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Data set notes

Health-enhancing physical activity

Indicators: 23

Updated: 31 January 2023

Contact: Kremlin Wickramasinghe

Health-enhancing physical activity

This dataset presents country information about health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) policy implementation. It provides an overview of information on a group of indicators regarding physical activity monitoring and surveillance, recommendations, cross-sectoral approach, and national actions on several sectors such as health, sports, education, urban planning, transports, public awareness, etc.

The dataset is based on the European Commission’s monitoring framework for the implementation of policies to promote HEPA, following the European Union (EU) Physical Activity Guidelines, that is regularly assessed through a questionnaire answered by the EU Physical Activity Focal Points Network. The 27 EU Member States of the WHO European Region participated.

26 Member States of the WHO European Region are marked as “Did not participate in survey” in the dataset; these are the countries for which there is no data in the survey.

Data has been collected by the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases at the Division of Country Health Programmes, World Health Organization Regional Office for Europe, in collaboration with the Sport Unit at the Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture, European Commission.

Current data is available for 2021, and future data collection is foreseen.

Data was published in the '2021 physical activity factsheets for the European Union Member States in the WHO European Region’, report available in English: https://www.who.int/europe/publications/i/item/WHO-EURO-2021-3409-43168-60449

HEPA_1: Recommendations on physical activity

HEPA_2: Levels of physical activity in adults

HEPA_3: Levels of physical activity in children and adolescents

HEPA_4: Coordination mechanism on HEPA promotion

HEPA_5: Funding for HEPA promotion

HEPA_6: Sports for All

HEPA_7: Sports Club for Health

HEPA_8: Access for socially disadvantaged groups

HEPA_9: Special target groups

HEPA_10: Surveillance of physical activity in health

HEPA_11: Counselling on physical activity

HEPA_12: Training of health professionals

HEPA_13: Physical education in schools

HEPA_14: Physical activity promotion in schools

HEPA_15: Training of physical education teachers

HEPA_16: Active travel to school

HEPA_17: Level of cycling and walking

HEPA_18: Infrastructures for leisure-time physical activity

HEPA_19: Active travel to work

HEPA_20: Physical activity at the workplace

HEPA_21: Community interventions for older adults

HEPA_22: Evaluation of HEPA policies

HEPA_23: Awareness campaign on physical activity

Indicator notes

This indicator represents the response to the EU HEPA Indicator 11: Is there any national guidance or programme to promote counselling on physical activity or exercise prescription by health professionals in the country? Response options: Yes; No

Country/Area notes

No information