ASICS launches campaign to get people moving as inactivity rises in China

Sportswear brand ASICS launched its Movement Conservation Project in Shanghai on Saturday, during World Mental Health Day, alongside a global study showing that Chinese adults spend 90 percent of their waking hours physically inactive, above the global average of 86 percent.

Covering 34,000 respondents across 31 markets, the study categorizes physical activity into three tiers — sufficiently active, at-risk inactivity and severe inactivity — aligned with WHO guidelines. It found that people with severe inactivity score just 60 out of 100 for mental well-being, 11 points lower than their active peers. They also report 23 percent lower energy, 20 percent worse emotional stability, 17 percent poorer focus, and 16 percent higher stress.

The study finds that modern lifestyles are accelerating the trend. Globally, 64 percent of people say daily convenience makes it easy to stay sedentary all day. In China, that figure rises to 75 percent, with 42 percent spending long hours scrolling on mobile devices while reclining, and 38 percent using AI to replace manual tasks — both figures above global averages.

However, the study also finds that just 15 minutes of daily exercise can deliver measurable positive changes.

As part of the initiative's local activation, ASICS partnered with Shanghai Zoo to host a fun run. The route winds through iconic zoo sites including the giant panda enclosure and swan lake, exploring models for integrating sports into urban green spaces.

"Exercise is one of the most accessible ways to safeguard physical and mental health," said Chen De, deputy director of the Shanghai Health Promotion Center. "Health promotion is not an overnight achievement; it means embedding wellness into daily life so everyone can find a sustainable way to stay active."

Marketing Vice-President of ASICS Greater China Gu Xiaojie said movement does not require elaborate setups. "Start with 15 minutes a day, let physical activity fit naturally into daily routines, and make it a sustainable habit."

The brand also released a themed documentary Human Nature to raise public awareness. Rooted in its founding philosophy "Sound Mind, Sound Body", ASICS stated it will continue to support daily physical activity through diverse products and sports experiences, helping people preserve their movement vitality.