Reduced physical activity due to global heating will lead to rise in health issues, study says

"Each additional month with an average temperature above 27.8C would increase physical inactivity by an average of 1.5 percentage points globally, with an even higher increase of 1.85 points in low and middle-income countries."

"Physical inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers and mental health disorders, all of which shorten life expectancy, said the study's lead author, Christian Garcia-Witulski, a research fellow at the Lancet Countdown Latin America and a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Argentina."

"The study projects that the increase in physical inactivity could contribute to about half a million additional premature deaths annually and $2.4bn – $3.68bn in productivity losses by 2050."

"This is not just a climate story, it is also an inequality story. The places expected to face the greatest increases in climate-driven inactivity are often the same places with fewer resources to adapt, said Garcia-Witulski."

Research analyzing data from 156 countries between 2000 and 2022 reveals that elevated temperatures significantly decrease physical activity levels worldwide. Each additional month with average temperatures exceeding 27.8°C increases physical inactivity by 1.5 percentage points globally, with even steeper increases of 1.85 points in low and middle-income countries. Physical inactivity already causes approximately 5% of adult deaths and increases risks of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and mental health disorders. Projections indicate that climate-driven inactivity could result in approximately half a million additional premature deaths annually and $2.4 billion to $3.68 billion in productivity losses by 2050. The most severe impacts are expected in hotter regions including Central America, the Caribbean, eastern sub-Saharan Africa, and equatorial southeast Asia, where inactivity could rise by over four percentage points monthly. This challenge disproportionately affects low and middle-income countries with limited resources for adaptation.

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