Half of Indian Adults Fail WHO Physical Activity Guidelines, Lancet Study Finds
New Delhi, 27th June 2024: Nearly half of Indian adults, approximately 50%, are failing to meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendations for sufficient physical activity, reveals a study published in The Lancet Global Health on Tuesday.
The research, spanning 197 countries and territories from 2000 to 2022, underscores a stark gender disparity, with 52.6% of women and 38.4% of men reported as physically inactive in 2022. Of particular concern is the notable increase in insufficient physical activity among Indian adults, rising sharply from 22.4% in 2000 to 45.4% in 2022. If current trends from 2010 to 2022 persist, this figure is projected to reach 55% by 2030.
WHO recommends that adults engage in at least “150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity, or equivalent, per week” to maintain optimal health. Failing to meet these guidelines increases the risk of various health issues. Physically inactive adults are more prone to developing cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, dementia, as well as breast and colon cancer.
