WHO study reveals increasing global inactivity rates, with Canada seeing significant rises since 2000
A growing number of people in Canada and worldwide are physically inactive, according to a new study by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to Global News, the WHO described this issue as a “silent threat” that requires more attention. Data from The Lancet Global Health journal revealed that over a third (31.3 percent) of the global adult population—roughly 1.8 billion people — failed to meet the WHO’s recommended levels of physical activity in 2022.
This marks an increase from 2016, when 27.5 percent of the global population was not sufficiently active. The WHO advises adults to engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity weekly, or an equivalent combination of both.
In Canada, the study showed that 37.2 percent of adults were physically inactive in 2022, rising from 31.1 percent in 2010 and 25.6 percent in 2000. If these trends persist, the WHO estimates that physical inactivity in Canada could reach 41.4 percent by 2030.
“Unfortunately, the world is not going in the right direction,” said Ruediger Krech, WHO’s director of health promotion, during a virtual news conference. He highlighted that physical inactivity significantly contributes to chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and respiratory diseases.
The WHO study assessed physical inactivity levels in 197 countries and territories between 2000 and 2022, incorporating 507 surveys from 163 countries. The study concluded that about half of the countries, including Canada, have increasing trends of physical inactivity, while the other half have made progress in the past decade.
Fiona Bull, head of the WHO’s physical activity unit, noted that 22 countries, mostly in Europe and the Western Pacific region, are on track to meet the agency’s goal of a 15 percent reduction in physical inactivity by 2023.
However, she pointed out that overall, the world is not on track to meet this goal. “This is a wake-up call that we are not doing enough in nearly half the countries, and even in those with promising trends, there’s no room for complacency,” she said during Tuesday’s news conference.
Scott Lear, a health sciences professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, expressed concern over the Canadian data, noting that people tend to overestimate their activity levels. “This 37 percent might be closer to 45 percent, approaching half of the population being physically inactive,” he said in an interview with Global News.
Globally, women continued to be less active than men by five percentage points on average. High-income countries had a greater prevalence of physical inactivity compared to low-income countries, with the highest levels in lower-middle-income classifications.
Experts cite several reasons for the rise in physical inactivity, including changing transportation patterns that make walking and cycling less safe, more sedentary work models, and leisure activities becoming more screen-based and sedentary.
Bull pointed out that these trends, combined with environments that do not support physical activity, contribute to the problem. She noted that increased car use, pollution, and urban settings that discourage active lifestyles add to the issue.
Although the WHO analysis did not factor in the impact of COVID-19 on activity levels, Lear suggested that pandemic restrictions likely influenced these trends. Experts also mentioned that the rising costs of gyms, organized sports, and clubs create affordability barriers to physical activity.
To combat physical inactivity, the WHO emphasizes the need to make physical activity accessible, affordable, and enjoyable to reduce the risks of non-communicable diseases and mental health conditions.
The WHO calls on countries to implement policies promoting community sports, active recreation, and transport options like walking, cycling, and public transit. Bull stressed the importance of public open spaces for physical activity.
She added that physical activity can include both traditional sports and informal activities like yoga, walking, and cycling. Lear recommended setting daily reminders for brief “exercise snacks” such as walking, doing pushups, squats, or jumping jacks.
He noted that activities like raking leaves, cutting grass with a push mower, or grocery shopping also count as moderate activities. “The best activity or exercise for any person is the one they enjoy doing,” he said.
