The activity will save the European Union $8 billion annually

Avoid premature deaths: The models showed that at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity – the minimum recommended by the World Health Organization – could prevent more than 10,000 premature deaths each year in the European Union.

• In addition, according to the researchers, 11.5 million new cases of non-communicable diseases could be prevented in the European Union by the middle of this century.
  • This includes 3.8 million cardiovascular diseases, 3.5 million depression, nearly 1 million muscular diseases and more than 400,000 cancers.
• In addition, according to the researchers, every dollar invested in physical activity results in a roughly double return of $1.7 in economic benefits.
  • It should be noted that EU member states could save nearly 8 billion euros annually if they collectively tackled physical inactivity for all of their populations.
  • This is more than the total health spending recorded by Lithuania and Luxembourg together each year.
• Doubling the time for moderate exercise to 300 minutes per week would double or even triple the positive effects on the population.
  • This is equivalent to averting 30,000 premature deaths annually and 27 million new cases of preventable non-communicable diseases over three decades.
  • This would also reduce healthcare expenditures by €17 billion annually.
  • said Hans Kluge, European Director of Global Health Organization.

Almost half of Europeans do not move: Despite its many health benefits, according to a Eurobarometer survey, one in three adults in Europe do not get the recommended amount of physical activity.

• The survey found that up to 45 percent do not exercise or exercise at all. Less than 40 percent exercise or play sports at least once a week, and 20 percent exercise less than once a week.
• However, strong differences can be observed among the member states. In the European Union, 40 percent of adults exercise regularly.
  • However, in Finland, this figure rises to over 66%. In other countries, on the other hand, it is often limited to 20 percent.
• The main barrier to exercising seems to be lack of time, followed by lack of motivation and lack of interest in sports.
• On the other hand, improving health appears to be the most important motivation for exercising, followed by the desire to improve physical fitness and the search for relaxation.
• It has not been proven that women and older adults are less likely to engage in regular exercise or physical activity. In the fifteen-to-twenty-fourth category, 73 percent of men participate in sports or exercise at least weekly, compared to 58 percent of women.
• Compared to six years ago, the amount of adult physical activity has increased significantly in many EU member states.
  • An increase in various activities was observed in the Czech Republic, Austria, Lithuania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Luxembourg and Finland.
  • However, there was a decrease in Portugal, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Germany, Denmark and Sweden.

“Behavioral change is never easy,” admits Ulrik Knudsen, Deputy Secretary General of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. “We all know that in order to get people moving, awareness of the importance of exercise must be emphasized. Targeted efforts must be made for this.”