Worldwide trends in insufficient physical activity from 2001 to 2016: a pooled analysis of 358 population-based surveys with 1·9 million participants.
By R. Guthold, Gretchen A. Stevens, L. Riley, F. Bull. Lancet Global Health, 2018
3,717 citations recorded by the source corpus.
BACKGROUND Insufficient physical activity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases, and has a negative effect on mental health and quality of life. We describe levels of insufficient physical activity across countries, and estimate global and regional trends. METHODS We pooled data from population-based surveys reporting the prevalence of insufficient physical activity, which included physical activity at work, at home, for transport, and during leisure time (ie, not doing at least 150 min of moderate-intensity, or 75 min of vigorous-intensity physical activity per week, or any equivalent combination of the two). We used regression models to adjust survey data to a standard definition and age groups. We estimated time trends using multilevel mixed-effects modelling. FINDINGS We included data from 358 surveys across 168 countries, including 1·9 million participants. Global age-standardised prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 27·5% (95% uncertainty interval 25·0-32·2) in 2016, with a difference between sexes of more than 8 percentage points (23·4%, 21·1-30·7, in men vs 31·7%, 28·6-39·0, in women). Between 2001, and 2016, levels of insufficient activity were stable (28·5%, 23·9-33·9, in 2001; change not significant). The highest levels in 2016, were in women in Latin America and the Caribbean (43·7%, 42·9-46·5), south Asia (43·0%, 29·6-74·9), and high-income Western countries (42·3%, 39·1-45·4), whereas the lowest levels were in men from Oceania (12·3%, 11·2-17·7), east and southeast Asia (17·6%, 15·7-23·9), and sub-Saharan Africa (17·9%, 15·1-20·5). Prevalence in 2016 was more than twice as high in high-income countries (36·8%, 35·0-38·0) as in low-income countries (16·2%, 14·2-17·9), and insufficient activity has increased in high-income countries over time (31·6%, 27·1-37·2, in 2001). INTERPRETATION If current trends continue, the 2025 global physical activity target (a 10% relative reduction in insufficient physical activity) will not be met. Policies to increase population levels of physical activity need to be prioritised and scaled up urgently. FUNDING None.
Subfields: Physiology, Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/67d220c25ed876a5b3d7ab3d448db3782874e03d
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Citations in the corpus
- Global incidence and prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (2022, neutral): “experiencing a lack of physical activity(50).”
- Physically isolated but socially connected: Psychological adjustment and stress among adolescents during the initial COVID-19 crisis. (2020, background): “Worldwide, 81% of youth Aged 11–17 years are insufficiently physically active, with few meeting the recommended exercise guidelines of 60 min of moderate-vigorous physical activity per day (Guthold et al., 2018).”
- National, regional, and global trends in insufficient physical activity among adults from 2000 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 507 population-based surveys with 5·7 million participants (2024, background): “In their analysis, Guthold and colleagues 10 stated that they expected a greater availability of device-based physical activity data in the next update.”
- A tale of two pandemics: How will COVID-19 and global trends in physical inactivity and sedentary behavior affect one another? (2020, background): “10, 11 At the current trajectory, Guthold et al.”