World Health Organization Verifies Growing Physical Fitness Trend in Germany
Study on global physical fitness paints a grim picture for the World Health Organization: The majority of people worldwide are shockingly inactive, posing serious health risks and financial burdens on healthcare systems. Germany, thankfully, is bucking the trend.
As per a report by the WHO in the journal "The Lancet Global Health," people across the globe are notably sedentary, leading to severe health issues and costing healthcare systems a fortune, as reported by the WHO.
In Germany, however, there's some good news: The number of inactive individuals is significantly lower than the global average, making it one of the 22 countries on a positive trajectory to get more people up and moving, as recommended by the WHO. The focus of this report was on adults.
The WHO advises a minimum of 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity endurance activities, such as brisk walking that raises your heart rate, or 75 minutes of high-intensity activities that leave you breathless, like playing football. Given the ongoing European Football Championship, Rudiger Krech, Director of Health Promotion at the WHO, issued a warning: "Spectating sports isn't enough. Don't just sit there, be active. Every step counts."
Global downward spiral
Germany's situation is superior to the global average. "Germany performs fairly well in the global comparison and in the group of economically robust western countries," said Krech. Only 12% of the population is insufficiently active. The WHO's goal to decrease the proportion of inactive individuals by 15% between 2010 and 2030, is therefore likely to be met, as only 22 countries are headed in the right direction.
On a global scale, 31% of adults are inactive, totaling 1.8 billion people, according to the WHO. The target should have been 22.4% by 2030, based on a 2010 action plan. However, the trend is worsening. If no action is taken, it could reach 35% by 2030, according to WHO estimates. Those who are inactive face a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain types of cancer including breast and colon cancer, according to the WHO. Spending lengthy hours in front of computers and screen-based leisure activities contribute to the lack of physical activity.
Call to action for governments
Women are less active than men. This is mainly due to the multiple tasks they have to perform, in addition to their household and child-related responsibilities, leading to fatigue. After the age of 60, activity levels significantly decrease, as mentioned by Fiona Bull, who heads the Physical Activity Unit at the WHO.
Governments are responsible for creating accessible and inclusive opportunities for physical activity everywhere. This includes bike and hiking trails, parks, and affordable and safe leisure offerings. Initiatives like fitness weeks and others aimed at getting people off the couch should also be a priority. The WHO has analyzed and presented data from individual countries in a way that is both informative and comparable.
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The World Health Organization highlights the importance of physical fitness in maintaining global health, as sedentary lifestyles pose significant health risks and financial burdens on healthcare systems. With only 12% of the population being insufficiently active, Germany is one of the 22 countries making strides towards meeting the WHO's goal of increasing physical activity.
Given the health benefits of regular exercise, the World Health Organization urges governments to create accessible and inclusive opportunities for physical activity, such as bike trails, parks, and affordable leisure offerings, to combat the global trend of inactivity and reduce the risk of health issues like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and certain cancers.
