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Teens Active Only 2.7 Days Weekly: Global Health Crisis
4 Nov
Summary
- Globally, teens are active only 2.7 days per week, well below WHO recommendations.
- Less than 14% of teenagers worldwide meet daily physical activity guidelines.
- Inactivity in teens has not improved since 2010, with no country on track to meet targets.
New global research indicates a concerning trend of low physical activity among teenagers, with adolescents worldwide being active for an average of only 2.7 days per week. The World Health Organization findings, published in The Lancet Global Health, highlight that just 14% of teenagers aged 11 to 17 meet daily exercise recommendations.
Researchers noted a significant disparity, with girls being less active than boys, and older teens less active than younger ones. This lack of movement has not improved globally since 2010, and alarmingly, no country is projected to meet the 2030 target for reducing teenage inactivity. This persistent inactivity raises serious health concerns for current and future well-being.
The study, involving over 3.2 million children and adolescents, found that 25% worldwide are not active for even one hour on any day of the week. Experts emphasize the need to make physical activity an easy and enjoyable choice for young people, suggesting improvements such as safe routes for walking and cycling to school and accessible green spaces.
In the UK, where adolescents are active on an average of 4 days per week, inactivity levels are also a concern, particularly for girls. This situation contrasts with countries like Finland and Canada, which report higher daily activity rates among their youth. The findings come amid rising obesity levels in England, with significant percentages of primary school children being overweight or obese.
