One in four adolescents worldwide reported no active days in the previous week
The study found 240 million young people had no active days, and WHO warned that girls remain far less active than boys.
- On Wednesday, the World Health Organization released a study finding one in four adolescents worldwide—around 240 million young people—reported no active days per week in 2025, with levels remaining "virtually unchanged" for 15 years.
- Published in The Lancet Global Health, the research analyzed 389 surveys of 3.2 million adolescents aged 11 to 17 across 140 countries, covering 59% of the global adolescent population.
- Globally, boys averaged three active days per week compared to 2.4 for girls in 2025; while 40% of teens in Namibia, Nepal, and the Philippines reported no active days, others showed higher activity levels.
- WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that "physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers," noting that early active habits are critical to health protection.
- The United Nations health agency urged societies to build schools and communities where moving is safe and accessible, though no country is currently on track to meet its 15% inactivity reduction target by 2030.
43 Articles
43 Articles
1 in 4 adolescents not active for even an hour a day: Lancet study
One in four adolescents worldwide does not get at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any day of the week, with girls significantly less active than boys, according to a new global study that highlights concerns about the physical and mental health of young people
WHO warns of lack of physical activity among teens
Geneva, Switzerland—A quarter of teens globally engage in basically no physical activity — not even an hour of exercise a week — the World Health Organization said Wednesday, warning that this significantly raises health risks. The WHO’s new global estimates found that when asked, one in four adolescents aged 11 to 17 report no active days — defined as at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity — in the previous week. The stud…
Some 240 million young people between 11 and 17 years of age did not practice at least 60 minutes of moderate to high physical activity on any day of the previous week, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a new study. This study, published in The Lancet Global Health, was conducted in 140 countries and territories, with more than 3.2 million adolescents. Overall, adolescents and adolescents reported being active on average only 2…
Medical Xpress
WHO sounds alarm over lack of physical activity among teens
A quarter of teens globally engage in basically no physical activity—not even an hour of exercise a week—the World Health Organization said Wednesday, warning that this significantly raises health risks.
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