Nearly one in four adolescents worldwide does not reach the level of movement that health authorities consider adequate. This figure has been widely reported this week, but behind the number are questions worth examining calmly: who these young people are, where they live, and why the picture has barely changed in more than fifteen years.
What the study says and where the sources differ
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), as cited by DW Español, around 240 million young people aged 11 to 17 did not do at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on any day of the previous week. UN News reports the same figure using the same criterion. The study covered more than 3.2 million adolescents in 140 countries and territories.
There is an important nuance. DW Español describes the figure as the proportion of adolescents who did no physical activity for at least one hour in the previous week, a different wording from not reaching 60 minutes on any day. Both readings point to the same problem, but they are not identical, and readers should know which one is being measured.
On average, adolescents reported being active 2.7 days a week, and only 14% said they were active every day, according to the WHO.
Differences between girls and boys
The gender gap is one of the clearest findings. According to the WHO, 28% of adolescent girls had no active days, compared with 22% of adolescent boys. While 11% of girls said they were active daily, the figure rises to 17% among boys. The WHO notes that this difference appears in almost all the countries analyzed.
Variation between countries is also wide. Namibia, Nepal, and the Philippines reported that 40% of their adolescents had no active days. In contrast, in Serbia and Bangladesh, more than 30% said they were active every day. These figures show that the problem is not uniform and that local context matters.
Why sedentary behavior matters in adolescence
Sedentary behavior refers to low movement maintained for much of the day, and it is not always the same as a lack of organized sport. The WHO reminds us that physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some types of cancer.
Habits are formed during adolescence. Moving regularly during these years is associated with better physical fitness, better mood, and better weight management, and it is more likely to continue into adulthood. This is why youth health is measured not only by what happens in the doctor’s office but also by how everyday life is organized.
Why asking for more effort is not enough
One of the central ideas of the report is that the solution does not consist of demanding that young people try harder. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the WHO, as cited by the sources, said the challenge is to make schools, streets, and neighborhoods places where being active is safe, easy, and normal.
This is easier to understand through an everyday example: if there is no nearby park, if sidewalks are dangerous, or if the school offers no active recess, the decision to move depends on conditions the adolescent does not control. Public health specialists often describe this approach as work on the environment, not only on individual willpower.
When to consult a health professional
General recommendations serve as guidance for most people, but every case is different. It is advisable to consult a doctor, pediatrician, or health professional if an adolescent experiences unusual tiredness when moving, chest pain, dizziness, disproportionate shortness of breath, or has a pre-existing health condition that may affect physical activity. This consultation makes it possible to determine what kind of movement is appropriate in each situation.
Key points
- According to the WHO, around 240 million adolescents aged 11 to 17 did not reach the recommended level of physical activity in the week analyzed.
- Girls are more likely than boys to have no active days in the week, and the gap appears in almost all countries in the study.
- Inactivity is a recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.
- According to the WHO Director-General, change depends largely on schools, streets, and neighborhoods that make it easy to be active.
- If there are symptoms or doubts about an adolescent’s physical activity, the recommendation is to consult a health professional.
This content is for informational purposes only and does not replace the advice of a health professional.
Santé Press Commentary
Key takeaways
- The most solid finding is the lack of progress over 15 years: the problem is persistent, not temporary.
- The two sources measure inactivity using different criteria; comparing figures requires reviewing the methodology.
- The environmental approach shifts responsibility from the adolescent to urban and school planning, which opens a debate about who should act.
News Sources
- Noticias ONU: Un 25% de los adolescentes no hace suficiente ejercicio
- DW Español: La OMS alerta sobre la falta de ejercicio entre los adolescentes