There will be 500 million new chronic patients due to lack of exercise in 2030

A study by the World Health Organization asks governments to "act urgently" to promote physical exercise in the population.

Lack of physical activity will cause 500 million more people in the world to suffer from chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes or hypertension, as well as depression, in eight years, the treatment of which will cost 27.000 billion dollars annually, according to a study by the World Organization. of Health (WHO).

The report, which is also published in the specialized journal The Lancet, Calls on governments to "act urgently" to promote physical exercise in the population, not only for its individual benefits, but also social and economic, since in a decade up to 300.000 million dollars could be saved.

with that money "a million doctors could be trained", the head of the WHO Physical Activities Unit, Fiona Bull, highlighted in a press conference.

If the current situation continues, the study fears that the lack of exercise will contribute to 215 million more people suffering from depression or anxiety, 234 million more people suffering from hypertension, 3,4 million more cancer patients and 6,6 million more heart attacks.

The study authors also forecast 11,2 million more people with type 2 diabetes, 12,5 million more people with coronary heart disease, and an increase in dementia in 15,2 million more patients.

The report analyzes current policies to encourage physical exercise in 194 countries and concludes that progress is too slow, with only 50% of them having such programs (and of these, less than 40% actually work).

Only 40% of the countries studied have road networks that offer safety to cyclists or facilitate physical exercise in public places. In 28% of cases, national policies to stimulate physical activity have financing problems.

Source: Heraldo de Aragón (from EFE)

Header image: Lourdes, Raquel, Rebeca and Menchu ​​have incorporated physical exercise into their daily lives. Toni Galan