A comprehensive new evaluation from Washington University in St. Louis has uncovered that international advancement in fostering physical activity — an established catalyst for improved health — is at risk of stagnating or regressing. Diminishing public health funding, weakening global collaboration, and escalating military expenditures are redirecting resources away from preventive initiatives.

The study, “Global Progress in Physical Activity — Gains and Growing Threats,” was released in the July 2025 issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health and was written by Rodrigo S. Reis, a professor at the WashU School of Public Health. Reis analyzed six decades of worldwide research, policy, and practices regarding physical activity.

“The globe has established a basis for active, healthier communities,” Reis remarked. “We cannot allow immediate political interests to undermine long-term health achievements.”

Significant advancements — and a delicate base

Studies have illustrated the strong connections between consistent exercise and enhanced physical and mental well-being, instigating a surge in worldwide initiatives. Regular physical activity is acknowledged as one of the most economically viable methods for preventing chronic diseases, particularly in low- and middle-income nations, where such ailments are increasing. Currently, over 80% of nations report having national health campaigns or policies that endorse activity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) initiated a Global Action Plan in 2018 with the aim of reducing physical inactivity by 10% by 2025. This objective remains unmet— and as inactivity rises, the broader aim of a 15% reduction by 2030 is also off course. The plan urges governments to incorporate activity into educational systems, urban planning, and disease prevention strategies—ranging from adding sidewalks and bicycle lanes to infusing movement into educational curriculums.

Joint endeavors have facilitated this advancement across nations. Countries are now exchanging data, success narratives, and tools to monitor physical activity and influence policymaking. Pioneering initiatives like The Lancet’s Physical Activity Series have further spotlighted the issue, fostering change across various regions.

Emerging challenges

Nevertheless, Reis’ analysis reveals that advancements are increasingly endangered. Escalating geopolitical tensions, economic challenges, and budget reductions are jeopardizing global collaboration and investment in health promotion.

In 2024, worldwide military expenditures surged to $2.46 trillion — a 7.4% rise from the previous year, as the study discovered. Research indicates that for every 1% increment in military funding, health expenditures decline by approximately 0.62% on average — with low-income nations most severely affected.

Recent instances include:

• The European Union redirected €2.1 billion ($2.25 billion U.S. dollars) from its Horizon Europe research and innovation program — with €1.5 billion shifted to defense.
• The United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, and Belgium reduced health and development aid to focus on national security.
• The U.S., once the leading global health financier, has scaled back on foreign assistance. Agencies like the National Institutes of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are now dealing with tighter budgets and increased competition for international funding.

This transition, Reis noted, threatens to dismantle global progress on chronic diseases and inactive lifestyles—particularly in nations that are already contending with weak health infrastructure. Approximately 6.3 billion individuals — the vast majority of the global populace — reside in countries where efforts to encourage physical activity are still inadequate, he asserted.

International collaboration under pressure

Reis also cautioned that the breakdown of global cooperation is impairing the promotion of physical activity worldwide. Since the onset of the Ukraine conflict, Russia’s research output and cross-border collaborations have plummeted. Simultaneously, tensions between the U.S. and China, once close allies in health research, are disrupting scientific exchanges. China’s partnerships with other nations have also diminished.

A rise in “scientific nationalism” — in which nations prioritize domestic research agendas over global cooperation — complicates the maintenance of shared knowledge systems, he stated. Reductions in academic exchanges, joint initiatives, and conference travel further weaken these connections.

Yet it is precisely through these collaborations that low-income countries have successfully launched initiatives. Nearly half of all nations have upheld or enhanced their capacity to track physical activity trends and implement supportive policies, Reis observed.

A silent epidemic

Physical inactivity is responsible for an estimated 5 million avoidable deaths annually, positioning it alongside leading causes of mortality such as smoking, elevated blood sugar, high blood pressure, air contamination, and infectious diseases. In contrast to the quick, unified response seen during pandemics, the battle against inactivity remains disjointed and underfunded.

“Physical inactivity is a global challenge that no nation can address alone,” Reis cautioned. “We must recommit to a vision of health that transcends borders and benefits everyone.”

He called for renewed global collaboration, safeguarding public health funds, and emphasizing preventive measures to sustain achievements and meet the WHO’s goals. “Allowing health promotion to fall off the agenda would have lasting repercussions for billions,” he warned.

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