And the price of inaction and staying on the couch, will be severe, WHO said – around $27 billion every year in extra healthcare costs.

The Global status report on physical activity 2022, measures the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities. 

Data from 194 countries show that overall, progress is slow and that countries need to accelerate the development and implementation of policies to increase heart rates and help prevent disease and reduce the burden on already overwhelmed health services.

The statistics lay bare the extent of the challenges facing countries worldwide: 

• Less than 50 per cent of countries have a national physical activity policy, of which less than 40 per cent are operational.
• Only 30 per cent of countries have national physical activity guidelines for all ages.
• While nearly all countries report a system for monitoring adult exercise, only 75 per cent of countries monitor adolescent activity, and less than 30 per cent monitor physical activity in children under 5.
• In transport policy terms, just over 40 per cent of countries have road design standards that make walking and cycling safer.