Common Health Issues

Home -
Common Health Issues

World Diabetes And Heart Attacks Cases Will Increase Due To Inactivity

The World Health Organization and academic partners conducted a study which showed that due to decreasing levels of physical activity, 1.8 billion people are at risk of diabetes and heart attack cases. This study has been published in The Lancet Global Health magazine.

The results indicate a concerning trend in adult physical inactivity, which has climbed by almost 5% between 2010 and 2022.

The entire world is now falling short of reaching the worldwide goal to eliminate physical inactivity by 2030, the researchers warn, and if the trend continues, levels of inactivity are predicted to grow to 35% by that year.

The World Health Organization advises adults to engage in 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, as inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and cancers, including breast and colon cancer.

“These new results point to a missed chance to boost physical exercise and prevent cancer and heart disease while also enhancing mental health.”

WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus stated, "To reverse this worrying trend, we must renew our commitments to increasing levels of physical activity and prioritize bold action, including strengthened policies and increased funding."

The highest percentages of physical inactivity were found in South Asia (45%) and the high-income Asia Pacific area (48%), while the percentages in other regions ranged from 28% in high-income Western countries to 14% in Oceania.

According to the findings, women are still more likely than men to be physically inactive worldwide, with 34% of women and 29% of males being inactive.

This gap can reach 20% in certain nations. Furthermore, compared to other adults, those over 60 are less active, which emphasizes how critical it is to encourage physical exercise among older folks.

"Physical inactivity adds significantly to the burden of chronic diseases and is a silent threat to global health." In order to encourage people to be more active, we need to come up with creative ideas that take into account their age, environment, and cultural background.

"We can significantly reduce the risk of noncommunicable diseases and create a population that is healthier and more productive by making physical activity accessible, affordable, and enjoyable for everyone," said Dr. Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at WHO.

Nearly half of the world's nations have improved over the last ten years, according to the report, and 22 nations are predicted to meet the global goal of 15% less inactivity by 2030 if their current trend keeps up.

The global health body is urging nations to step up their policy implementation in light of these findings in order to encourage and facilitate physical activity through, among other things, walking, cycling, and public transportation, as well as grassroots and community sports.

According to Dr. Fiona Bull, Head of the WHO Unit for Physical Activity, "promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice - it will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy to reap the many health benefits of regular physical activity."

"To reach the least active individuals and to eliminate inequalities in access to measures promoting and strengthening physical activity, collective initiatives based on partnerships between government and non-governmental stakeholders and increased investments in new approaches will be needed,” the World Health Organization stated.