1 in 4 don’t exercise; rich nations fare worst

A study from the World Health Organization said one in four people worldwide are physically inactive, putting them at greater risk for diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.

The data published Tuesday in the journal Lancet Global Health found 28 percent of adults globally don’t exercise, a figure unchanged from 2001.

“This puts more than 1.4 billion adults at risk of developing or exacerbating diseases linked to inactivity, and needs to be urgently addressed,” read an excerpt from the study, which also notes declines in mental health and quality of life for people who don’t exercise enough.

Guidelines from the Department of Health and Human Services suggest adults participate in some type of muscle strengthening activity at least twice a week, along with moderate aerobic exercise for 150 minutes a week or 75 minutes a week if vigorously working out.

Studies have shown that exercise and a healthy diet can lower the risk of health problems such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. In April, a study published in the American Heart Association journal Circulation found exercise, a healthy diet and other factors could add more than 10 years to your life.

The WHO study showed women were less physically active than men, with 32 percent failing to exercise enough, compared to 23 percent of men.

Countries with higher incomes tended to show higher rates of inactivity. In low-income countries, the percentage of physically inactive people was 16 percent, compared to 26 percent for middle-income nations and 37 percent for high-income countries.

The least-active regions were Latin America and the Caribbean.