Health
Global Report Shows Little Change in Teen Physical Activity Over 15 Years
A WHO analysis of 389 surveys from 140 countries finds 240 million adolescents still fail to meet daily activity guidelines, with no nation on track for the 2030 reduction target and girls lagging behind boys.
American Impact Alliance News Desk2 minute read
Stagnant Activity Levels Across the Globe
Analysis of 389 population‑based surveys conducted in 140 countries, representing more than 3.2 million adolescents aged 11‑17, shows that global activity levels have barely moved since 2010. About 240 million young people reported not reaching at least 60 minutes of moderate‑to‑vigorous activity on any day of the previous week, and on average they were active on only 2.7 days per week. Only 14 percent managed to be active every day, while 86 percent logged fewer than seven active days in 2025—a figure unchanged from 2010. The WHO report notes that no country is currently on track to achieve the 15 percent relative reduction in adolescent inactivity pledged for 2030.
Persistent Gender Disparities
Girls consistently fall behind boys in physical activity across almost every WHO region and country. In the surveyed population, 28 percent of girls reported no active days compared with 22 percent of boys, while only 11 percent of girls were active every day versus 17 percent of boys. This disparity translates into higher long‑term risk for conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers, which are linked to sustained inactivity from adolescence onward. The pervasive nature of the gap underscores the need for gender‑responsive interventions that address cultural norms, safety concerns, and access to facilities that encourage regular movement among young women.
Cross‑Sector Strategies Needed
WHO officials argue that the solution lies not in urging adolescents to exercise harder, but in reshaping the environments where they live, learn and travel. Recommendations call for coordinated action across education, transport, urban planning, sport and health sectors to create safe streets, walkable routes, school playgrounds and community spaces that make movement routine. Addressing barriers such as unsafe public areas, limited affordable options, prevailing social norms and the rise of screen‑based leisure is seen as essential to reverse the stagnant trend. Without accelerated, multisector investment, the projection is that adolescent inactivity will remain largely unchanged throughout the decade.