The UN Sustainable Development Goals' (https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/) and the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (https://www.who.int/ncds/prevention/physical-activity/gappa) highlight the need to move beyond individual behaviour change to broader policy and system approaches, focusing not only on health but also on sustainability. Recently, policy responses to the epidemics of physical inactivity and sedentary behaviour have grown. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA) reports that by 2013, 139 countries were members of its physical activity advocacy alliance and 26.6% of these countries had already published a stand-alone physical activity plan. The ‘Policy Evaluation Network' is a multi-disciplinary European research network aimed at understanding the impact of public policy for promoting healthy lifestyles in an effort to prevent non-communicable disease. To understand the progress governments are making in creating healthy policy environments, the benchmarking of best practice has proven effective for advancing the food policy agenda; however its usefulness for physical activity requires evaluation. Individual country results promote mutual learning between countries. This symposium will take a deep look at public policy in physical activity. It will summarise evidence from systematic literature reviews and present a tool for benchmarking progress. It will also discuss the potential next steps for addressing the inactivity, obesity and climate challenges through policy solutions in a systematic way. The Chair will give an overview of context within which this symposium takes place e.g. GAPPA, Policy developments etc. They will also explain the symposium's purpose and objectives, introduce the speakers and direct questions. Symposium Objectives 1. To review evidence for the contribution of transport, sport and mass media policy to the promotion of physical activity. 2. To show how evidence generate in each of these reviews contributed to the development of the physical activity environment policy index (PA-EPI). 3. To discuss the next steps for addressing inactivity by using policy intervention as a tool to catalyse change. Abstract 1: Which transport policies increase physical activity of the whole of society? A Systematic Review. Abstract 2: The impact of mass-media campaigns on physical activity: a review of reviews through a policy lens. Abstract 3: Evidence of the impact of Sport Policies on physical activity and sport participation: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review. Abstract 4: The development of the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI): a tool for monitoring and benchmarking government policies and actions to improve physical activity. The Discussant summarizes the presentations and provides insights on the specific topic area, generating an interactive discussion with the audience for at least 15 minutes, moderated by the Chair. (15 minutes) Conclusions: Some discussion of the possible contribution to, or implications for, the advancement of HEPA related goals.

Background There is strong evidence of the links between car-dependence and the global physical inactivity epidemic. If eliminated, physical inactivity would remove between 6% and 10% of major non-communicable diseases that are the leading cause of death globally, killing 38 million people each year. Research consistently shows that unlike passive transport (e.g. driving a car), active transport (i.e., walking, cycling) is associated with higher total daily physical activity (PA). While there are public policies that support PA in transport and, as a result, overall PA levels, the specific quantitative effect of such policies on PA behaviour has not been sufficiently investigated. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the level and type of evidence for policies in the area of transport that contribute to higher PA levels of society at large. Methods Six databases (MEDLINE (Ebsco), SportDiscus, Cinahl, Cochrane library, Web of Science, and Scopus) were searched for key concepts of policy, transport, evaluation and PA. Methodological quality was assessed using standardised tools. The strength of the evidence of policy impact was described based on pre-determined categories of positive, negative, inconclusive or untested. Results 17 of 2,549 studies were included in the data synthesis. The authors identified three main transport policy areas with 60 individual policy actions that had a direct or indirect effect on PA. The policy areas were: convenient transport infrastructure development, active travel promotion and shift of transport mode. These areas correspond to Haddon's methodological approach of the transport system division in to three elements (human, vehicle, road). More than half of the policy actions identified (53%) had a positive effect on PA. Study quality ratings were moderate to good. Conclusions PA levels can be increased by implementing policies that provide convenient, safe, and connected walking and cycling infrastructures, promote active travel and give strong support to public transport. There is also clear evidence that active travel policies work best when implemented in a comprehensive way (very often as a combination of several policies). This may include infrastructure and facility improvements as well as educational programmes to achieve substantial shifts towards active modes of travel.

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