Lack of physical activity kills more than smoking in the world, according to a study conducted by the International Chair on Cardiometabolic Risk: 5.3 million deaths each year worldwide, compared to 5.1 million from tobacco . A confusing figure since most people see no connection between a sedentary lifestyle and death.
Already last July, a team of British researchers published equivalent results in the leading scientific journal The Lancet. Scientists had investigated the causes of major non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and breast and colon cancer.
However, 6 to 10% of these diseases are linked to the fact of not respecting the recommendations of the World Health Organization, which recommends practicing at least 150 minutes of moderate activity each week, or 30 minutes of brisk walking, five days a week.
According to the researchers, a generalization of physical activity would allow the world population to gain 0.68 years of life expectancy, the same effect as if all obese Americans regained a normal weight.
In France, 32% of people are inactive. This is better than in the United States where 40% of Americans do not practice any physical activity but worse than the Germans who are only 28% to be too sedentary.
