According to a report, 155 million Indian adults and 45 million adolescents are not following the physical activity guidelines set by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The report titled ‘Status of Sports and Physical Activity in India’ provides a detailed baseline for India through a survey of 5,000 adults and adolescents. It reflects physical activity patterns across various demographics, including all income groups, in both rural and urban areas.

The authors of the report are from Dalberg Advisors, a consulting firm that helps businesses and organizations make strategic decisions, and the Sports & Society Accelerator (SSA).

The report highlights the urgent need for increased participation in sports and physical activity, and the health and economic consequences of a largely inactive population.

Physical inactivity in India

Although some Indians engage in physical activities, most of them are limited to walking, which, while beneficial, is insufficient in itself.

Only 10% of adults take part in sports, and the number is even lower for regular participants. While 66% of teenagers play sports, the variety is limited, with half of boys playing cricket.

According to Gaurav Gupta, global managing partner, Dalberg Advisors, who was part of the research team, most active Indians, about 59%, do not engage in muscle-strengthening activities.

“This becomes particularly problematic as people get older, because building strong muscles is important for bone and joint health and to prevent falls,” said Gaurav Gupta.

He said one-third of active Indians miss out on the benefits of outdoor activity and two-thirds of active adults never engage in group physical activity, depriving them of beneficial social interactions.

Gender disparities in physical activity

Gender inequality further exacerbates this issue. Women and girls spend significantly less time in physical activity than their male counterparts.

In urban areas, where this divide is most pronounced, one-third of girls do not follow physical activity guidelines. Misinformation and social taboos about menstruation and pregnancy further limit participation.

Women living in urban areas are particularly disadvantaged. They spend 385 minutes less per week actively working than rural women, and 249 minutes less than urban men.

Safety concerns, lack of access and poor infrastructure are the major factors. Due to these barriers, only 20% of women participate in physical activities in public spaces.

The economic consequences of inaction

The risky trend of inactivity is leading to serious health and economic consequences. By 2047, inactivity could lead to 200 million additional cases of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), 45 million more obese adolescents, and over Rs 55 trillion in additional health care costs annually.

According to the report, increasing physical activity in India could increase GDP by Rs 15 trillion annually, prevent productivity losses of Rs 2.5 trillion, and save Rs 30 trillion in health care costs.

This can empower 11 million girls, encourage 600,000 women leaders, increase sports spending to Rs 4.5 trillion, and enhance India’s global sporting image.

The authors call for a gender-inclusive approach to promoting physical activity and sports culture among women.

Gaurav Gupta added, “Many solutions are not only cost-effective, but can also sustain themselves over time, delivering the expected gains in productivity and income. There is huge potential to engage more people, especially those who are currently inactive or only participate in sports occasionally.”