PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Sept. 6, 2018

Acc. to new data published in The Lancet Global Health, 34% Indians — 24.7% male and 43.9% females — are not Physically active enough to stay healthy.

About:

The paper, authored by four World Health Organization (WHO) experts, reports data that update 2008 estimates on levels of activity and, for the first time, reports trend analyses.
Key findings:
- More than one in four adults globally are physically inactive. Thus, the global level of inactivity in adults remains largely unchanged since 2001.
- Women were less active than men, with an over 8% difference at the global level (32% men vs 23%, women).
High income countries are more inactive (37%) compared with middle income (26%) and low-income countries (16%).
- 34% Indians — 24.7% male and 43.9% females — are not active enough to stay healthy.
Comment:

Regular physical inactivity increases people’s risk of poor health, including cardiovascular disease, several types of cancer and diabetes as well as mental health conditions.
If current trends continue, the 2025 global activity target of a 10% relative reduction in insufficient physical activity will not be met.
These data show the need for all countries to provide the environments that support physical activity

Source : The Hindu