promoting physical activities
The researchers evaluated 100 reviews published between 2001 and 2011 of clinical and community-based physical interventions. They then discovered a number of effective ways for promoting exercise in people of different age groups, social groups, and countries worldwide through:
Behavioral and social initiatives
Modifications to environmental design and transport policies
Communication and information strategies
example
promoting exercise and community events through mass media campaigns and decision prompts to help inspire people, like using the stairs instead of an elevator.
global
local
national
volunteers reaching target groups through local organizations
subsidized or free membership of gyms and swimming pools in your area
education through schools following a national curriculum
national government warnings on unhealthy foods and tobacco
major public health campaigns conducted by global organizations (WHO）
encouraging participation in sport through international events
Walking clubs and buddy systems are also valuable social support networks. Free exercise classes in public areas, like parks, are very important
target populations who are less likely to manage the suggested amount of exercise, including older adults, women, and those on lower incomes.
creating environments suitable for walking and biking, like bike lanes, can be very beneficial.
If people improve their access to sports and other outdoor activities, help shape policies for neighborhood design, increase the amount of green in their yard, and/or improve public transportation, they will have an improvement in their physical activity levels..
Ciclovía is a program that allows runners, walkers, cyclists, and skaters on every Sunday morning and each public holiday to exercise freely in the street by closing it off to motorized vehicles. About one million people use this program every week, mostly people on lower incomes. It covers about 14% of the recommended population requirement of weekly activity for Bogotá.
- Increasing time for physical education and physical activity in school 2. Changes in methodology and curriculum construction to demand the physical activity needs and learning styles of all students, as well as teacher confidence in developing educationally appropriate curriculum. 3. That means programs must be future-focused to help children learn how to be responsive to changing and emerging recreation, sport, and activity possibilities, recognizing that the needs of individuals change
Work with the community by linking school physical education to community physical activity and sport programs
WHO’s physical activity recommendations
WHO recommends that adults, including older people, undertake at least 150 minutes physical activity each week, and that children are active for at least 60 minutes per day.
“Sport for all” policies encourage physical activity from WHO
Experts from 19 countries met recently to discuss these issues, The meeting was part of the activities of WHO/Europe’s project on promoting networking, exchange and greater synergy between sport and health-enhancing physical activity sectors (NET-SPORT-HEALTH), co-financed by the European Commission.
WHO created Move for Health Day in 2002 to promote physical activity and national activities highlighting its many benefits. This international event is celebrated annually around 10 May. Many countries hold events.