A Quarter of Adults Are Too Inactive, Putting Health at Risk

Over a quarter of the world’s adults are putting themselves at greater risk for dementia, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes because they are not getting the minimal amount of exercise per week!    1.4 billion people worldwide do not get enough physical activity:   1 out of every 3 women and 1 out of every 4 men.

World Health Organization Recommends:

150 minutes of moderate exercise per week

or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week

A rise in the amount of sedentary jobs and leisure activities was cited as the primary culprit for this trend. The countries with the lowest amount of exercise activity include Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and American Samoa. America is not doing much better however, with 40% of its adults not meeting the minimum requirements.

The study, done by the World Health Organization (WHO) urged governments of countries to put into place infrastructures that promote walking and cycling to work. The WHO also encouraged these governments to promote more active sports and recreational options. Lest anyone fail to take this study seriously, the study noted that insufficient physical activity was one of the leading causes worldwide for premature death.

On the positive side, adults who engage in the required regular amount of physical activity experience better bone health, weight control, and reduced hypertension. They are also less at risk for heart attack, stroke, diabetes, depression, and various types of cancer. It appears we would all benefit from a little more exercise.