Three Growth Spurts in Global Physical Activity Policies between 2000 and 2019: A Policy Document Analysis

Trish Muzenda, Maylene Shung-King, Estelle Victoria Lambert, Anna Brugulat Panés, Amy Weimann, Nicole McCreedy, Lambed Tatah, Clarisse Mapa-Tassou, Ishtar Govia, Vincent Were and Tolu Oni
Additional contact information
Trish Muzenda: Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Maylene Shung-King: Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Estelle Victoria Lambert: Research Centre for Health through Physical Activity, Lifestyle and Sport (HPALS), FIMS International Collaborating Centre of Sports Medicine, Department of Human Biology, Division of Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7725, South Africa
Anna Brugulat Panés: Global Diet and Physical Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
Amy Weimann: Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Nicole McCreedy: Health Policy and Systems Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Lambed Tatah: Global Diet and Physical Activity Research, MRC Epidemiology Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
Clarisse Mapa-Tassou: Health of Populations in Transition Research Group (HoPiT), University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé P.O. Box 8046, Cameroon
Ishtar Govia: Caribbean Institute for Health Research, Mona Campus, The University of the West Indies, Kingston 7, Jamaica
Vincent Were: Center for Global Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), P.O. Box 1578, Kisumu 40100, Kenya
Tolu Oni: Research Initiative for Cities Health and Equity (RICHE), Division of Public Health Medicine, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) contribute significantly to global mortality and are of particular concern in growing urban populations of low- and-middle income countries (LMICs). Physical inactivity is a key NCD determinant and requires urgent addressing. Laudable global and regional efforts to promote physical activity are being made, but the links between physical activity (PA), NCD reduction, and integrated intersectoral approaches to reducing obesogenic environments are not consistently made. This study applied a document analysis approach to global PA and NCD policies to better understand the current global policy environment and how this may facilitate integrated PA promotion. A total of 34 global policies related to PA, from different sectors, were analyzed. PA policy in mitigation of NCDs has evolved exponentially, with a progression towards addressing structural determinants alongside individual behavior change. The global PA agenda is primarily driven by the World Health Organization. Intersectoral collaboration is importantly regarded, but the contributions of other sectors, outside of health, education, transport, and urban planning, are less clear. Improving PA among key sub-populations—women, girls, and adolescents—requires greater policy consideration. It is imperative for PA-relevant sectors at all levels to recognize the links with NCDs and work towards integrated policy and practice in mitigation of the rising NCD pandemic.

Keywords: physical activity; policy; intersectoral action; noncommunicable disease(s) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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