Physical Activity

WHO highlights unacceptable cost of physical inactivity in first-ever global report

WHO published its first ever Global status report on physical activity. This report is a wake-up call which aims to measure the extent to which governments are implementing recommendations to increase physical activity across all ages and abilities; what progress has been made, and how to scale it up.

WHO Europe publishes progress reports on the implementation of its action plans for the prevention of NCDs and physical activity strategy

WHO Europe published two new progress reports during its 72nd Regional Committee meeting in September 2022.

2022 Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity reveals that 45% of Europeans never exercise or play sport

The European Commission has recently published the 5th Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity in September 2022. Results are based on a 20-question survey from 26,580 Europeans from all 27 Member States.

Some of the key findings revealed that 45% of Europeans currently never exercise or partake in physical activity. The survey also unveiled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, half of Europeans reduced their activity levels or even stopped exercising altogether.

New WHO publication on urban design: how cities can promote physical activity and healthy diets

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are a major cause of death and disability around the world, and physical inactivity is one of the main risk factors for NCDs. 23% of global deaths are due to modifiable environmental factors.

The 2022 #BEACTIVE DAY campaign officially launched across Europe

On Tuesday 7 June, EuropeActive gathered representatives from 19 European national fitness association partners, in order to formally launch the #BEACTIVE DAY campaign.

European Public Health Week: raising awareness of the health benefits of physical activity!

The European Public Health Week took place from 16 to the 22 May 2022. Each day focused on a new topic, such as climate change, mental health, or vaccination. Organisations from all over Europe were welcome to submit events or campaigns linked to these topics, with the aim of drawing attention to public health issues.

The theme of the first day was ‘a healthy and health literate youth’, which included physical activity as one of its subtopics.

WHO Europe identifies barriers of physical activity participation in adolescent girls

On World Obesity Day, which was celebrated on March 4th, the WHO Europe reminded us that adolescent girls are insufficiently active, especially compared to adolescent boys. Globally 84.7% of girls do not meet the WHO physical activity recommendations of a minimum of 60 minutes per day of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity.

Staying physically active over the holidays

With the Christmas break just around the corner, we thought we’d share a few simple tips to help you keep active over the holiday period!

Make your social gatherings more active

Instead of catching up over food or drinks, you could make your social gatherings active.

New Health 2022 project training healthy lifestyle professionals

The proportion of physically inactive EU citizens who live an unhealthy lifestyle remains unacceptably high. According to the 2018 Eurobarometer on sport and physical activity, 46% of EU citizens do not exercise or play sport at all, while more and more Europeans eat unhealthily and suffer chronically from stress. In the past 50 to 70 years, generations of us did not learn about the health & prevention guidelines that research now offers, so it’s time for a knowledge update.

WHO Europe publishes the 3rd edition of the physical activity factsheets for EU Member States

The World Health Organisation European Office has published its new physical activity factsheets for EU Member States. This document summarizes findings based on specific indicators (e.g. recommendations, funding, physical activity levels), as well as actions and policies in the area of health-enhancing physical activity promotion.