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Geneva – According to a report by the World Health Organization (WHO), people around the world are not moving enough. This has significant consequences for health and costs the health care system a huge amount of money, the WHO reports in the journal The Lancet Global Health (DOI: 10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00150-5).

The WHO recommends 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. This is more than just walking, it’s more brisk walking that gets your heart rate up. Alternatively, 75 minutes of high-intensity activity that gets you out of breath is recommended: playing football, for example.

In view of the ongoing European Football Championship, Rüdiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO, warned: “Watching sport is not enough. Don’t sit there, get active. Every step counts.”

Situation in Germany far better than worldwide

According to the WHO, the situation in Germany is much better than the global average. “Germany is doing very well in global comparison and in the group of high-income Western countries,” said Krech. Only twelve percent of people are not sufficiently active. The WHO goal of reducing the proportion by 15 percent between 2010 and 2030 is therefore likely to be achieved, as in only 22 countries in total.

On average, 31 percent of adults worldwide are not active enough, according to the WHO, a total of 1.8 billion people. According to an action plan, the proportion should actually fall from 26.4 percent in 2010 to 22.4 percent by 2030. But the trend is going in the other direction. If more is not done, the WHO says it could be 35 percent by 2030.

According to the WHO, people who do not exercise have a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers such as breast and colon cancer. A lot of computer work and leisure activities in front of screens are responsible for the lack of exercise.

Women are even less active than men. This is because they often have to manage numerous tasks in addition to paid work in the home and with children. They are often too tired, said Fiona Bull, who heads the physical activity department at the WHO. Activity levels also drop too much among people over 60.

Governments must ensure that there are good opportunities for exercise everywhere and for everyone. This includes cycling and walking paths, parks and leisure facilities that everyone can afford and a good and safe environment. This includes fitness weeks and other initiatives to get people out of their chairs.

The WHO has evaluated surveys from individual countries and prepared them in such a way that they are meaningful and comparable. © dpa/aerzteblatt.de