Study highlights health risks of inactivity

New research has suggested that a lack of exercise is now causing as many deaths as smoking across the world.

A team of 33 researchers drawn from centres across the world have estimated that about a third of adults are not doing enough physical activity, causing 5.3m deaths a year. Publishing their findings in the Lancet, the have said that the problem is now so bad it should be treated as a pandemic. The UK is identified as home to the third most inactive population in Europe, with two-thirds of adults failing to take enough physical exercise to keep themselves healthy.

Pedro Hallal, from Universidade Federal de Pelotas in Brazil, said: "With the upcoming 2012 Olympic Games, sport and physical activity will attract tremendous worldwide attention.  Although the world will be watching elite athletes from many countries compete in sporting events, most spectators will be quite inactive.

"The global challenge is clear - make physical activity a pubic health priority throughout the world to improve health and reduce the burden of disease." 

Age Scotland spokesperson Doug Anthoney said: "This report is timely, coming just prior to the arrival of the World Congress on Active Ageing in Glasgow this August.  The Congress is a great opportunity for older people, and those who work with them, to learn about the best ways to keep active as we age; with activity tasters, performances, expert seminars and much, much more."

Find out more about the World Congress on Active Ageing