Physical Activity

Professor Fiona BullDirector, Centre for Built Environment and Health,

School of Population Health, The University of Western Australia

Chair, Global Advocacy for Physical Activity, International Society for Physical Activity and Health

Key Messages

1. There is strong evidence on health benefits of PA

2. Our focus is on “how” to address PA not “if”

3. Public education is a ‘best buy’ – however it is ‘necessary but not sufficient’ on its own

4. Must look for, evaluate and implement upstream policy actions in multiple settings

5. Building an evidence base, capacity within different sectors and cultural adaptation to meet the needs of Arab region are important short term priorities

Dose response relationship

Source: Vouri I. Terveysliikunta. UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland, 1995.

Prevalence of physical inactivity in adults by WHO Region and World Bank income group. 2008

Benefits of PA extend beyond just the big 3

• CVD

• Cance

• Diabetes

• Improvement in mental health

• Positive social health

• Community ‘connectedness’ and social capital

• Child development

• Education performance

Not “if”, not “why”, but “How”

HLM Political StatementSept 2011

Preventing NCD’s: addressing the causes

PROXIMALBEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS

PHYSIOLOGICAL RISK FACTORS

UNDERLYING CAUSES

Death

and

& D

isability

Social Economic EmploymentEducationalCultural PoliticalBuilt environment

Tobacco use

Alcohol abuse

Unhealthy diet

Physical inactivity

Overweight/obesity

High blood pressure

High blood glucose

Abnormal blood lipids

CHRONICDISEASES

DiabetesHeart diseaseStrokeCancerRespiratory dis.

the causes of the causes of chronic disease

Not “if”, not “why”, but “How”

• Use available policy instruments

– Global recommendations on physical activity

– Global strategy (DPAS)

– Supporting DPAS implementation tools / guides

– Global target and indicator (forthcoming)

• Focus regional and national efforts in one or more of 7 identified areas of best investment

Tailor to the Arab Region

Not “if”, not “why”, but “How”

• Use available policy instruments

– Global recommendations on physical activity

– Global strategy (DPAS)

– Supporting DPAS implementation tools / guides

– Global target and indicator (forthcoming)

• Focus regional and national efforts in one or more of 7 identified areas of best investment

7 Investments that work for physical activity

1. Whole-of-school’ programs

2. Transport policies and systems that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport

3. Urban design regulations and infrastructure that provides for equitable and safe access for recreational physical activity, and recreational and transport-related walking and cycling across the life course

4. Physical activity and NCD prevention integrated into primary health care systems

5. Public education, including mass media to raise awareness and change social norms on physical activity

6. Community-wide programs involving multiple settings and sectors & that mobilize and integrate community engagement and resources

7. Sports systems and programs that promote ‘sport for all’ and encourage participation across the life span

Physical Activity Guidelines

PA Guidelines

Surveillance & Monitoring

Targets & Goals

Political Commitment

Intersectorial buy in

Building blocks of successful national action on physical activity

Mass media campaigns

Communication Strategy

Guidelines: inform communication campaigns and a catalyst to partnerships

New Zealand

WesternAustralia

‘Agita’ Brazil

7 Investments that work for physical activity

1. Whole-of-school’ programs

2. Transport policies and systems that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport

3. Urban design regulations and infrastructure that provides for equitable and safe access for recreational physical activity, and recreational and transport-related walking and cycling across the life course

4. Physical activity and NCD prevention integrated into primary health care systems

5. Public education, including mass media to raise awareness and change social norms on physical activity

6. Community-wide programs involving multiple settings and sectors & that mobilize and integrate community engagement and resources

7. Sports systems and programs that promote ‘sport for all’ and encourage participation across the life span

Schools – a best buy

Across the school setting

• Regular good quality PE curricula for all students

• Play / recess time

• Before and after school

• Across the curricula

• Involve parents

• Link to community sports

• Travel to school (walk /cycle)

• Includes Policy AND Programs

7 Investments that work for physical activity

1. Whole-of-school’ programs

2. Transport policies and systems that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport

3. Urban design regulations and infrastructure that provides for equitable and safe access for recreational physical activity, and recreational and transport-related walking and cycling across the life course

4. Physical activity and NCD prevention integrated into primary health care systems

5. Public education, including mass media to raise awareness and change social norms on physical activity

6. Community-wide programs involving multiple settings and sectors & that mobilize and integrate community engagement and resources

7. Sports systems and programs that promote ‘sport for all’ and encourage participation across the life span

Primary health care

Workplace Health

7 Investments that work for physical activity

1. Whole-of-school’ programs

2. Transport policies and systems that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport

3. Urban design regulations and infrastructure that provides for equitable and safe access for recreational physical activity, and recreational and transport-related walking and cycling across the life course

4. Physical activity and NCD prevention integrated into primary health care systems

5. Public education, including mass media to raise awareness and change social norms on physical activity

6. Community-wide programs involving multiple settings and sectors & that mobilize and integrate community engagement and resources

7. Sports systems and programs that promote ‘sport for all’ and encourage participation across the life span

Create supportive environments

The solutions will be context specific

Example: Ciclovia

Create supportive environments

7 Investments that work for physical activity

1. Whole-of-school’ programs

2. Transport policies and systems that prioritise walking, cycling and public transport

3. Urban design regulations and infrastructure that provides for equitable and safe access for recreational physical activity, and recreational and transport-related walking and cycling across the life course

4. Physical activity and NCD prevention integrated into primary health care systems

5. Public education, including mass media to raise awareness and change social norms on physical activity

6. Community-wide programs involving multiple settings and sectors & that mobilize and integrate community engagement and resources

7. Sports systems and programs that promote ‘sport for all’ and encourage participation across the life span

PA Guidelines

Surveillance & Monitoring

Targets & Goals

Mass media campaigns

Political Commitment

Intersectorial buy in

Building blocks of successful national action on physical activity

Communication Strategy

Multiple Strategies

Multiple Strategies

Multiple Strategies

Multiple Strategies

Multiple Strategies

Kuwait National Action Plan for Physical Activity

Challenges

• Leadership

• Research evidence from Arab region

• Stronger workforce with knowledge and skills to address PA

1950 1980 1990 2000

SG ReportSmoke free workplaces National

campaigns

Turning round the risk factors:Tobacco success

PH action groups

National Examples of increasing population levels of physical activity

ParticipACTION – national action underpinned by sustained social marketing campaign

THANK YOU