34% Indians not active enough: WHO

34% Indians not active enough: WHO

News:

1. World Health Organisation (WHO) latest report on physical inactivity’ has highlighted the increasing disease risk worldwide owing to lack of exercise.

Important facts

2. WHO defines the physical activity as the exercise of at least 75 minutes of vigorous activity or 150 minutes of moderately intense activity per week or any combination of two.

• It is the first study of WHO to analyse the trend of physical activity levels worldwide .     This study is based on self-reported activity levels including activity at work, at home, for transport and during leisure time.
• It covers population of adults aged 18 years and above in 168 nations.

3. WHO has a target of relative reduction of physical inactivity by 10% globally till 2025.

4. Unlike other major global health risks, levels of insufficient physical activity are not declining worldwide.

5. Global Context:

• Globally, Kuwait has been ranked as the world’s most inactive in physical activity while Uganda came out as the most energetic in physical activity .
• WHO noted that more than 1.4 billion adults are at risk of diseases for not doing enough physical activity.
•   Over a quarter of all adults were inadequately active in 2016, compared to 23.3% in 2013.

6. In high income countries, the proportion of inactive people has risen from 32% in 2001 to 37% in 2016 ( 5% increase), while in low income countries it has remained stable at 16%.

7. VARIATION ACROSS GENDER

• In 2016, 32% women and 23% men worldwide do not do enough physical activity as recommended by WHO toH stay healthy.
• Large differences between women and men existed in USA, UK, India, Philippines and Turkey.
• 34% of Indian population, (24.7% males and 43.9% females) are not attentive to stay healthy according to the report.

8. CAUSES OF DECLINING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

•   The sedentary occupations, less leisure time, high density traffic and a higher dependence on automobiles were responsible for slide in physical activity worldwide.
• The women are less physically active compared to men owing to a number of factors like extra child care duties and cultural activities etc.

9. EFFECTS OF DECLINING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Declining physical activity is also a major concern for prevention and control of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) .
• According to WHO, the insufficient activity puts people at greater risk of cardiovascular diseases, Type 2 diabetes, dementia and some cancers.
• WHO warns that 2025 target of reducing global inactivity by 10% may be missed if current declining trends don’t change.

10. STEPS RECOMMENDED BY WHO

• WHO called on governments worldwide to provide and maintain infrastructure that promotes sports and increased walking and cycling along with more usage of public transport.
• More interventions are also required to promote and improve women access to opportunities that are safe, affordable and culturally acceptable to encourage women to do physical work.