Épidémiologie et effets sur la morbi-mortalité de l’activité physique et de la sédentarité dans la population générale

Five million deaths per year worldwide could be prevented if physical activity (PA) recommendations were followed. The attributable risk of mortality due to physical inactivity is 6 % and the preventive fraction is 15 %. Studies have demonstrated with a high level of scientific evidence that regular physical activity and sport can prevent and treat most chronic non-communicable diseases: cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, colon, breast and endometrial cancer. Physical activity also contributes to the prevention of the main risk factors of these diseases. In France, regardless of age group, PA is considered insufficient in relation to WHO recommendations and sedentary times reach 12 h/day. Children are the most impacted by this association of “inactivity and sedentary lifestyle”. In order to change this behaviour associating insufficient physical activity and sedentariness from an early age, changes must concern all components of PA and sedentariness (school, studies, professional life, leisure activities), from a very young age, throughout life and up to the elderly.