Millions of people worldwide are not exercising enough, and this has devastating consequences: In the decade from 2020 to 2030, around 500 million people worldwide are likely to develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes, depression and dementia due to lack of exercise. As the World Health Organization (WHO) reported on Wednesday.
WHO recommends at least 150 minutes of physical activity per week for adults to prevent illness. 27.5 percent of the world’s population cannot achieve this. The problem is about 36.8 percent in high-income countries, and twice that in low-income countries (16.2 percent).
Germany is doing even worse than the average of rich countries: 44 percent of women over 18 and 40 percent of men need more exercise. There is a dramatic situation among 11- to 17-year-olds in Germany: 88 percent of girls and 80 percent of boys move very little. In Finland, highlighted by WHO as a shining example, only 16 percent of women and 17 percent of men are not active enough.
Even light activities increase fitness
WHO emphasizes that it is not necessary to engage in sports activities such as jogging or fitness classes in associations or clubs to stay physically fit. Cycling and brisk walking also contribute to fitness.
In some countries there are cultural barriers that prevent women from exercising outdoors. But you can stay fit within your own four walls, for example by climbing stairs, playing with the kids or doing housework, and as the corona pandemic has shown, also with fitness offers via video.
Fiona Bull, head of WHO’s physical activity department in Geneva, reported that it costs the world a total of $27 billion to treat the 500 million people likely to fall ill from lack of exercise. Instead, 100 million doctors could be trained with money. (SDA)