WHO’s global action plan aims to boost worldwide physical activity

WHO’s Global Action Plan 2018-2030 calls for a comprehensive approach to increase physical activity worldwide to reduce inactivity by 15% by 2030, supported by the ACTIVE toolkit for policy implementation

Physical activities have significant benefits for our hearts, bodies and minds. Key benefits of physical exercise include:

• Reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. 
• Enhancing thinking, learning and judgement skills. 
• Ensuring healthy growth and development in young people. 
• Improving overall well-being.
• Preventing and managing noncommunicable diseases.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), physical activity includes any energy-expending movement using skeletal muscles during leisure, transportation, or work. Moderate and vigorous activities benefit health.

Over 1.4 billion adults, or over a quarter of the global population, lack sufficient physical activity

Popular ways to be active include walking, cycling, wheeling, sports, active recreation and play, and can be done at any level of skill and for enjoyment by everybody. Regular physical activity helps prevent and manage noncommunicable diseases (e.g., heart disease, diabetes, cancer), controls weight, lowers hypertension risk, and boosts mental well-being and overall quality of life.

The WHO guidelines and recommendations offer specific guidance for various age and population groups regarding the amount of physical activity required to maintain good health.

WHO recommendations for children under five years old:

In a 24-hour day, infants (less than one year) should:

• Engaging in physical activity multiple times daily in diverse ways, especially through interactive floor-based play, is encouraged. More activity is beneficial. For infants not yet mobile, this involves at least 30 minutes of tummy time distributed throughout their waking hours.
• Not be restrained for more than 1 hour at a time (e.g., prams/strollers, high chairs, or strapped on a caregiver’s back);

Children and teenagers 5-17 years:

• Aim for 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity throughout the week.
• Include vigorous aerobic activities and muscle-strengthening exercises in your routine on at least three days each week.
• Reduce sedentary behaviour, especially recreational screen time.

Adults aged 18–64 years:

• Strive for either 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or a balanced mix of both each week.
• Additionally, include muscle-strengthening exercises targeting major muscle groups on 2 or more days weekly for added health advantages. You can enhance your health by exceeding 300 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity, surpassing 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity, or combining both.
• Reduce sedentary time and replace it with physical activity, even light intensity, to gain health benefits. To counter the negative effects of prolonged sitting on health, adults and older adults should exceed recommended levels of moderate to vigorous physical activity.

Benefits and risks of physical activity

Physical activities like walking, cycling, sports, or active recreation offer substantial health advantages. Any amount of physical activity is superior to none. Increasing daily activity in simple ways helps people meet recommended levels.

Physical inactivity ranks among the top risk factors for noncommunicable disease-related mortality

Physical inactivity ranks among the top risk factors for noncommunicable disease-related mortality. Those who are not active enough face a 20% to 30% higher risk of death than those who meet activity recommendations.

WHO’s Global Action Plan: Levels of physical activity

Over 1.4 billion adults, or over a quarter of the global population, lack sufficient physical activity. Approximately one in three women and one in four men worldwide must meet recommended physical activity levels for good health.

In high-income countries, the prevalence of physical inactivity is twice as high compared to low-income countries, with a 5% increase in insufficient activity between 2001 and 2016 in high-income nations.

Global physical activity levels have remained the same since 2001.

In 2016, 28% of adults worldwide (32% of women and 23% of men) did not meet the global recommendations of at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week.

In high-income countries, 35% of women and 26% of men were insufficiently physically active, while in low-income countries, the figures were 24% for women and 12% for men.

Globally, 81% of adolescents aged 11-17 did not meet WHO recommendations for daily physical activity, with girls being less active than boys.

In summary, inadequate physical activity is a widespread global issue with far-reaching consequences for health, the environment, and overall well-being, affecting both adults and adolescents, particularly in high-income countries.

WHO response

In 2018, WHO introduced the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030, with four policy action areas and 20 recommendations. It calls for a comprehensive, multi-sectoral approach to increase physical activity.

Reduce physical inactivity by 15% by 2030

The World Health Assembly set a goal in 2018 to reduce physical inactivity by 15% by 2030, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals. In 2019, WHO launched the ACTIVE toolkit, providing technical guidance for implementing the plan’s recommendations.