Global State of Physical Activity 2022 report, which measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity at all ages and abilities.
Data from 194 countries show that overall, Progress is slow and countries need to accelerate the formulation and implementation of policies to increase heart rate and help prevent disease and reduce the burden on already overwhelmed health services.
More than 80% of the world’s adolescent population is not physically active
The statistics show the extent of the challenges countries around the world are facing:
- Less than 50% of countries with national physical activity policies, of which less than 40% is active.
- Only 30% of countries have National Physical Activity Guidelines for all ages.
- While nearly all countries report an adult fitness tracking system, only 75% of countries monitor youth and youth activity. less than 30% of physical activity monitoring in children under 5 years of age.
- In terms of traffic policy, just over 40% of countries have road design standards that make walking and biking safer.
Time for a walk: Tedros
WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said: “We need more countries to scale up the implementation of policies to support people to be more active through walking, cycling, sports and activities. other physical.
“The The benefits are enormous, not only for the physical and mental health of individuals, but also for society, the environment and the economy.… We hope countries and partners will use this report to build more dynamic, healthier and more equitable societies for all.”
The WHO report says the economic burden of making it too easy is huge and the cost of treating new cases of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will reach nearly $300 billion. in 2030.
While national policies to address NCDs and physical inactivity have increased in recent years, 28% of policies are reported as unfunded or performed.
According to WHO, there is much to be said for countries running national PR campaigns or mass participation events that celebrate the benefits of more exercise.
The COVID-19 The pandemic has not only stalled these initiatives but also affected the implementation of other policies, which have increased inequality by raising heart rates in many communities.
Physical activity reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Exercise plan
To help countries increase physical activity, the WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 (GAPPA) proposes 20 policy recommendations.
These include safer avenues to encourage bike and walk moreand provide more programs and opportunities for physical activity in key settings, such as child care, schools, primary health care, and the workplace.
“We are missing globally approved metrics to measure accessibility to parks, bike lanes, footpaths –” said Fiona Bull, Head of the WHO Physical Activity Unit. although we do know that data exists in some countries.”
“As a result, we are unable to report or track the global supply of infrastructure that will facilitate an increase in physical activity.”
“It can be a vicious cycle, with no indicators and no data leading to no tracking and no accountability., and then too often, with no policy and no investment. What gets measured gets done, and we have several ways to comprehensively and robustly track national actions on physical activity. “
National Gymnastics
The report urges countries to prioritize increasing fitness, which is key to improving health and tackling NCDs, integrating physical activity into all relevant policies and developing tools, guidance and training.
“It is good for public health and it makes economic sense to promote more physical activity for all,” said Dr. Ruediger Krech, WHO Director at the Department of Health Promotion.
“We need to create conditions programs that include physical activity for all and make them more accessible to everyone. This report makes a clear call to all countries for stronger and accelerated action by all stakeholders working together to better achieve the global target of 15% reduction. rates of physical inactivity by 2030.”
