WHO Study Finds 1 in 4 Teens Get

One in every four adolescents worldwide gets less than an hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity a week, translating to roughly 240 million young people aged 11 to 17 who miss the critical exercise needed for healthy development, according to a World Health Organization study published in The Lancet Global Health.

Health Policy Watch reported that the study, titled ‘A generation missing out’, draws on 389 population-based surveys covering approximately 3.2 million adolescents across 140 countries and territories. Only 14 percent of respondents met WHO recommendations by being physically active for at least one hour on all seven days of the week. On average, adolescents reported hitting this target on just 2.7 days weekly.

Key Clinical Takeaways:
• Around 240 million adolescents globally fail to reach the threshold of one hour of physical activity per week.
• Levels of physical inactivity have remained virtually unchanged since 2010 and 2016.
• Approximately 28 percent of girls reported no active days compared to 22 percent of boys.

Fifteen Years of Stagnant Global Activity Metrics

The data demonstrates that global adolescent activity levels have stayed flat for a decade and a half. WHO experts noted at a press briefing that the metrics covering about 60 percent of adolescents globally have remained roughly the same since tracking began in 2010 and again in 2016. UN News reported that no country is currently on track to meet the global target of a 15 percent relative reduction in physical inactivity by 2030.

“For 15 years, the world has made almost no progress in getting young people moving, and girls are being left furthest behind,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, as reported by Health Policy Watch. He emphasized that solutions require building schools, streets, and communities where movement is safe, easy, and normal, rather than telling adolescents to try harder.

Persistent Gender Gaps Across All Regions

The new research reveals a pronounced gender divide. Girls are less active than boys across every WHO region. Worldwide, roughly 28 percent of girls reported zero active days during the surveyed week, contrasted with 22 percent of boys. Only 11 percent of girls reported being active every day, compared to 17 percent of boys.

Dr. Fiona Bull, head of Physical Activity Promotion at WHO, pointed to multiple factors driving this gap, including a lack of visible role models, fewer female coaches in formal sports, and cultural or religious norms where girls participating in sports may be viewed as inappropriate. Safety concerns also restrict movement for female adolescents, though Mathrubhumi English noted that girls appeared to show a higher preference for dance options.

Adolescents in Developing Countries Report Fewer Active Days

Geographic patterns show stark contrasts between low- and high-income nations. In Middle East, South Asian, and Sub-Saharan African countries—such as Namibia, Nepal, and the Philippines—upwards of 40 percent of adolescents reported few or no active days. Conversely, in most of Europe, western Asia, and parts of the Americas, less than 10 percent of respondents reported zero active days.

Dr. Leanne Riley, unit head of surveillance, monitoring, and reporting at WHO’s non-communicable disease division, explained that low- and middle-income settings feature a high prevalence of zero active days, whereas high-income Western nations, Central and Eastern Europe, and East Asia show more favorable patterns. The agency attributes these disparities to transport patterns, screen-based lifestyles, affordability, social norms, and a lack of safe public spaces for walking and cycling.

Sporting Goods Companies Pledge to Improve Product Access

Physical inactivity serves as a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Dr. Etienne Krug, Director at WHO’s Department of Health Determinants, Promotion and Prevention, noted that regular activity supports mental health, cognitive development, and social connectivity.

In response to the report, roughly 83 sporting goods companies and federations—including Adidas, ASICS, Bauer, Decathlon, New Balance, and Nike—signed an open letter coordinated by the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry. These companies pledged to improve access to products, support school and community programs, and remove barriers to youth physical activity.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is for educational and scientific communication purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider regarding any medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment plan.