A quarter of adolescents reported a week without a 60-minute active day
A WHO analysis of surveys in 140 countries and territories finds a persistent gap between girls and boys.
About 240 million adolescents went an entire week without recording a day with at least 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity, the World Health Organization estimated on November 4. The measure comes from what young people aged 11 to 17 said about the previous week.
Girls were more likely to report zero days at that threshold. The estimate was 28% for girls and 22% for boys. Across both groups, 14% said they reached the threshold on all seven days. The WHO says global activity levels have changed little over 15 years.
The research combined 389 surveys involving more than 3.2 million adolescents. The threshold matters when reading the results. Someone could have walked, played or exercised on several days and still have reported zero days with a full hour of activity at the intensity the study measured.
The WHO called for changes in schools and neighbourhoods that would give young people more chances to move, including safer walking and cycling routes. Its report identifies affordability, access to public spaces and social expectations as factors that can shape those opportunities.