💪 Mapped: Countries That Don't Exercise Enough—And Those That Do

Key Takeaways

• Two-thirds of the UAE isn’t getting enough exercise, the highest rate for any country in this study.
• In West and South Asia, around half the population falls short of recommended physical activity levels.
• Roughly one in three Americans aren’t hitting the minimum exercise mark.

What’s the Weekly Exercise Guideline?

The WHO recommends:

• 2.5 hours of moderate activity
• Or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity
• Or a combination of both, every week.

What counts as moderate and vigorous activity?

A good rule of thumb is checking on your heart rate and breathing. If you can talk but not sing while doing the activity (walking, hiking) then it's a moderate level of exercise.

If you can’t talk (running, high-intensity sports) then you’re in the vigorous zone.