New Delhi, Mar 17: Access to regular physical activity remains uneven across the world, with socioeconomic factors such as income, gender and living conditions playing a decisive role in determining who gets to exercise, according to a recent global study.
The research, published in Nature Medicine, highlights that unequal access to safe and voluntary physical activity is an emerging public health concern with significant long-term consequences.
The study found that physical inactivity contributes to a substantial share of global deaths each year, underscoring its role as a major health risk.
While exercise is often promoted for preventing conditions such as heart disease and obesity, researchers noted that its benefits also include improved immunity, better mental health and enhanced survival outcomes across various illnesses.
However, the analysis pointed out that opportunities to engage in physical activity are not equally distributed. It stressed that public health campaigns focusing solely on individual motivation often overlook structural barriers that limit access for large sections of the population.
Using data from surveys conducted by the World Health Organization across multiple countries between 2008 and 2019, the study examined different forms of physical activity, including leisure exercise, active transport and work-related physical labour.
The findings revealed stark disparities, particularly in leisure-time physical activity. Wealthier populations, especially men in high-income countries, reported higher participation in activities such as sports and fitness routines. In contrast, women in low-income regions showed the lowest levels of engagement in voluntary exercise.
The researchers concluded that addressing inequality in access to physical activity should be prioritised as part of broader public health strategies, warning that failure to do so could widen existing health gaps globally.
