In India, a startling 90% of people don't exercise regularly, according to the Time Use Survey by the National Statistics Office. But here's where it gets controversial: Men are nearly three times more likely to exercise than women, and participation is much higher in cities than in villages. And this is the part most people miss: Women carry a disproportionate share of unpaid domestic and care work, leaving them with limited time or energy for exercise. But it's not just women who are missing out. Only 3.1% of rural women exercised in 2024, compared with 8.1% of urban women. And the gender gap is clear globally as well: Prevalence of insufficient physical activity was 5 percentage points higher in female than male individuals. But the good news is, exercise participation has increased since 2019, when 5.7% Indians reported exercising. And it's not just about physical health. The consequences of low physical activity extend beyond fitness. The WHO warns that physical inactivity contributes to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and mental health conditions. So, what's the solution? Addressing individual behavior is not enough. We need to tackle structural barriers like unequal domestic work burdens, infrastructure deficits, and the time-poverty that prevents India's most disadvantaged from being physically active. And this is where it gets thought-provoking: Every school and college should have a compulsory playground and regular physical training. PT or exercise should be treated like any academic subject. But will this ever happen? It's up to us to keep the conversation going and find solutions to this growing public health challenge.
