Reports and Indices

WHO Report on Adolescent Health

November 15 , 2026 6 hrs 0 min 9 0

A World Health Organization (WHO) study published in The Lancet Global Health reported widespread physical inactivity among adolescents.
The study covered over 3.2 million adolescents aged 11–17 years across 140 countries and territories, using 389 surveys.
Around 25% (240 million) reported no days with at least 60 minutes of physical activity; adolescents averaged 2.7 active days per week.
Only 14% achieved at least 60 minutes of physical activity on all seven days of the previous week.
Inactivity was higher among girls (28%) than boys (22%); daily activity levels were 11% among girls and 17% among boys.
Global physical activity levels remained almost unchanged over 15 years; regular exercise helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers.