World Health Organization 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.
Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data
Practice guideline developed by an expert consensus panel synthesizing systematic reviews and primary reviews.
PubMed 33239350 · doi:10.1136/bjsports-2020-102955
What was done
The World Health Organization Guideline Development Group updated global physical activity and sedentary behavior recommendations using standardized WHO guideline protocols. The panel evaluated evidence linking physical activity and sedentary time to health outcomes across various populations by systematically updating existing systematic reviews and conducting new primary reviews for specific subpopulations and outcomes.
What was found
Recommended activity targets include: - Adults: 150–300 minutes of moderate-intensity, 75–150 minutes of vigorous-intensity, or an equivalent combination of aerobic physical activity per week. - Children and adolescents: An average of 60 minutes per day of moderate-to-vigorous aerobic physical activity across the week. - Muscle strengthening: Regular muscle-strengthening exercise across all age groups. - Sedentary behavior: Broad reduction recommended for all ages and abilities, though evidence was insufficient to establish a precise quantitative threshold. - Specific populations: Tailored guidance established for pregnant and postpartum women, as well as individuals living with chronic conditions or disabilities.
Why it matters
This guideline updates the 2010 standards to formally incorporate recommendations for reducing sedentary behavior and expands targeted activity guidance to previously overlooked groups, including individuals with disabilities and chronic conditions.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total number of primary studies or participants evaluated. Evidence was insufficient to quantify an exact threshold for daily sedentary time. Implementation strategies, adherence feasibility, and specific clinical effect sizes across distinct chronic conditions are not detailed in the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Standard public health exercise guidelines recommend 150 to 300 minutes per week of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 to 150 minutes per week of vigorous-intensity exercise.
- context Current physical activity guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise and 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week.