At least 60% of the world's population does not exercise enough to stay fit. This is due to an increase in sedentary behaviour of people at work and at home. An increase in the use of "passive" modes of transport is one of the reasons for our declining physical activity levels.

Levels of inactivity are high in virtually all developed and developing countries. In developed countries more than half of adults are insufficiently active. In rapidly growing large cities of the developing world, physical inactivity is an even greater problem. Urbanisation has resulted in numerous factors that discourage participation in physical activity such as:

* over-crowding

* high-density traffic

* low air quality

* lack of parks, sidewalks and recreation facilities

Disorders associated with physical inactivity are now the greatest public health problem in most countries around the world. Effective public health measures are urgently needed to improve physical activity behaviours in all populations.

Attachments:

energy expenditure and mortality.pdf

fitness health longevity.pdf

Genes, evolution and activity.pdf