The latest WHO report shows the devastating consequences of physical inactivity. More than 500 million people are expected to fall ill by 2030 because they do not exercise enough. In Germany, of all places, the situation is particularly dicey.
Diseases caused by lack of exercise include obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, but also depression and dementia. By 2030, the WHO expects nearly 500 million people to develop these diseases - because they don't exercise enough. These figures were published in the Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022.
WHO physical activity recommendations are not being met
Very few people achieve the WHO's physical activity recommendations: adults should get at least 150 minutes of exercise per week. This includes cycling or walking, but physical exercise is much more effective. And even if light exercise is included, very few adults manage to comply with these guidelines. It turns out that a lack of exercise is also a disease of civilization, because in poorer countries, only about 16% of people get enough exercise.
Lack of physical activity particularly severe in Germany
In an international comparison, Germany is in a very poor position: 44% of women and 40% of men need to get more exercise. But the situation is even worse among young people. Here, 88% of girls and 80% of boys do not get enough exercise. The Corona pandemic is also said to have contributed to the worsening of the lack of physical activity.
The WHO also points out how expensive the treatment of the sick could become. If nothing changes in the lack of physical activity, costs of $300 billion can be expected. According to the WHO, this could be used to train about 100 million doctors worldwide.
Source and image source: BODYMEDIA
Published on: 4 November 2022