Global Progress in Physical Activity—Gains and Growing Threats

Over recent decades, the global physical activity (PA) research, policy, and practice ecosystem has expanded dramatically in scope and capacity.Researchers have documented the health benefits of regular PA and elevated physical inactivity to a recognized global risk factor for chronic disease. 1 In response, international efforts have proliferated-from the 2012 and 2016 Lancet series on PA that galvanized global attention 2 to the World Health Organization's (WHO) Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030, which set ambitious targets (including a 10% relative reduction in inactivity by 2025). 3Many countries have established PA guidelines, surveillance systems, and policies, reflecting a concerted push to translate research into practice. 4Yet these hard-won gains are increasingly at risk.A convergence of recent trends-declining public health funding, waning international collaboration, surging military expenditures at the expense of public health funding, and shifting from globalism toward isolationism-threaten to stall or even reverse global advancements in PA research, policy, and practice.This paper examines the achievements and emerging threats and calls out to the PA community to reimagine the way forward in this rapidly changing geopolitical environment.