The implications of megatrends in information and communication technology and transportation for changes in global physical activity

Michael Pratt, Olga L. Sarmiento, Felipe Montes, David Ogilvie, Bess H. Marcus, Lilian G. Perez, Ross C. Brownson, Jasem R. Alkandari, Lars Bo Andersen, Adrian E. Bauman, Steven N. Blair, Fiona C. Bull, Cora L. Craig, Ulf Ekelund, Shifalika Goenka, Regina Guthold, Pedro C. Hallal, William L. Haskell, Gregory W. Heath, Shigeru InoueSonja Kahlmeier, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Harold W. Kohl, Estelle Victoria Lambert, I. Min Lee, Grit Leetongin, Felipe Lobelo, Ruth J.F. Loos, Brian W. Martin, Neville Owen, Diana C. Parra, Pekka Puska, Rodrigo S. Reis, James F. Sallis, Jonathan C. Wells

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

Physical inactivity accounts for more than 3 million deaths per year, most from non-communicable diseases in lowincome and middle-income countries. We used reviews of physical activity interventions and a simulation model to examine how megatrends in information and communication technology and transportation directly and indirectly affect levels of physical activity across countries of low, middle, and high income. The model suggested that the direct and potentiating effects of information and communication technology, especially mobile phones, are nearly equal in magnitude to the mean effects of planned physical activity interventions. The greatest potential to increase population physical activity might thus be in creation of synergistic policies in sectors outside health including communication and transportation. However, there remains a glaring mismatch between where studies on physical activity interventions are undertaken and where the potential lies in low-income and middle-income countries for populationlevel effects that will truly affect global health.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)282-293
Number of pages12
JournalThe Lancet
Volume380
Issue number9838
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 2012
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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