Ugandans Are The Most Physically Active People In The World

Recently the World Health Organization (WHO) had released a list of the worlds’ laziest countries, which included a total of 168 nations. Although India ranked 117 in that list it did fare better than the US (143), the UK (123) and Kuwait (lies right at the end of the list).?

More importantly what this means is the 34 percent of Indians are not getting in an adequate amount of exercise. Now, compare this to the most energetic country on that list, Uganda.

Uganda is the most active country with only about 5.5 percent of its population being ‘insufficiently’ active, while the worst in the list, Kuwait has 67 percent of its population that is relatively inactive.?

Why are 94.5 percent Ugandans deemed sufficiently physically active? Poverty. The research suggests that low-income countries seem to be more sufficiently physically active than wealthier countries.?

People in poorer countries are more likely to use modes of public transport, involved more in physical work and are likelier to spend more time on foot, walking. The report has been published in the medical journal called The Lancet.

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The report suggests that in wealthier countries, the transition towards more sedentary occupations and personal motorised transportation probably explains the higher levels of inactivity.

Although, in lower-income countries, more activity is undertaken at work and for transport; however, these behaviours are changing rapidly, suggests the report.?

National policy needs to be implemented to encourage non-motorised modes of transportation, such as walking and cycling, and to promote participation in active recreation and sports in leisure time.

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Effective policies include an improved provision of cycling and walking infrastructure, improving road safety, and creating more opportunities for physical activity in public open spaces and parks, in workplaces, and in other local community settings.