Harnessing the Power of Sport and Physical Activity for Social Change: An Interdisciplinary Approach to Address Health Equity

Abstract

Health equity remains one of the most pressing challenges in public health, with significant inequities in health outcomes across various social, economic, and demographic lines. Factors such as socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, gender, and geographic location often determine access to health care, healthy environments, and opportunities to engage in sport and physical activity. These inequities contribute to an increased risk of chronic diseases, poorer mental health, and reduced quality of life in marginalized populations. This paper explores the potential of sport and physical activity as powerful tools to address these persistent health inequities and support broader social change through an interdisciplinary approach. By leveraging insights from various disciplines including public health, sociology, psychology, education, epigenetics, and sport sciences (kinesiology) to form an interdisciplinary lens, this paper aims to highlight how sport and physical activity can not only reduce health inequities but also serve as catalysts for broader societal transformations.