Physical fitness is one of the keys to a long and healthy life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that routine physical activity helps people maintain a healthy weight, reduces a person’s risk for chronic health problems like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, and strengthens bones and muscles, which can help aging adults overcome age-related reductions in muscle mass and strength and reduce their risk for falls.
People have much to gain from incorporating exercise into their daily routines. But many adults are not reaping those rewards, and studies indicate sedentary lifestyles are on the rise. A 2024 study published in the journal The Lancet Global Health noted that 31 percent of the world’s adult population was physically inactive in 2022, which marked a 5 percent increase since 2010. And a recent report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the United Health Foundation found that roughly one in five adults get no physical activity beyond their regular job.
