The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed

“Promoting physical activity goes beyond promoting individual lifestyle choice, it will require a whole-of-society approach and creating environments that make it easier and safer for everyone to be more active in ways they enjoy to reap the many health benefits of regular physical activity,” said Dr Fiona Bull, head of the WHO Unit for Physical Activity.

The highest rates of physical inactivity were observed in the high-income Asia Pacific region (48 per cent) and South Asia (45 per cent), while the United Arab Emirates exceeded 50 per cent of the population with levels of inactivity. High-income Western countries did better at 28 per cent and Oceania was the most active, at 14 per cent.

Physical inactivity is still more common among women than men: 34 per cent compared to 29 per cent. In some countries, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Cuba, Guyana, Iran and the Bahamas, this difference is as much as 20 per cent.