WHO Reports High Levels of Physical Inactivity Among Adolescents

One in four adolescents globally did not engage in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day in the past week. This alarming statistic, reflecting the situation of approximately 240 million young people aged 11 to 17 years, was detailed in a report released by the World Health Organization (WHO). The data indicates that, on average, adolescents managed to be active for only 2.7 days in the week, with just 14% reporting activity every day.

The findings highlight a stagnation in physical activity levels among adolescents, which have seen little change over the last 15 years. Physical inactivity poses serious health risks, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. The WHO emphasises the importance of fostering active lifestyles in youth to mitigate the arising health concerns associated with inaction.

Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, stated, “For 15 years, the world has made almost no progress in getting young people moving, and girls are being left furthest behind. The answer is not to tell adolescents to try harder. It is to build schools, streets and communities where moving, playing and being active is safe, easy and normal.”

The report titled 'A Generation Missing Out: Global Trends in Adolescent Physical Activity, 2010-2025' is based on data from 389 population-based surveys across 140 countries, involving over 3.2 million adolescents. Gender disparities in activity levels are noticeable, with 28% of girls reporting no active days compared to 22% of boys. Only 11% of girls were active every day, in contrast to 17% of boys. This trend persists in nearly every country and WHO region.

There are vast differences in activity levels among countries. While some nations report as few as 4% of adolescents with no active days, others show figures exceeding 40%. The report highlights that the lack of progress cannot be attributed to a single factor. Rather, numerous elements such as transportation patterns, availability of safe public spaces, and the prevalence of screen-based leisure activities contribute to the challenge.

To address this pressing issue, the WHO has called for coordinated efforts across various sectors, including education, transport, and urban planning, to promote active lifestyles among adolescents. The organisation advocates for policies that enhance the accessibility and safety of physical activity opportunities, particularly for girls. Initiatives to promote sports in schools and to invest in safe walking and cycling routes are among the proposed strategies aimed at creating active, healthy communities.

The WHO remains committed to supporting countries in their health promotion efforts, striving to ensure every individual globally has equitable access to a healthy lifestyle.

As per the theme of World Health Day 2026, 'Together for health. Stand with science', the campaign aims to highlight the role of scientific research in safeguarding public health.