The Lancet publishes new series on physical activity

As London counts down the final days before the beginning of the 2012 Olympic Games, The Lancet has published a Series on physical activity, including a new analysis that quantifies the global impact of physical inactivity on the world's major non-communicable diseases.

This article estimates that physical inactivity causes 9% of premature mortality, or more than 5.3 million of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008. If inactivity were not eliminated, but decreased instead by 10% or 25%, more than 533 000 and more than 1.3 million deaths, respectively, could be averted every year.

The paper estimates that elimination of physical inactivity would increase the life expectancy of the world’s population by 0.68 years.

The Lancet Series also reviews current levels of physical activity and trends worldwide, why some people are active and why some are not, evidence-based strategies for effective physical activity promotion, and how a multi-sector and systems-wide approach that goes way beyond health will be critical to increase population-levels of activity worldwide.

For more information visit the Lancet website