Global analysis shows that a quarter of teenagers worldwide suffer from lack of physical activity

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that one in four adolescents does not engage in any type of physical activity in 2025. This trend of sedentary behavior persists globally without changes since 2010.

The data was presented in the United Nations agency for Health report, focusing on physical activity trends among young people aged 11 to 17. The study concluded that approximately 25% of adolescents reported having no active day throughout a week.

The assessment of physical activity levels was conducted using a questionnaire administered to over 3.2 million adolescents from various countries. This questionnaire asked how many days in the previous week they had accumulated at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, covering both school and free time.

It is estimated that the roughly 25% who did not have active days correspond to about 240 million adolescents worldwide. The report warns that only 14% of respondents stated they remained active during the seven days, with an average of only 2.7 days per week.

The new projections indicate that, in total, 86% of adolescents reported having fewer than seven active days in 2025, a figure that has not changed since 2010.

During a press conference to present the findings, the director of the WHO's Department of Health Determinants expressed concern, regretting that 'progress has stagnated over the last 15 years and, therefore, we are far from being on track to achieve the 2030 goal for physical activity.'

Etienne Krug clarified that physical activity is not limited only to going to gyms or playing sports, but also includes daily habits. This suggests the need to make activities such as walking or cycling safer for young people.

The WHO also observed that girls showed a lower level of activity compared to boys in most of the countries analyzed. For the organization, this disparity reflects 'unequal opportunities for participation and persistent social, cultural, and environmental barriers, rather than differences in interest or ability.'

Despite the increased recognition of the relevance of physical activity, the WHO emphasizes that 'global levels have barely changed since 2010,' warning that current trends suggest that no country is following the appropriate path to achieve the global goal of reducing physical inactivity by 15% by 2030.

The document emphasizes that 'without accelerated actions, inactivity among adolescents will remain practically unchanged for the rest of the decade.' It advocates that all sectors must contribute to reversing this situation, including health, education, transport, sport, urban planning, youth development, and community.

Among the measures proposed by the WHO to modify inactivity rates, improving safety on public roads, open spaces, and transport systems stands out, aiming to encourage the use of bicycles and walking, with a special focus on the needs of girls and women.

According to the head of the Unit for Surveillance, Monitoring and Notification of Non-Communicable Diseases, transforming the current scenario requires physical activity to be more accessible in daily life and for all adolescents to have access to these opportunities, including in schools.

Leanne Riley warned that 'it is quite obvious that more of the same will not solve this problem that the data shows has been stagnant for the last 15 years.'

A recent report by the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Women revealed a worrying rate of adolescent pregnancy in Angola, reaching 42.5% in rural regions.

The Committee expressed great concern over the high incidence of this phenomenon in Angola, where the overall rate among women and girls aged 15 to 19 is 27.1%, but jumps to 42.5% in rural areas.

The conclusions presented in this report analyze the situation of women's rights in various countries, including Angola, Cape Verde, Cook Islands, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Paraguay, Moldova, and Togo. The UN Committee's analysis also highlights the positive aspects of each country in implementing the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW Convention), while pointing out the main concerns and offering suggestions.

Regarding Angola, the Committee urges the country to implement a properly funded national strategy to combat early pregnancy. Among the proposed recommendations are the provision of comprehensive and age-appropriate sexual education, confidential access to sexual and reproductive health services adapted for adolescents, and the offering of voluntary contraceptive methods.

Additionally, the document suggests adopting stricter measures to eradicate sexual violence and child marriage. The report also emphasizes the considerable barriers that women face when trying to access financial and economic resources, such as low-interest loans, borrowings, and digital technologies.

To mitigate these difficulties, the Committee advises Angola to expand the Informal Economy Conversion Program, promote female entrepreneurship, and facilitate access to financing without the need for real guarantees or mortgages. Finally, greater investment in Internet and mobile network infrastructure is requested to reduce digital exclusion, a problem particularly acute among women residing in rural areas.