25% of adults in Vietnam do not exercise enough

The initiative is being implemented within the framework of a three-year technical cooperation agreement between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), aiming to promote the role of community sport and physical activity in building healthier and more active societies.

The initiative aims to improve public health by encouraging increased participation in community sports, training professionals in the fields of sports and health, strengthening the capacity of organizations and agencies, and implementing behavioral change communication campaigns to build physical exercise habits, helping to improve quality of life and reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases.

Delegates press the button to start the project

The kick-off workshop was chaired by Mr. Bui Dinh Long, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee. This demonstrates the determination of the provincial leaders in promoting sports activities for community health.

The workshop was attended by representatives of WHO, the Vietnam Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Education and Training. Leaders and specialized officials of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, Department of Health, Department of Education and Training, Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An Province, representatives of Vinh City People's Committee and Dien Chau District People's Committee, along with teachers and students from 10 pilot schools implementing the project, as well as PATH, attended this important event.

Mr. Bui Dinh Long - Vice Chairman of Nghe An Provincial People's Committee, attended the workshop

The alarming reality of lack of exercise

According to the WHO 2024 report, the global rate of physical inactivity remains alarming, with 31% of adults, or 1.8 billion people worldwide, not engaging in enough physical activity. WHO predicts that if this trend continues, this rate could increase to 35% by 2030, specifically 38% in women and 32% in men.

Vietnam is also witnessing an equally worrying situation. Statistics from a recent survey show that about 25% of adults in Vietnam do not participate in enough physical activity.

The lack of physical activity is even more evident among adolescents around the world and in Vietnam. Worldwide, 81% of adolescents aged 11 to 17 do not exercise enough. In Vietnam alone, only 1 in 4 adolescents aged 13 to 17 achieve the target of exercising at least one hour a day. This trend not only seriously threatens individual health but also increases pressure on the health system and increases the risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

Vovinam performance by students of Nghe An province

“These alarming figures, especially among adolescents, highlight the urgent need for effective collaboration and strategic investment in policies to promote regular, safe and enjoyable physical activity for this group,” said Dr Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Viet Nam. “While many challenges remain, this is also a driving force for action. We welcome this initiative, call for stronger collaboration among stakeholders and commit to technical support to ensure the success and effectiveness of the project.”

Synergy for change

The “Sports for Public Health” initiative is being implemented in 5 countries around the world.

Emphasizing the importance of the project, Mr. Alejandro Calvente, Olympism365 Manager - representative from the IOC, said: “Vietnam will become a typical example in implementing this initiative. The project is expected to bring practical experience on how to combine sport and health to scale up and sustain community-based sport and physical activity programs, contributing to achieving the global target of reducing physical inactivity by 15% by 2030. Pilot activities will be implemented, providing the necessary empirical data, effective practices and lessons learned for scaling up this initiative. The project is developed based on the IOC Olympism365 Strategy and the WHO Global Action Plan for Physical Activity 2018–2030 (GAPPA), and has also been implemented in Nepal, Tanzania, Ghana and Peru”.

In Vietnam, the project will initially be implemented in Nghe An province, aiming to contribute to reducing physical inactivity and increasing participation in community sports programs, thereby improving the physical and mental health of people in the community.

PATH will spearhead the initiative, starting with pilot programs in 10 key schools in Nghe An. PATH will organize community programs and events to raise awareness of the benefits of physical activity. Building on the successes of previous projects, PATH will apply innovative methods to promote active community participation.

Ms. Le Thi Thu Hien - Director of PATH Primary Health Care Program

With the support of the Department of Sports and Physical Training and the Vietnam Olympic Committee, the initiative aims to become a successful model. Lessons learned and effective models will be replicated and implemented in many provinces and cities across the country, contributing to improving public health through sports activities.

“PATH is proud to take on a leading role in this initiative. We are honored to work with WHO, the IOC and our partners in Vietnam to drive positive change in communities through sport.

“This initiative is a testament to our commitment to building healthier and more resilient communities. In 2025 and beyond, PATH will continue to work with partners, governments, and local communities to develop a sustainable model that will strengthen primary health care systems to effectively respond to the growing challenges of non-communicable diseases,” said Dr. Le Thi Thu Hien, Director of PATH’s Primary Health Care Program.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thuc-trang-bao-dong-25-nguoi-truong-thanh-o-viet-nam-khong-van-dong-du-185250120233249191.htm