Early Career Professionals’ (Researchers, Practitioners, and Policymakers) Role in Advocating, Disseminating, and Implementing the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: ISPAH Early Career Network View

Abstract

Increasing population levels of physical activity (PA) can assist in achieving the United Nations sustainable development goals, benefiting multiple sectors and contributing to global prosperity. Practices and policies to increase PA levels exist at the subnational, national, and international levels. In 2018, the World Health Organization launched the first Global Action Plan on Physical Activity (GAPPA). The GAPPA provides guidance through a framework of effective and feasible policy actions for increasing PA, and requires engagement and advocacy from a wide spectrum of stakeholders for successful implementation of the proposed actions. Early career professionals, including researchers, practitioners, and policymakers, can play a major role with helping “all people being regularly active” by contributing to 4 overarching areas: (1) generation—of evidence, (2) dissemination—of key messages and evidence, (3) implementation—of the evidence-based actions proposed in the GAPPA, and (4) contributing to advocacy for robust national action plans on PA. The contribution of early career professionals can be achieved through 5 pathways: (1) research, (2) workplace/practice, (3) business, (4) policy, and (5) professional and public opinion. Recommendations of how early career professionals can contribute to the generation, dissemination, and implementation of the evidence and actions proposed by the GAPPA are provided.

Advocating for Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: Challenges and Support Requirements

“…A previous commentary also highlights how early career professionals can contribute to advocacy for implementation of the GAPPA through research, practice, business, policy, and professional and public opinion. 29 While these new resources have contributed to addressing some of the supports and challenges identified in our findings, there remains a number of gaps. The qualitative analysis provides an understanding of what perceived gaps remain and what supports are needed to aid future advocacy efforts and their effectiveness.…”

An innovative solution and call to action for the physical inactivity pandemic

“…Direito et al 6) published an article entitled, Early Career Professionals' (Researchers, Practitioners, and Policymakers) Role in Advocating, Disseminating, and implementing the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: ISPAH Early Career Network View. They say the contribution of early career professionals can be achieved through five pathways: (1) research, (2) workplace/practice, (3) business, (4) policy, and (5) professional and public opinion.…”

“…Stakeholders from kinesiology/exercise science departments around the world, not only faculty and current students but also the alumni from these institutions, can initiate and operationalize this early career professional level. Are they trained in all the areas and pathways 5,6) mentioned above? Given the current kinesiology/exercise science departments' curriculum and course requirements, the answer to this question would be "no".…”

“…3 WINS Fitness is an example of how an army of potential early career professionals can be mobilized in tremendous numbers within 5 years, especially with the opportunity for virtual class offerings from the CDC, business sector, media, and all of the areas and pathways mentioned by Direito et al 6) . The COVID-19 pandemic has taught the students of 3 WINS Fitness lessons on virtual learning and teaching.…”