8 investments that work for physical activity

A whole-of-school approach is a multi-component approach committed to promoting physical activity to all members of the school community through supportive policies, environments, and sustainable opportunities. There is growing evidence to support the efficacy of a range of physical activity promotion strategies in schools, including physical education programs that develop confidence, competence, and motivation to be active; active classrooms; after school physical activity opportunities; activities during recess/break times; and the promotion of active transport to and from school.

2. Active Transport

Active transportation to and from places is a practical and sustainable way to increase daily physical activity for many people. Eight interventions have been identified that, when combined, have been shown to encourage walking, cycling, and public transport use, while reducing private motor vehicle use. These 8 interventions include improving destination accessibility; ensuring equitable distribution of employment across cities; managing demand by reducing availability and increasing the cost of parking; designing pedestrian-friendly and cycling-friendly infrastructure to support movement networks; achieving optimum levels of residential density; reducing distance to public transport; increasing the diversity of residential areas; and enhancing the desirability of active travel modes.

3. Active Urban Design

The way urban and suburban environments are built and designed influences many of our conscious and unconscious behavioral choices. Research from cities globally has shown that adults who live in the most activity-friendly neighborhoods engage in at least an hour (up to an hour and a half) more physical activity per week than those living in the least activity-friendly neighborhoods. The creation of neighborhoods that locate shops, schools, parks, recreational facilities, jobs, and other services near homes, and provide highly connected street networks that make it easy for people to walk and cycle to destinations, have been shown to increase physical activity while simultaneously providing many additional health and environmental benefits.

4. Health Care

Health care professionals come into contact with large proportions of the population and are a trusted source of health advice; therefore, they have a key role to play in promoting physical activity to their patients. Evidence indicates that primary care-based interventions that target physical activity alone, or in combination with interventions for other modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, the harmful use of alcohol, and unhealthy diets, have shown they are effective and most are also cost-effective.27 There is strong evidence for providing brief advice and counseling, particularly when linked with community opportunities and support.

5. Public Education, Including Mass Media

Public education, including mass media, can involve print, audio and electronic media, digital and social media, outdoor billboards and posters, public relations, and point of decision prompts. It can increase knowledge, awareness, and intent to increase physical activity. National and community-based communication campaigns should follow best practice principles, including positive framing, tailoring and targeting, and the use of theory and formative research. Public education should be combined with supportive infrastructure and other opportunities for physical activity, including community-based programs.

6. Sport and Recreation for All

There is increasing evidence of the wide-ranging health, social and economic benefits of sport, and for many, playing and engaging in sport holds significant cultural meaning. Participation in sport and recreation can be encouraged through the provision of accessible and appropriate places and spaces, including both indoor and outdoor facilities and amenities, as well as opportunities through formal and informal clubs and programs. Mass events that engage whole communities can help to create a social norm for participation in sport and recreation.

7. Workplaces

The workplace is one of the most opportune settings for health promotion, which can benefit employers via reduced absenteeism and burnout among employees. Policies and programs include designing workplace environments that promote incidental physical activity; supporting active commuting; educational events to inform employees of the benefits of physical activity; encouraging an active working culture (such as walking meetings); providing employees with paid time and/or flexible time for physical activity; and encouraging self-monitoring via wearable devices or mobile phone apps.

8. Community-Wide Programs

Community-wide programs offer more than one approach to tackle physical inactivity in a population as they operate at multiple levels (individual, social network, neighborhood, and society) to impact behavior. These programs can use systems-based approaches to create supportive policies, environments, and programs to encourage whole communities to be more physically active. Community-wide programs can include a mix of components identified in the preceding 7 investment areas, with emphasis on multi-component programs and a broad community reach.Settings such as community centers, shopping malls, senior care centers, and faith-based settings might be particularly important for an inclusive community-wide approach.