Guideline Development Group – Public consultation
Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for global mortality and a contributor to the rise in overweight and obesity. The Global action plan on physical activity 2018-2030 has identified the need to update the 2010 guidelines on physical activity in youth, adults and older adults, as an essential part of the policy framework and to underpin national policy.
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In 2010, WHO published Global recommendations on physical activity for health which detailed interventions for the primary prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) through physical activity at population level. The recommendations were set out specific recommendations on the different types, frequency and duration of physical activity for optimal health benefits for three population-age groups: youth 6-<18 years,="" adults="" 18-65="" years="" and="" older="" adults="">65 years, but did not specifically address special population groups, such as pregnant women, people living with chronic conditions or disabilities. Estimates from 2012 indicate that not meeting current physical activity recommendations are responsible for more than 5 million deaths globally each year.
Over the last nine years the body of evidence on the health impact of different types, amounts and durations of physical activity as well as on the impact of sedentary behaviours and its interrelationship with levels of physical activity and health has increased significantly. Particular areas of new evidence include the impact of physical activity on mental wellbeing and cognitive health outcomes, health outcomes in older adults and in children under the age of 5 years.
The important interactions between physical activity, sedentary behaviour and adequate sleep time on physical and mental health and wellbeing were recognized by the Commission on Ending Childhood Obesity, and Recommendation 4.12 called for clear guidance on these three aspects of movement, sleep and sedentary behaviours in young children. In 2019 WHO published a global guideline physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. A number of recent national guidelines on physical activity for youth and adults have included recommendations on sedentary behaviour and sleep.
These WHO guidelines will provide recommendations on the amount of time children and adolescents, adults, older adults and special populations such as pregnant women and those living with chronic conditions or disabilities, should be physical active and the maximum recommended daily sedentary time for their health. These guidelines will update the recommendations on physical activity for health released in 2010, with the most recent advances in the evidence base for these behaviours and associated health consequences.
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