Study Identifies Europe’s Highest-Risk Countries for Physical Inactivity 

A sedentary lifestyle, often termed “sitting disease,” significantly increases the risk of premature death, heart disease, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers. Extended periods of physical inactivity slow your metabolism, which can lead to weakened muscles, bone loss, poor blood circulation, and increased feelings of anxiety and depression. 

The dangers of maintaining a primarily physical inactivity lifestyle manifest across multiple systems in the body. Below, we have listed a few of the dangers of physical inactivity and living a sedentary lifestyle.

Risks of Physical Inactivity and a Sedentary Lifestyle

Cardiovascular & Metabolic

• Heart Disease: Without regular movement, your heart muscle weakens and becomes less efficient. Prolonged sitting increases the risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and stroke. 
• Diabetes & Obesity: Physical inactivity and sitting too much slows your metabolism, making it harder to regulate blood sugar and break down fats. This dramatically increases the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. 
• Metabolic Syndrome: The combination of elevated blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels is frequently triggered by inactivity. 

Musculoskeletal

• Weakened Muscles: With increased physical inactivity, your core, gluteal, and leg muscles atrophy and lose endurance when they are rarely activated to support your weight.
• Bone Density Loss: Lack of weight-bearing activity accelerates bone mineral loss, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and falls as you age.
• Back & Posture Issues: Poor desk posture strains your spine, shoulders, and neck, leading to chronic musculoskeletal pain. 

Oncology & Neurology

• Certain Cancers: Physical inactivity, prolonged sitting, and the hormonal imbalances it causes are linked to elevated risks of hormone-related cancers, including colon, breast, and uterine cancers. 
• Cognitive Decline: Lack of regular physical activity and systemic blood flow has been independently linked to an increased risk of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. 

Mental Health & Daily Function

• Anxiety and Depression: The lack of exercise-induced endorphins and reduced outdoor exposure significantly exacerbate symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression. 
• Chronic Fatigue: While it sounds counterintuitive, not using your body causes it to slow down and conserve energy, resulting in persistent daytime fatigue. 

Actionable Tips to Break Up Sitting

To combat these risks of physical inactivity, health authorities recommend incorporating activity into your daily routine. The Mayo Clinic and other authoritative sources suggest: 

• Taking 1–2 minute movement or stretching breaks every 30 to 45 minutes of sitting.
• Use a standing desk or pace during phone calls.
• Aiming for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week.

Study Identifies Europe’s Highest-Risk Countries for Physical Inactivity 

The June 2026 report on sports participation and physical activity around the world reveals that Greek residents are at the biggest wellness risk because of a sedentary lifestyle. As half of EU residents (around 45%) report that they never exercise or participate in sports, a new study by the supplements brand Ben’s Natural Health analyzed Eurostat and WHO numbers on daily sitting time, engagement with sports, and remote work trends.

Key Highlights

• Greece leads the ranking of high-risk countries, with over a third of the population not engaging in any regular physical activity or sports.
• Remote work directly impacts the amount of time people spend sitting, and 38.9% Dutch residents spend 6.5 hours behind the desk each day.
• Maltans suffer from obesity the most among high-ranking countries, as 32.8% of the population is diagnosed with excess weight.

The study assessed risks from a sedentary lifestyle by population-level factors that directly influence well-being. The research compared the mean daily sitting time, obesity rates, which show the most vulnerable categories, the percentage of remote workers in total employment, and how many adults (in %) lead an inactive lifestyle, which was averaged between genders. The final Sedentary Living Risk Score highlights the countries where physical inactivity is already prevalent, and where it can grow because of lifestyle and health issues.

10 Countries Where Sedentary Living Causes the Most Health Risks

You can check how other countries rank by following this link.

A Closer Look at the Top 5

    1. Greece

• Mean daily sitting time: 338 minutes
• Obesity rate: 28.85%
• Remote workers: 5.2% of total employment
• Adult inactivity rate: 37.5%
• Sedentary Living Risk Score: 65.5/100

Greece leads the list of countries where a sedentary lifestyle poses the greatest health risks due to physical inactivity, with residents spending an average of 5 hours and 38 minutes sitting. The country doesn’t follow remote work trends, with only 5.2% of people able to work from home, but many residents avoid sports. Over a third of the population (37.5%) reports no physical activity, and 28.8% are classified as obese.

    2. The Netherlands

The Netherlands stands out with the most remote workers in the top 10. Over 38.9% of Dutch residents work from home, and they also spend the longest behind desks, with 6.5 hours. In addition, 27% of adults here don’t engage in any sports or other physical activity at all, which worsens the consequences of prolonged sitting.

    3. Malta

Malta takes third place, with the highest rate of people refusing an active lifestyle. Around 41.5% of residents don’t exercise, and that also influences health conditions. Maltans have the most notable issues with obesity in the top 10, with almost a third (32.8%) diagnosed with excessive weight. Remote work also encourages people to spend more time at home, and on average, Maltans sit behind their desks for 278 minutes per day in physical inactivity.

    4. Czech Republic

The Czech Republic makes the top 5, too, with residents spending the second-longest time sitting. The Czechs usually stay sedentary for 340 minutes or a little over 5 and a half hours. A third of residents here stay away for sports, and this physical inactivity happens even though very few people in the country work remotely (7.8%).

    5. Bulgaria

Bulgaria rounds up the top 5, with 38.5% of locals refusing or not having time for sports. While the obesity rates in Bulgaria are a bit lower than in the Czech Republic or Greece, with 21.2%, a sedentary lifestyle still affects health and well-being. On average, Bulgarians don’t stand up for 325 minutes (5 hours and 25 minutes), this physical inactivity influences not only their physical health, but their mental wellness, too.

The wellness expert from Ben’s Natural Health commented on the study:

“Greece, Bulgaria, and the Czech Republic don’t typically come up in conversations about sedentary work culture. These conversations are often focused on Northern Europe. But low remote work rates don’t protect against inactivity if people aren’t choosing to move during their free time. Sitting time among working-age adults in Europe has been rising for the last decade, and this problem cuts across very different economies and cultures.”

This article was created at the WHN News Desk in collaboration with Sofia Perez on behalf of Ben’s Natural Health, working hard to ensure that you can rest easy, knowing that their products are high-quality, pure, effective, and ethically sourced formulations.  

As with anything you read on the internet, this article should not be construed as medical advice; please talk to your doctor or primary care provider before changing your wellness routine. WHN neither agrees nor disagrees with any of the materials posted. This article is not intended to provide a medical diagnosis, recommendation, treatment, or endorsement. Additionally, it is not intended to malign any religion, ethnic group, club, organization, company, individual, or anyone or anything. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.