2023-05-09 11:09:36
“Lack of physical activity is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. It is time for governments to take decisive action to encourage and enable everyone to be more physically active,” said Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen, Deputy Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). He spoke in a speech at the launch of a report entitled ” Step up! Tackling the burden of insufficient physical activity in Europe », (Get up! Fight against the scourge of lack of physical activity in Europe) published by the OECD and the World Health Organization (WHO), which assesses the economic impact of the lack of physical activity on the population European Union and suggests policy measures to encourage people to adopt a more active lifestyle.
According to the report, nearly a third of adult Europeans fail to meet the WHO recommended levels of physical activity: 150-300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity per week.
- Forty-five percent of respondents to the Eurobarometer survey said they never do any physical activity or play sports.
- Less than one in five teenage boys and one in ten teenage girls meet physical activity recommendations.
- Women, older people and lower socioeconomic groups are less likely to engage in regular physical activity.
- Many people have reported reduced physical activity since the COVID-19 pandemic due to restrictions and lockdowns.
- Levels of physical activity vary considerably between European countries.
These low levels of activity in Europe will lead to 11.5 million new cases of non-communicable diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer, by 2050.
Meeting minimum physical activity requirements could increase the life expectancy of people who are currently insufficiently active by 7.5 months, prevent more than 10,000 premature deaths per year and save €8 billion per year.
The impact will be two to three times greater if the population reaches a higher threshold of 300 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week.
“The good news is that physical activity is a highly modifiable risk factor,” Knudsen said. “By implementing the policy measures outlined in this report, we can be a game changer by improving public health and reducing health spending. »
Investing in physical activity policies will not only improve physical well-being, but will also generate a return of €1.7 in economic benefits for every euro spent.
“These are conservative estimates and the actual cost benefits are much higher than reported,” said sports science researcher Francis B Ortega, from the University of Granada, Spain. “For example, being physically active would reduce disability pensions, which are awarded to people with a serious and irreversible disease. »
The report identifies several policy measures that can be implemented to encourage physical activity, including the following:
- Create active environments that encourage physical activity, such as providing more bike paths and pedestrian areas.
- Promote active modes of travel, such as walking or cycling, by providing infrastructure and setting up incentives.
- Improve physical education in schools and promote active play. The report recommends that schools provide at least two hours of physical activity per week.
- Encourage physical activity at work with, for example, standing desks and sports lessons during the lunch break.
- Implement community campaigns and programs to promote physical activity, such as major cycling events and walking groups.
Implementing these policy measures will require a coordinated effort from policy makers, communities and individuals to promote a stronger culture of physical activity in Europe.
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