East Mediterr Health J. 2026 Mar 5;32(3):127-128. doi: 10.26719/2026.32.3.127.
ABSTRACT
Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) remain the foremost cause of premature mortality across the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). Cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions together account for a substantial and increasing proportion of deaths in countries at varying stages of development in the region. Among the modifiable risk factors driving this epidemic, physical inactivity stands out for 2 reasons: its prevalence is exceptionally high, and the evidence base for addressing it is exceptionally strong. Yet the region's policy response remains fragmented. This editorial argues that reversing physical inactivity in the EMR requires a fundamental shift-from treating movement as a lifestyle preference to recognising movement as a structural determinant of health.
PMID:41910005 | DOI:10.26719/2026.32.3.127