The place of physical activity in the WHO Global Strategy on Diet and Physical Activity

Abstract

In an effort to reduce the global burden of non-communicable disease, the World Health Organization released a Global Strategy for Diet and Physical Activity in May 2004. This commentary reports on the development of the strategy and its importance specifically for physical activity-related work of NGOs and researchers interested in increasing global physical activity participation.Sparked by its work on global efforts to target non-communicable disease prevention in 2000, the World Health Organization commissioned a global strategy on diet and physical activity. The physical activity interest followed efforts that had led to the initial global "Move for Health Day" in 2002. WHO assembled a reference group for the global strategy, and a regional consultation process with countries was undertaken. Underpinning the responses was the need for more physical activity advocacy; partnerships outside of health including urban planning; development of national activity guidelines; and monitoring of the implementation of the strategy.The consultation process was an important mechanism to confirm the importance and elevate the profile of physical activity within the global strategy. It is suggested that separate implementation strategies for diet and physical activity may be needed to work with partner agencies in disparate sectors (e.g. urban planning for physical activity, agriculture for diet). International professional societies are well situated to make an important contribution to global public health by advocating for the importance of physical activity among risk factors; developing international measures of physical activity and global impacts of inactivity; and developing a global research and intervention agenda.

Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality Are Associated with Physical Activity in Elderly People Living in Nursing Homes

“…Elderly people are almost two times more likely to have physical or mental disabilities and are four times more likely to have some physical limitations, compared with people aged <60 [ 2 ]. Thus, encouraging regular PA in elderly people has been the goal of many governments worldwide [ 3 , 4 ] in order to prevent certain diseases and reduce mortality rates. The World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines propose that elderly people aged ≥65 should participate in “at least 150 min of moderate-intensity aerobic PA throughout the week or do at least 75 min of vigorous-intensity aerobic PA throughout the week or an equivalent combination of both” [ 5 ].…”

Validity of the global physical activity questionnaire (GPAQ) in Bangladesh

“…Furthermore, in 2013 the economic cost to health care systems worldwide related to non-adherence was estimated at $53 billion [ 4 ]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has therefore promoted the development of PA surveillance tools in order to evaluate public health interventions and policies [ 5 , 6 ] aimed at reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) [ 7 ].…”

A Pilot Evaluation of the In SHAPE Individualized Health Promotion Intervention for Adults with Mental Illness

“…Regular exercise has a beneficial effect on outcomes for numerous physical health disorders (Bauman 2004; Bauman and Craig 2005; Bianchini et al 2002), as well as psychological symptoms and functioning (Callaghan 2004; Craft and Landers 1998; Faulkner and Biddle 1999; Mead et al 2009; Stathopoulou et al 2006). Healthy dietary behaviors are a component of management for obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and other physical health disorders.…”