Physical Inactivity- Impact on Global Health

Source: CDC.gov

The Lancet has a dedicated special issue to physical activity, just out and just in time for the Olympics. Being physically inactive is a major health burden on morbidity and mortality, as summarized here.


The impact of physical inactivity on global health is substantial. Based on this recent review, physical inactivity causes 6% (ranging from 3·2% in southeast Asia to 7·8% in the eastern Mediterranean region) of the burden of disease from coronary heart disease, 7% (3·9—9·6) of type 2 diabetes, 10% (5·6—14·1) of breast cancer, and 10% (5·7—13·8) of colon cancer. 
In addition, physical inactivity causes 9% (range 5·1—12·5) of premature mortality resulting in approximately 5·3 million of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008. If inactivity decreased by 10%- 25%,  between 533 000 and 1·3 million deaths could be averted every year. 


Check out physical activity for everyone. I am off for my morning jog now.