Nearly Half Of Indian Adults Not Active Enough, Reveals Study
In India, the number of adults not getting enough exercise has increased over the years. In 2000, around 22% of adults were not active enough. This number rose to nearly 34% in 2010 and 45% in 2022.
Nearly half of Indian adults were not getting enough physical activity in 2022, according to a new study published in The Lancet Global Health journal.
The study showed that 57% of Indian women and 42% of Indian men were not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. This trend is consistent across South Asia, where women are generally less active than men by about 14%.
Globally, the study found that about a third of adults (31.3%) were not active enough, which means they did not get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise per week. This is an increase from 26.4% in 2010. If this trend continues, the global goal of increasing physical activity by 15% will not be met.
In India, the number of adults not getting enough exercise has increased over the years. In 2000, around 22% of adults were not active enough. This number rose to nearly 34% in 2010 and 45% in 2022. If this trend continues, it is projected that 60% of Indian adults will not be sufficiently active by 2030.
The study also highlighted that older adults, both men and women aged 60 and above, are increasingly becoming less active. Lack of physical activity is linked to higher risks of non-communicable diseases like diabetes and heart disease. The World Health Organisation (WHO) noted that a sedentary lifestyle contributes to these health issues, putting a strain on healthcare systems worldwide.
In 2021, a study by the Indian Council of Medical Research found that 101 million people in India had diabetes, 315 million had high blood pressure, 254 million were obese, and 185 million had high levels of bad cholesterol. These health problems are likely worsened by the lack of physical activity among adults.
To stay healthy, the WHO recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity physical activity each week. Not meeting these guidelines can lead to serious health issues, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia, and certain cancers.
(With PTI inputs)
