Physical Activity in High Income Countries

Original Editor - Clara Hildt

Top Contributors - Venugopal Pawar, Admin, Evan Thomas, Mariam Hashem, Tarina van der Stockt, Simisola Ajeyalemi, 127.0.0.1, Michelle Lee, Kim Jackson, Rucha Gadgil, Robin Tacchetti and Giulia Neculaes

Introduction

Globally insufficient physical activity has been identified to be the fourth leading risk factor for mortality, causing an estimated 3.2 million deaths worldwide (WHO, 2016a). In high income countries (HICs) especially, high or increasing gross national product is often linked to low or decreasing physical activity levels (WHO, 2016b). Physical inactivity is a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes (WHO, 2015).

Definition

Physical Activity

Physical activity is defined as any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure (WHO, 2016b). Activities undertaken while working, playing, travelling, performing housework, and engaging in recreational pursuits are included (WHO, 2016b). WHO recommends adults to do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity throughout the week (WHO, 2016b). Compared to those who meet those criteria, people who are insufficiently physically active have a 20% to 30% increased risk of all-cause mortality (WHO, 2016c).

High-Income Countries

HICs are determined by the World Bank Country Groups. For the current 2017 fiscal year, high-income economies are those with a Gross National Income (GNI) per capita of $12,476 or more. Upper middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $4,036 and $12,475, middle-income economies are those with a GNI per capita between $1,026 and $4,035, and low-income economies are defined as those with a GNI of $1,025 or less in 2015 (The World Bank, 2016).

Global Health Observatory

Background

The Global Health Observatory is known as the “WHO’s gateway to health-related statistics” (WHO, 2016d). Its aim is to provide easy access to country data and statistics as well as WHO analyses to monitor global, regional, and country situation and trends. Global health priorities such as the health-related Millennium Development Goals are covered (WHO, 2016d).

• For information on estimation methods: http://www.who.int/gho/ncd/methods/en/
• Link to interactive charts: http://gamapserver.who.int/gho/interactive_charts/ncd/risk_factors/physical_inactivity/atlas.html?indicator=i1&date=Male
• Link to physical activity cards for countries worldwide: http://www.globalphysicalactivityobservatory.com/country-cards/

Results: Adults

Worldwide in 2010, 23% of adults age 18 years and older were insufficiently active, among men 20% and women 27%. The highest prevalence of insufficient physical activity was the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (31%) and the Region of the Americas (32%). On the contrary, the prevalence was lowest in the South-East Asia (15%) and African (21%) regions. Across all regions, men were more active than women, with differences in prevalence between men and women of 10% and greater in the Region of the Americas and the Eastern Mediterranean Region. As the level of income rose, so did the prevalence of insufficient physical activity, and as such HICs had more than double the prevalence compared to low-income countries for both men and women. In HICs, 41% of men and 48% of women were insufficiently physically active as compared to 18% of men and 21% of women in low-income countries (WHO, 2016e).

The increased automation of work and life in HICs creates fewer opportunities for sufficient physical activity, whereas in low-and middle-income countries there is more work and transport related physical activity necessary for both men and women (WHO, 2016e).

References

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