One in three people in the European Union (EU) does not practice enough physical activity and 45% of its inhabitants admit to not exercising or practicing any sport, according to a Eurobarometer survey.
This means millions of cases of non-communicable diseases that impair health and quality of life, increase health costs and have a negative impact on the economy.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity. Following this advice might prevent noncommunicable diseases, including up to 3.8 million cases of cardiovascular disease, 3.5 million cases of depression, almost one million cases of type 2 diabetes, and more than 400,000 cases of different types of cancer.
These are the data revealed by the report Step up! Tackling the Burden of Insufficient Physical Activity in Europe, a joint document of the World Health Organization and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that reveals how increasing physical activity to the levels recommended by the UN agency can also prevent up to 10,000 premature deaths each year and save 8 billion euros in health spending in the European Union.
The World Health Organization recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical activity.
Benefits for the economy: data by country
OECD Assistant Secretary General Ulrik Vestergaard Knudsen explains that “the report shows that policies that promote physical activity benefit everyone: contribute to a healthier and happier life, while reducing the costs of health systems and of society. The member countries of the European Union can save up to eight billion euros a year by increasing levels of physical activity and reducing the impact of non-communicable diseases.
This is more than the annual total invested in healthcare in Lithuania and Luxembourg.
Taking into account that Germany, Italy and France have the largest populations of the 27 Member States of the European Union, these three countries in turn generate higher healthcare spending in the EU due to the lack of physical activity.
The WHO and OECD report estimates that, following adjusting for purchasing power parity*, Germany, Italy and France will spend an average of €2 billion, €1.3 billion and €1 million respectively on treating illnesses caused by inactivity physics every year between 2022 and 2050.
Since 2015, the number of EU countries that have policies to improve access to physical activity has increased. For example, Finland adopted a resolution to promote modes of transport that require physical activity, Austria promotes cooperation between sports clubs and primary schools, and Bulgaria is developing a program to help people whose work requires sitting for long hours.
