WHO study finds almost 1.8 billion adults at risk of illness due to lack of exercise–The Independent UK
A new study from World Health Organization researchers found physical inactivity globally has risen by about five percentage points between 2010 and 2022. Overall, nearly a third of adults (31%) do not exercise enough, up from 23% (900 million people) in 2000 and 26% in 2010. Women are consistently less likely to exercise than men, with inactivity rates of 34% compared to 29%. And although high-income Western countries appear to be slowly reducing rates of inactivity (to 28% of people), they are still off track. Scientists warn that governments must take policy action as a lack of exercise significantly increases the risk of heart disease, strokes, type 2 diabetes, dementia and cancers.
The key to longevity is boring–The New York Times
Today’s obsession with longevity is intensified by a potent ecosystem of influencers and podcasters sponsored by supplement and tech companies and all sorts of pseudoscientific wellness products. But the key to a longer, healthier life is no mystery. Research shows that health and longevity come down to five fundamental lifestyle behaviors: (1) exercising regularly, (2) eating a nutritious diet, (3) eschewing cigarettes, (4) limiting alcohol consumption and (5) nurturing meaningful relationships. “This stuff is simple, somewhat boring and harder to make money off than trendy supplements, complex-sounding theories and new gadgets — but it’s what actually works.”
Want to live a long life? Start prioritizing your friends–BBC Future
In his new book, The Laws of Connection – The Scientific Secrets of Building a Strong Social Network, the science writer explains why and how social networks may influence our health as much as exercise. The “biopsychosocial” model of health has been growing for decades, showing that our friendships can influence everything from our immune system’s strength to our chances of dying from heart disease. An article packed with scientific evidence which also makes the case for causation rather than correlation.
The fertility crisis is here and it will permanently alter the world economy–CNN International
Falling fertility rates have long been a concern for economists worried that aging societies could diminish the labor force, further exacerbate inflation, upend the consumer culture upon which mature economies depend and overwhelm government programs meant to care for aging populations. Those changes are now upon us. A new study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) says that declining birth rates will permanently alter the demographic makeup of the world’s largest economies over the next decade.
A Striking Stat:
By 2050, an additional 246 million older people worldwide will face dangerous acute heat, with the most severe effects in Asia and Africa.
Source: Study in Nature.
