Most Teens Miss Activity Goals; Industry Pledges Action
Brands including Nike and Adidas commit to boost youth participation as 86 percent of adolescents fall short of recommended levels.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Fitness
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83 sporting goods companies and a federation, coordinated by the World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI), have signed an open letter committing to increase youth physical activity. The commitment comes as WHO data show most adolescents worldwide are not meeting recommended activity levels.
Why it matters
Youth inactivity is a growing concern for long-term health, and physical inactivity is a top risk factor for non-communicable diseases that account for 75 percent of deaths globally. The pledge reflects the sporting goods industry's effort to get more young people moving, with the WHO findings providing the urgency behind it.
The WHO study pooled data from 389 population-based surveys conducted in 140 countries and territories, covering adolescents' activity from 2010 to 2025. The open letter itself is a voluntary industry commitment, and its effects on activity levels have not yet been reported.
The players
World Federation of the Sporting Goods Industry (WFSGI)
The global trade body for the sporting goods industry, which coordinated the open letter on youth physical activity.
World Health Organization (WHO)
The United Nations agency that leads global public health efforts, including surveillance and guidance on physical activity.
Decathlon
A major sporting goods retailer and brand whose CEO, Javier López, is among the open letter's signatories.
Nike
A global athletic footwear and apparel company and one of the brand signatories to the open letter.
The details
The signatories, which include Adidas, Asics, Bauer, Decathlon, New Balance and Nike, commit to deliver initiatives that increase youth participation and close the gender gap. They also pledge to engage more with governments to advocate for stronger alignment between health, education, sport, trade and urban planning policies. The approach treats physical activity as a shared responsibility across industries and public systems rather than a single-sector issue.
Timeline
2010 to 2025: Period covered by the WHO global study of adolescent physical activity trends.
- 2026-11-04
Open letter reported as signed by 83 companies and federation.
Health Landscape
The WHO's recommended activity levels for young people have set the benchmark against which global youth inactivity is measured. This open letter marks a shift toward private-sector participation in closing the gap those guidelines describe.
The findings underline that many young people fall short of recommended activity, and that girls are less active than boys in every region. Parents and young people may find it useful to ask a pediatrician or primary care clinician what activity levels are appropriate for their age.
The takeaway
Most adolescents worldwide are not meeting recommended activity levels, making youth inactivity a shared health priority. Regular movement that a young person enjoys is a practical habit worth encouraging, and questions about appropriate activity are a good conversation to have with a clinician.
Further reading
For more on how activity levels are tracked and encouraged, explore the Fitness section.
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