WHO Says One in Four Adolescents Had No Active Days Last Week

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND —  About one in four adolescents worldwide did not reach 60 minutes of physical activity on any day in the previous week, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on 4 November, warning that adolescent physical activity levels have barely changed in 15 years.

Roughly 240 million young people aged 11 to 17 did not complete at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity on a single day that week, according to the study, which was published in The Lancet Global Health.

What the study found on adolescent physical activity levels

The study, titled “A generation missing out: global trends in adolescent physical activity, 2010 to 2025,” drew on 389 population-based surveys in 140 countries and territories, covering more than 3.2 million adolescents.

Adolescents were active on an average of 2.7 days a week, and only 14 per cent were active on all seven days, WHO said. In some countries, 4 per cent of adolescents reported no active days; in others, the figure was more than 40 per cent.

Girls were less active than boys in almost every country and every WHO region. Twenty-eight per cent of girls reported no active days, compared with 22 per cent of boys, and 11 per cent of girls were active every day, compared with 17 per cent of boys.

WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “girls are being left furthest behind.”

Why inactivity matters for Africa

Physical inactivity is a major risk factor for heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers, WHO said. Habits formed in adolescence often continue into adulthood, so low activity among young people today can add to the burden of chronic disease in the coming decades.

African countries are already facing a rapid rise in noncommunicable diseases alongside infectious diseases. WHO has warned that about three in four adults with diabetes in Africa have not been diagnosed, and high blood pressure is common and often uncontrolled. The links between lifestyle and high blood pressure, including inactivity, salt intake and weight, start early in life.

The WHO release did not give Africa-specific figures. In many African cities, however, young people face barriers such as unsafe roads, a lack of parks and sports facilities, long hours of schoolwork and household chores, and concerns about safety, particularly for girls.

Improving adolescent physical activity levels in African countries is also linked to urban planning, as cities grow rapidly and more young people travel by car or minibus instead of walking. Safe pavements, cycle lanes and green spaces are rare in many fast-growing neighbourhoods.

Africa also has the world’s youngest population, which means the habits of today’s adolescents will shape the health of a large share of the continent’s future workforce.

What drives the pattern

WHO listed several factors behind low activity, including transport patterns, access to safe public spaces, safe walking and cycling options, school environments, affordability, social norms and screen-based lifestyles.

For girls, social expectations, fewer opportunities to play sport, concerns about safety and a lack of suitable facilities and clothing can all reduce participation. School physical education may also be cut when timetables are under pressure from examinations.

WHO’s call for action

WHO called for stronger action across education, transport, urban planning, sport and health. It urged governments to address the barriers girls face, promote physical activity in schools, invest in safe walking and cycling routes and build active communities.

Tedros said countries should “build schools, streets and communities where moving, playing and being active is safe, easy and normal.”

WHO recommends that children and adolescents aged 5 to 17 get an average of at least 60 minutes a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity, mostly aerobic, with vigorous activities and muscle and bone strengthening at least three days a week. Activity can include walking or cycling to school, active play, dance, sport and household tasks.

Simple steps can help: protected time for physical education, safe playgrounds that stay open after school, walking school buses and community sports programmes for girls. Parents can limit recreational screen time and be active with their children.

Health workers can also ask about physical activity during routine visits, and schools can screen for overweight and high blood pressure, which are increasingly seen in African adolescents.

Improving adolescent physical activity levels will require action beyond the health sector. The study suggests that without changes to schools, streets and social norms, the next generation of adults will face a higher risk of chronic disease.

 

Why it matters: Inactive teenagers become adults at higher risk of hypertension and diabetes, adding to Africa’s fast-growing chronic disease burden.

 

 

Source: World Health Organization,  November 2026.