People who do not get enough physical activity face a 20 to 30 per cent higher risk of death than those who remain sufficiently active, according to the World Health Organization. The health agency has warned that physical inactivity and increasingly sedentary lifestyles are contributing to noncommunicable diseases and placing greater pressure on healthcare systems worldwide. 

Physical activity includes any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that requires energy expenditure. It covers exercise as well as walking, cycling, wheeling, playing sports, performing household duties and movement undertaken during work or travel. Both moderate and vigorous activities offer health benefits, and the WHO stresses that any amount of movement is better than none.

Regular activity helps adults and older people lower their risk of premature death, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, type-2 diabetes, certain cancers and falls. It can also improve mental health, cognitive function, sleep and body-fat levels. By contrast, prolonged sedentary behaviour, such as sitting or reclining while awake, is associated with higher rates of cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes and mortality.

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For children and adolescents, regular movement supports physical fitness, bone strength, healthy growth, cognitive development and mental well-being. Excessive sedentary time has been associated with increased body fat, reduced sleep, poorer fitness and weaker cardiometabolic health. Globally, about 80 per cent of adolescents do not achieve recommended activity levels, highlighting the scale of the public-health challenge.

Physical activity also benefits pregnant and postpartum women by lowering the risk of pre-eclampsia, gestational hypertension, gestational diabetes, excessive weight gain, delivery complications and postpartum depression. The WHO says appropriate exercise does not adversely affect birthweight or increase stillbirth risk. People with chronic health conditions, disabilities or pregnancy-related concerns should seek personalised medical guidance when choosing activities.

Adults should aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity each week, while also limiting extended periods of sitting. Muscle-strengthening activity offers additional benefits, and movement can be accumulated through manageable daily routines rather than completed in a single session. The guidance is general information and should not replace advice from a qualified healthcare professional.

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