Move! Physical activity and its effects on morbidity and mortality risk

Insufficient physical activity is one of  the leading risk factors for death and  non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases,  cancer and diabetes.

This report highlights the global occurrence of physical inactivity; the contribution of insufficient activity to NCDs; and the health benefits of being active. It concludes by illustrating the effects of inactivity on insurers and considers how insurers can encourage policyholders to move more.

In spite of humanity having been aware of the importance of physical activity for more than 2 000 years, a quarter of the world’s adult population are insufficiently active. If current trends continue, the WHO member states’ goal of reducing physical inactivity by ten percent will not be achieved by 2025. The highest levels of physical inactivity were found in Latin America and the Caribbean, South Asia and high-income Western countries. The lowest levels were detected in Oceania, East and Southeast Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa.