WHO says watching soccer is not as good as exercising

Fans in Spain watch the England - Slovenia match on June 25 - Photo: REUTERS

On June 26, a study by WHO and other scientists estimated that one-third of the global adult population currently does not exercise enough, posing a health threat.

Accordingly, more than 31% of adults, equivalent to 1.8 billion people, will not exercise as recommended in 2022, up 5 percentage points compared to 2010.

"Physical inactivity is a silent threat to global health, contributing significantly to the burden of chronic disease. Unfortunately, the world is not moving in the right direction," said Ruediger Krech, director of the WHO's health promotion department, AFP news agency reported.

On the occasion of the world's sports being busy with Euro 2024, Copa America, Olympics, Mr. Krech reminded everyone that "watching sports is not the same as physical activity".

“Don't just sit in your chair, get up and move, every step counts,” he said.

To stay healthy, WHO recommends that all adults should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week.

Activity can include walking, cycling, even housework, or at least 75 minutes of more vigorous exercise like running.

Not exercising at this level increases your risk of heart disease, diabetes, some cancers, and mental health problems, Krech said.

According to research in The Lancet Global Health , if current trends continue, levels of physical inactivity among adults are predicted to increase to 35% by 2030, running counter to the WHO target of reducing physical inactivity by 15% by the end of the decade.

WHO stressed that changing individual behaviour was not enough and called on countries to promote increased community sport as well as walking, cycling and public transport.

The study is considered the most comprehensive on the subject of physical activity. An international team of researchers compiled findings from more than 500 studies, involving 5.7 million people in 163 countries and territories.

Levels of physical inactivity vary widely between countries. For example, 66% of adults in the United Arab Emirates are not sufficiently physically active, while the figure in Malawi is less than 3%. There are also gender differences. Nearly 34% of women worldwide are sedentary, compared to 29% of men.

There are many reasons for the general decline in activity levels, including people walking less, working more at computers and generally spending more time looking at entertainment screens.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/who-noi-xem-da-banh-khong-bang-tap-the-thao-20240626165639859.htm