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‘Get Off The Couch’ – WHO Urges Governments To Promote Physical Exercise

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The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that millions of people would develop diseases linked to physical inactivity if governments do not urgently promote the benefits of physical exercise.

The Global status report on physical activity 2022, measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities.

“Almost 500 million people will develop heart disease, obesity, diabetes or other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) attributable to physical inactivity between 2020 and 2030 if governments worldwide don’t take urgent action to promote the benefits of exercise,” the WHO observed.

According to the world body, the price of inaction and staying on the couch will be severe.

A WHO release estimated the cost of extra healthcare would be $27 billion annually.

The release quoted data from 194 countries regarding physical activity policies.

According to the data, countries need to accelerate the development and implementation of policies to increase heart rates, help prevent disease, and reduce the burden on already overwhelmed health services.

“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,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

The WHO disclosed that less than 50 percent of countries have a national physical activity policy, of which less than 40 percent are operational.

In addition, only 30 percent of countries have national physical activity guidelines for all ages.

And while nearly all countries report a system for monitoring adult exercise, only 75 percent of countries monitor adolescent activity, and less than 30 percent monitor physical activity in children under 5.

In transport policy terms, just over 40 percent of countries have road design standards that make walking and cycling safer.

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4 COMMENTS

  1. Exercise is certainly good for positive health outcomes. Nevertheless, when one is constantly tormented emotional, financially and psychologically the benefits of Exercise is significantly reduced. We too in the department of nursing at SALCC are at risk for poor health outcomes. Why? Simply because the administration of the Nursing Department lack empathy and respect for us as students. Please help us . Thank you.

  2. Where wasall this when yall had people confined to their homes, locked up and sedentary during the so-called pandemic exercise was precisely what was needed? All of a sudden now governments must encourage their people to move? Oh so yall will be able to say that because people not moving that’s why they’re dropping like flies and not because of that covid vaccine and endless boosters.

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