Economic cost of not meeting the 24-h movement guidelines in china: Research gaps and recommendations

Abstract

It is well-known that not meeting the 24-hours (h) movement guidelines, including insufficient physical activity (PA), excessive sedentary behavior (SB), inadequate sleep duration, and their combinations, are independent risk factors for noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). The prevalence of not meeting the guidelines is high across the world, especially in China where has one of the largest population. Some studies have estimated the economic cost of insufficient PA in China, which is useful to guide policymakers to develop and implement effective health actions. However, several research gaps should be discussed and addressed for better evidence base and decision making. This commentary aims to provide a research insight into gaps and recommendations related to the analysis of economic cost of not meeting the 24-h movement guidelines. Some major research gaps can be indicated, including less research attention on excessive SB and inadequate sleep, limited evidence regarding NCDs associated with not meeting all 24-h movement guidelines considered in economic cost analysis, absence of evidence on estimated cost of not meeting the guidelines, and the adherence to methodological guide. Future research is required to address the gaps to guide effective health policy development in China. We hope that this commentary can play an important role in updating research evidence and advancing policy practice.