A new study published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that in 2022, half of Indian adults did not meet the recommended level of physical activity. This puts them at a higher risk of health issues like heart attacks, strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers of the breast and colon.

Globally, 31% of adults were not active enough, but in India, this number was much higher at 49.4%, followed by Pakistan at 45.7%. In contrast, only 9.9% of adults in Bhutan and 8.2% in Nepal were inactive. If this trend continues, it is estimated that by 2030, nearly 60% of Indian adults will not meet the recommended physical activity levels.

The highest inactivity rates were seen in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48%) and South Asia (45%). Other regions had lower inactivity rates, ranging from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania.

Experts are worried about this trend of increasing physical inactivity among adults, which has risen by about 5% from 2010 to 2022. If this continues, global inactivity levels could reach 35% by 2030, far from the global target to reduce physical inactivity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) advises adults to engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week. This can include activities like walking, cycling, sports, and even household chores or physically demanding jobs.

WHO researchers and academic partners conducted the study. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized the missed opportunity to prevent diseases and improve mental well-being through increased physical activity. He called for stronger policies and more funding to address this issue.

Gender and age disparities in physical activity levels also persist. Globally, women are less active than men, with 34% inactivity compared to 29% for men. In some countries, this gap is as large as 20%. Older adults over 60 are less active than younger adults, highlighting the need to promote physical activity among seniors.

Dr. Rüdiger Krech, WHO’s director of health promotion, called physical inactivity a silent threat to global health. He urged the need for innovative ways to motivate people to be more active, taking into account factors like age, environment, and cultural background. By making physical activity accessible, affordable, and enjoyable, we can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and create a healthier, more productive population.