Commentary: New study shows 1.8 billion adults are ‘physically inactive’

Research by the World Health Organization indicates that most adults aren’t getting 150 minutes a week in physical activity each week, as recommended by experts. (Photo: Nappy.co/ Nappy Stock)By Wayne CampbellA recent study by researchers from World Health Organization (WHO), together with academic colleagues and published in The Lancet Global Health journal, found that nearly one third (31 percent) of the world’s adult population, 1.8 billion adults, are physically inactive. That is, they do not meet the global recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.& Alarmingly, this is an increase of 5 percentage points between 2010 and 2022.& The WHO says if this trend continues, the proportion of adults not meeting recommended levels of physical activity is projected to rise to 35 percent by 2030. Shockingly, the global estimate of the cost of physical inactivity to public health care systems between 2020 and 2030 is about US$ 300 billion (approximately US$ 27 billion per year) if levels of physical inactivity are not reduced.& & WHO officials define physical activity as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. Physical activity refers to all movement including during leisure time, for transport to get...