News30 Sep 2026
ASICS calls for more movement as research highlights links to mental wellbeing
Human Nature, a documentary from ASICS
Ahead of World Mental Health Day, ASICS is drawing attention to a decline in everyday movement, with new research finding that people surveyed spend an average of 86% of their waking day not moving
To highlight the issue, ASICS has released Human Nature, a short nature documentary narrated by Sigourney Weaver. The film explores how modern conveniences are changing the way people move, and encourages viewers to build more movement into daily life
The research, involving 34,000 people across 31 countries, found that 53% of adults surveyed do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. ASICS worked with experts to develop a Movement Conservation Status, inspired by nature conservation and based on recognised physical activity guidelines. It classifies weekly movement levels as Active, At Risk or Endangered
Almost one in four respondents (23%) were classified as Endangered, reporting less than 30 minutes of exercise each week. ASICS projects that the proportion of adults classified as At Risk or Endangered across the countries studied could rise from 53% to 56% by 2035, equivalent to an estimated 2.3 billion adults
Movement levels and reported state of mind
The survey found an association between reported movement levels and state of mind. Respondents classified as Endangered had an average State of Mind score of 60 out of 100, compared with 71 for those classified as Active. They also reported feeling less energised, less composed and less focused, and more stressed
Young adults were among those most likely to report low activity levels. More than half of respondents aged 18–24 said they did not meet recommended activity levels; 92% of that group reported experiencing negative consequences, including low mood, increased stress or poor sleep
The research also points to the role of modern routines. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (64%) said convenience makes it easy to spend a whole day barely moving. More than four in 10 said they could comfortably go three or more days without leaving home
Those who said they very often went a full day without leaving home had lower average State of Mind scores than those who said they never did so. They were also twice as likely to be classified as Endangered
Small amounts of movement can help
ASICS says its research found that 15 minutes of movement can produce a measurable uplift in mental state
“We’ve built a world that makes movement optional,” said David Raichlen, professor of biology and anthropology at the University of Southern California. He said regular movement remains important for physical and mental health, and that small, achievable bouts of activity can help people bring more movement into their everyday lives
A new nature documentary
Human Nature takes a playful look at people in increasingly comfortable and convenient surroundings. With Weaver’s narration echoing a traditional nature documentary, the film shows how sofas, screens and other conveniences can replace everyday movement, and reminds viewers that movement is part of human nature
“For more than 75 years, ASICS has been guided by the belief that movement transforms not just the body, but also the mind,” said Gary Raucher, ASICS global head of marketing. He said the company hopes to encourage people to move for 15 minutes, highlighting the potential benefits of even small amounts of activity
For World Mental Health Day, ASICS is inviting people to take part in its “15 Minutes to Thrive” initiative and join its Movement Conservationist community
• Find out more: asics.com/movementconservation
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