•More than 70% of all deaths in the BRICS countries are attributable to noncommunicable diseases.•There have been marked changes in physical activity levels, time use, and energy expenditure in these nations over the last 20 years.•There are marked gender differences in physical activity in 4 of the 5 BRICS nations, which largely reflect the overall gender inequalities in these countries.
© 2019 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Shanghai University of Sport.