Physical Activity

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.

The European Commission launches the HealthyLifestyle4All initiative

On Thursday 23 September 2021, the first day of the European Week of Sport, the HealthyLifestyle4All initiative was launched in Bled, Slovenia. This two-year campaign aims at improving the health and wellbeing of European citizens and will further highlighting the link between physical activity and a healthier lifestyle.

Whole school approach to improve children’s physical activity levels

In recent years, the need to improve children’s physical activity levels has become a concerning issue. According to studies, globally, 50% of children do not meet the internationally recognised target of 60 mins of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day.

New study shows fitness is the most popular physical activity worldwide

According to new data collected by IPSOS, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, fitness is the most popular physical activity in the world, with 20% of respondents indicating that they participate in fitness in a normal week.

EuropeActive attends WHO webinar on Ecosystem Approaches to HEPA Promotion

On September 1st, EuropeActive attended a World Health Organisation (WHO) webinar addressing innovative systems thinking tools and approaches to promote health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA).

This webinar was organised jointly by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Université Côte d’Azur, CNRS GDR Sport & Physical Activity, and Queens University Belfast, as the opening event for the Summer School of the WHO European network for the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA Europe)

Healthy lifestyles and fighting childhood obesity are gaining more importance

More attention is now being given to childhood obesity, with several events taking place in the past couple of weeks on the topic. During these various events, the importance of physical activity as part of prevention measures was highlighted.

On July 13th, the Health working group of the ENVI Committee at the European Parliament organized a webinar on healthy lifestyles and fighting childhood obesity.

WHO Webinar – Build forward stronger: opportunities for exercise, fitness and health

COVID-19 severely impacted the ability of individuals to be physically active while also underlining the importance of physical activity for mental and physical health. Because of this, the World Health Organisation is organising a series of eight webinars on ReINVENT & ReBUILD – Working together for a stronger and fairer physical activity and sport system for all.