Physical inactivity is a global problem - King Colley

(Issue, Monday 30 March 2015)

The chairman of the National Organizing Committee of the Sports for Health 2015, Lamin King Colley, has said physical inactivity is a global problem which can be felt in The Gambia, where 26% of women and 18% of men, of age 24-64 years, have low levels of physical activity.

He said a similar trend was observed for levels of moderate physical activity among this age bracket, which stood at 19% and 17% for women and men respectively, adding that what is to be more disturbing is that age group (about 30 years) is even more inactive than the rest of the population.

King Colley was speaking on Friday at the opening of the 2015 Sports for Health activities, and highlighted the fact that a WHO step survey indicated that the 35-54 groups for both sexes, but more for women, are more physically inactive than the rest of the population. This survey, he said for example revealed that 43% and about 61% of women aged 35-54 years have low levels of physical activity.