Press release from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) I A team led by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) shows that the WHO’s updated physical activity recommendations fundamentally change the assessment of physical endurance activity. While only 35 percent of respondents met the recommended physical activity targets under the previous WHO guidelines, 99 percent did so under the recommendations in effect since 2020.
The reason lies in a significant change to the WHO guidelines: Endurance activity no longer needs to be performed for at least ten consecutive minutes to count toward the recommendation. Even short bursts of activity—such as climbing stairs or a brisk sprint to catch the bus—are now taken into account. In doing so, the WHO is taking into account new scientific findings indicating that even short periods of physical activity make a positive contribution to health.
For the study, physical activity data from more than 63,000 NAKO participants—collected using accelerometers—were analyzed. However, the results raise questions: If nearly everyone meets the physical activity recommendations, are these recommendations still a suitable benchmark for adequate physical activity? The researchers point out that while the new guidelines better reflect the health benefits of short periods of activity, they also alter the significance of the recommendations. Differences between active and less active population groups become less pronounced, and comparisons with older studies are now only possible to a limited extent.
According to the authors, the study’s findings could indicate that the current thresholds for modern, objective measurement methods—such as accelerometers—should be reviewed and, if necessary, adjusted in the future. The results therefore do not necessarily mean that the population is getting enough physical activity today—rather, the study shows how significantly the assessment has changed due to new scientific findings and altered measurement methods.
“Accelerometers are helpful because potential memory lapses among study participants during interviews can skew the results,” explains senior author Karen Steindorf. The researcher therefore recommends using both the previous and the new assessment methods in parallel in future studies. This would allow for a better understanding of trends in physical activity behavior and enable more targeted planning of measures to promote physical activity.
It is also important to note that the study examined only the recommended endurance activities. The WHO, however, also recommends muscle-strengthening exercises. “For most people, however, strength training is the main barrier preventing them from following the overall recommendations for physical activity,” qualifies lead author Julian Brummer. Therefore, no conclusions can be drawn from this study regarding whether the WHO’s overall recommendations are being met. “However, our research on this topic is in full swing,” adds Brummer.