According to a new World Health Organization report released on Wednesday, nearly half a billion people are at risk of developing cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses if physical activities are not encouraged.
The report further stated that if governments do not take immediate action then negligence could cost the globe $27 billion per year.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus in a statement said “We need more countries to scale up implementation of policies to support people to be more active through walking, cycling, sport, and other physical activity.”
He went on to say that physical activities are not only beneficial for physical and mental health but also for societies, environments, and economies.
As per the report, Less than half of states have a domestic physical fitness policy, less than 40% have executed it and only 30% of countries have national physical activity guidelines that apply to people of all ages.
The report further said that the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the importance of staying active as a fundamental element of public policy, with all states ensuring equitable physical activity opportunities for all.
The report urges states to optimize physical activity as a key component of boosting health and tackling NCDs (non-communicable diseases), to incorporate physical activity into all policies, and to develop tools, guidelines, and training to enhance the execution process.
