The latest data from the World Health Organization (WHO) highlights a significant global challenge: adolescents and adults are not meeting recommended physical activity levels. The findings emphasize the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve physical activity worldwide.
Key Findings:
- Adolescents: In 2016, 81% of students aged 11-17 years were insufficiently physically active.
- Boys saw a 2.5% decrease in inactivity since 2001, while levels for girls have barely changed.
- Adults: If current trends continue, inactivity levels are projected to rise to 35% by 2030, up from 31% currently. This is far from the WHO target of reducing physical inactivity.
Methodology:
- Adolescents: The study included data from 146 countries and involved 1.6 million students aged 11-17 years. Data were collected through cross-sectional surveys with random sampling, covering the years 2001 to 2016.
- Adults: The study included data from adult-population based surveys across 163 countries and territories between 2010 and 2022.
For detailed information, see the WHO news article.