Health education and promotion

HED_home_pageOne out of three men and one out of two women are below the minimum recommended levels for physical activityPhysical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for noncommunicable disease worldwide and is estimated to cause between 3.2 and 5 million deaths globally per year.

Globally, physical inactivity is estimated to cause around 27% of diabetes, 30% of ischaemic heart disease and 21%–25% of breast and colon cancer. Physical activity is also fundamental in achieving energy balance and weight control.

Recent estimates show that approximately 31% of the world's population does not undertake the recommended amount of physical activity to gain protective health benefits. 

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Watch the animated infographic on physical activity | Arabic

News

WHO in partnership with the WHO Collaborating Centre on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity, Sydney, Australia is holding a workshop on mass media and social marketing on physical activity from 27...

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Consultation reviews training package developed for religious scholars

A meeting was held on 25 September 2014 at the WHO Regional Office in Cairo to review a communication package and trainers’ guide developed for religious scholars. The objective of the...

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Childhood obesity is one of the most serious public health challenges of the 21st century. The problem is global and is steadily affecting many low- and middle-income countries, particularly in...

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In focus

WHO has organized an open forum event on unopposed marketing of unhealthy foods and beverages to children which will take place from 13 to 14 September 2015 in Amman, Jordan. The...

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Events

Ninth Global Conference on Health Promotion, Shanghai 2016

The ninth global conference on health promotion will take place from 21 to 24 November in Shanghai, China. This year, the conference will be co-organized by WHO and the National...

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Sixth International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health

WHO Director-General Dr Margaret Chan has recently approved WHO’s co-sponsorship of the ISPAH 2016 Congress. This signifies the recognition of how the Congress will greatly contribute to the advancement of the...

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