Health · Fitness & Nutrition · 2 hrs ago
One in four adolescents worldwide gets no weekly exercise, WHO study says
A global study found about 240 million adolescents get no daily exercise of at least 60 minutes on any day of the week.
It covers young people aged 11 to 17 and draws on 389 studies involving more than 3.2 million adolescents across 140 countries and territories.
Physical activity levels have barely changed in 15 years, the study found.
Girls are less active than boys: 28% had no active days, compared with 22% of boys, and fewer girls reported being active every day.
The gap matters because exercise can help protect physical and mental health, while inactivity is a risk factor for conditions including heart disease and type 2 diabetes.
The WHO says countries should make exercise safer and easier for young people, including through school programs and safe routes for walking and cycling.
About one in four adolescents worldwide gets no 60-minute session of physical activity on any day of the week, according to a WHO study.
The estimate represents about 240 million young people aged 11 to 17.
The study found that activity levels among young people had changed little for more than a decade.
Girls were less active than boys: 28% had no active days, compared with 22% of boys.
WHO said countries should make physical activity easier and safer through measures such as school programmes and safe walking and cycling routes.
- Who
- About 240 million adolescents aged 11 to 17 worldwide.
- What
- About one in four gets no 60 minutes of physical activity on any day of the week.
- When
- The estimate was announced on Wednesday, November 4; the article was published November 10, 2026.
- Where
- Worldwide, across 140 countries and territories.
- Why
- The study reports levels of adolescent physical activity; it does not state why those young people are inactive.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Physical activity levels among young people remained largely unchanged, the study found.
The WHO announced the global estimate.
CNN Brasil published its report on the study.
- Adolescents with no active days
- About 240 million
- Age group
- 11 to 17
- Evidence base
- 389 studies in 140 countries and territories
- Participants covered
- More than 3.2 million adolescents
- Girls with no active days
- 28%
- Boys with no active days
- 22%
What people are saying
For 15 years, the world has made almost no progress in mobilizing young people, and girls are falling further behind.
The answer is not to tell adolescents to try harder. It is to build schools, streets and communities where moving, playing and being active is safe, easy and normal.