Wake-up call as study reveals how physical inactivity is big killer

Almost one in every 14 deaths are because of physical inactivity, a new study has found.

Some 7.2% of deaths around the world are attributable to inactivity, new research suggests.

And this rises to 7.6% when only looking at deaths attributable to heart or blood vessel disease, according to the study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

Researchers, led by experts at the Pennington Biomedical Research Centre in the USA, examined inactivity and the link between some major causes of ill health.

Inactivity is linked to 8.1% of dementia cases globally, but just 1.6% of cases of high blood pressure, they found.

The researchers, who reviewed the scientific literature on inactivity and death and disease, also found higher rates in higher income countries.

In higher income countries almost one in every 10 (9.3%) deaths rely on physical inactivity.

But the authors cautioned that 69% of total deaths and 74% of cardiovascular disease deaths associated with physical inactivity occur in middle-income countries because of their population size.

People are urged to get at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, or 75 minutes of vigorous activity.

Physical inactivity is a known risk factor for premature death and several diseases, including stroke, coronary heart disease, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and cancers.

“The global burden associated with physical inactivity is substantial,” the authors wrote.

Lack of exercise is linked to a whole range of diseases.