Rising temperatures could make millions physically inactive

Climate change is making the world warmer, which is likely to affect physical activity. In a modeling study published in Lancet Global Health, researchers used data from 156 countries from 2000 to 2022 and calculated how rising temperatures affect physical activity.

According to the model, each additional month until 2050 with an average temperature above 27.8 degrees Celsius will increase physical inactivity by 1.5 percentage points globally, mainly in low-income countries.

Researchers are now calling for cooler cities, air-conditioned places to exercise, clear advice for coping with extreme heat, as well as reduced greenhouse gas emissions.