National News

Nearly 1.8 billion adults face health risks from inactivity: WHO

Jun 27, 2024

New York [US], June 27: Almost 1.8 billion adults are at risk of diseases such as cancer, stroke, dementia and diabetes due to a lack of exercise - and the situation is getting worse, according to a report. The new study from World Health Organisation (WHO) researchers plus academics found physical inactivity globally has risen by about five percentage points between 2010 and 2022. Overall, nearly a third of adults (31%) around the world do not exercise enough, up from 23% (900 million people) in 2000 and 26% in 2010. If current trends continue, experts predict that by 2030, some 35% of people will not be doing enough exercise. Research shows that a lack of exercise increases the risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and bowel. When it comes to gender differences, it seems women are consistently less likely to exercise than men, with inactivity rates of 34% compared to 29%. (dpa)