In 2022, nearly half of Indian adults were not sufficiently physically active, according to a
study published in The Lancet Global Health journal. The study revealed that 57% of Indian
women and 42% of Indian men were inadequately active, consistent with broader South
Asian trends. On average, women in South Asia had a 14% higher rate of physical inactivity
compared to men.
Globally, about 31.3% of adults did not meet the recommended physical activity levels in
2022, a rise from 26.4% in 2010. If these trends continue, the goal of increasing physical
activity by 15% will not be met.
In India, insufficient physical activity rose from just over 22% in 2000 to nearly 34% in 2010.
Projections suggest that by 2030, 60% of Indian adults may not engage in adequate physical
activity.
The study, conducted by researchers including those from the World Health Organization
(WHO), analyzed physical activity data from population-based surveys across 197 countries
and territories from 2000 to 2022. It highlighted that older adults (60+) worldwide are
increasingly inactive.
Physical inactivity increases the risk of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and
heart disease. The WHO attributes rising physical inactivity and sedentary lifestyles to a
growing burden on global healthcare systems. A 2023 study by the Indian Council of Medical
Research (ICMR) published in The Lancet Diabetes and Endocrinology estimated that in
2021, India had 101 million people with diabetes, 315 million with hypertension, 254 million
with obesity, and 185 million with high LDL cholesterol.
