Physical inactivity can generate 500 million new cases of obesity, heart diseases, other NCDs by 2030: WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has released the global status report on Physical activity 2022. The global action plan outlines the need to implement physical activity.

"Supporting people to be more active through walking, cycling, sport, and other physical activity has huge benefits not only for the physical and mental health of individuals, but also for societies, environments, and economies," WHO Chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has said.

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Known as the WHO’s Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 (GAPPA), the report aims to help countries increase levels of participation.

Physical inactivity can increase the cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), the WHO has said. "Globally, almost 500 million (499 208 million) new cases of preventable NCDs will occur between 2020 and 2030," the WHO has said.

Nearly half of these new cases of NCDs (47%) will result from hypertension, and 43% will result from depression, the report adds stressing on the alarming data.

"More than one in four adults and more than 80% of adolescents do not meet WHO’s recommended levels of physical activity for optimum health," the WHO findings say. Kids between 11–17 years of age spend less than one hour a day doing moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity and the level of physical inactiveness is seen more in girls.

Going with the WHO report and several research studies, physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor in many diseases. Just like cutting down smoking and alcohol consumption, if one can include more hours of effective physical activity in daily life, many diseases can be prevented.

Physical activity is a key protector of human health.

Those who meet recommended levels of physical activity have a 20–30% reduced risk of premature death.

7-8% of cardiovascular disease, depression and dementia can be prevented only by being physically active.

Type 2 diabetes, which has a prevalence rate of 95% in all diabetes cases, has a 5% chance of being avoided if one exercises regularly.

"Physical activity also benefits mental health, including prevention of cognitive decline and symptoms of depression and anxiety, and improves children’s educational attainment," the WHO explains.

It also prevents falls among older people, which is a main cause of disability and death in this age group.

It also strengthens the bones and muscles of all individuals.

Citing school closure as a reason why physical activity is seen more in kids, the global health agency says school closures denied many children one of the opportunities they had to be active in communities where options for physical activity, sport and recreation are absent or inaccessible.

It also talked about how during the pandemic it was highlighted that streets in several communities are unfit for walking and cycling.

The two years of pandemic has made inactivity an important component. Work from home, lockdown and the fear of stepping out affected the minimum physical activity people were engaged in before the onset of the pandemic. " The response to

the pandemic also revealed the importance of providing opportunities that enable everyone to be regularly active no matter their age, gender, income, ethnicity or physical ability," the WHO says.

The economic burden of physical inactivity is significant and the cost of treating new cases of preventable non-communicable diseases (NCDs) will reach nearly US$ 300 billion by 2030, around US$ 27 billion annually, warns the UN agency.

The WHO urges nations to create active environments which will encourage people to undertake physical activities.

It has asked nations to strengthen road safety, improve access to public open spaces and improve walking and cycling networks.

Aiming a 15% reduction in total physical inactivity, it also asks countries to enhance physical education and school based programs, incorporate

physical activity into health and social services and improve provision for older adults.

"We need more countries to scale up implementation of policies to support people to be more active through walking, cycling, sport, and other physical activity. The benefits are huge, not only for the physical and mental health of individuals, but also for societies, environments, and economies...” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, “We hope countries and partners will use this report to build more active, healthier, and fairer societies for all.”