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Health
Global Lancet Study Finds 25% of Adolescents Fail to Meet Daily Physical Activity Target
✍️ Hindustan Times
🗓 05 Nov 2026, 08:49 AM
👁 3
A new Lancet study reveals that one in four adolescents worldwide does not achieve the recommended 60 minutes of physical activity daily, with girls lagging behind boys.
A recent Lancet study has highlighted a concerning trend in adolescent health, finding that 25% of young people globally fail to meet the minimum recommended 60 minutes of physical activity each day. The research, which surveyed adolescents across multiple continents, also noted a significant gender gap, with girls engaging in less daily activity than boys.
The study’s authors warn that insufficient physical activity during adolescence can have long‑term repercussions, including increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. They emphasize that early intervention is crucial to curb these trends.
Experts suggest that schools, parents, and policymakers collaborate to create more opportunities for active play and structured exercise, especially targeting girls who are disproportionately inactive. The Lancet report calls for comprehensive strategies that incorporate community sports programs, safe walking routes, and educational campaigns to promote active lifestyles.
While the study does not prescribe specific interventions, it underscores the urgency for public health initiatives to address the growing inactivity among youth, a demographic that is pivotal to the nation’s future wellbeing.
The study’s authors warn that insufficient physical activity during adolescence can have long‑term repercussions, including increased risk of obesity, cardiovascular disease, and mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. They emphasize that early intervention is crucial to curb these trends.
Experts suggest that schools, parents, and policymakers collaborate to create more opportunities for active play and structured exercise, especially targeting girls who are disproportionately inactive. The Lancet report calls for comprehensive strategies that incorporate community sports programs, safe walking routes, and educational campaigns to promote active lifestyles.
While the study does not prescribe specific interventions, it underscores the urgency for public health initiatives to address the growing inactivity among youth, a demographic that is pivotal to the nation’s future wellbeing.