The World Health Organization (WHO) said Wednesday that the latest data it has analyzed indicates that a third (31%) of adults, or 1.8 billion people, do not engage in recommended physical activity, with a trend toward greater inactivity in the adult population.
The data taken into account allow us to reach general conclusions, and according to them, the level of physical inactivity among adults increased by 5% between 2010 and 2022 (last year with global data) and if this continues, activity levels will reach 35%. % in 2030.
The standard recommendation is 150 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week. It has been shown that physical inactivity in adults is an important risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks or blood clots; in addition to type 2 diabetes, dementia and some types of cancer, such as colon and breast.
According to the experts at the Shaio clinic, although this depends on age and health condition, in general it is recommended to perform physical activity at least five times a week for 30 minutes, which corresponds to 150 minutes per week.
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By region, the highest levels of inactivity were observed in high-income Asia-Pacific countries, reaching 48% in some places, and in South Asia (45%), while in some Western countries it affects 28%. of the population. Data indicate that gender has an impact on physical inactivity, with it being a more common problem among women.
Also, it has been observed that people over 60 years of age tend to be less active than younger adults, despite the importance of exercise to maintain good health.
“We need to find ways to motivate people to be more active, taking into account factors such as age, environment and cultural environment, making physical activity more accessible, inexpensive and enjoyable for everyone,” said the director. of Health Promotion of the WHO, Rüdiger Krech.
It is recommended to exercise regardless of age.
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On the positive side, the analysis shows that almost half of the world’s countries have made some improvements in the last decade, with 22 potentially meeting the international target of reducing inactivity by 15% by 2030.
“In 10 years, 500 million new cases of non-communicable diseases, with a public health cost of $300 billion, could be avoided if populations practice recommended levels of physical activity, so we need to find innovative ways to motivate people,” Krech stressed.
The benefits of physical activity
According to the Shaio clinic, physical activity is any body movement where muscle contraction and energy expenditure is higher than in a resting state, such as walking, climbing stairs, dancing, walking your pet or performing daily activities.
Exercise, for its part, is a type of planned, structured and repetitive physical activity that can have many health benefits.
But whether practicing exercise in a structured way or opting for another type of physical activity, getting away from a sedentary lifestyle and staying moving has multiple benefits for cardiovascular health.
Among the benefits of staying active is the strengthening of the heart muscle, improving its functionality to pump blood to the different organs of the body.
Physical activity also regulates heart rate and slows down the heart’s revolutions. “If we compare it to a car engine, the slower the engine is revved, the less wear there will be. Also, the slower the heart beats, the more it will conserve its working capacity,” explain the Shaio experts.
In addition, it reduces cholesterol levels, a fatty substance that is not metabolized correctly in excess and begins to clog the arteries, which can cause atherosclerosis; It helps prevent high blood pressure and reduces the possibility of suffering strokes and helps regulate sugar, which at high levels increases the risk of suffering a heart attack.
EFE
