Overview

Physical inactivity is now identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality. Physical inactivity levels are rising in many countries with major implications for the prevalence of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and the general health of the population worldwide.

The focus of the Global recommendations on physical activity for health is primary prevention of NCDs through physical activity at population level, and the primary target audience for these recommendations are policy-makers at national level.

The recommendations set out in this document address three age groups: 5–17 years old; 18–64 years old; and 65 years old and above. A section focusing on each age group includes the following:

• a narrative summary of scientific evidence;
• the current physical activity recommendations; and
• the interpretation and justification for the recommendations made.

Contents

• LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
• ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
• 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
  • RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
• 2. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
  • 2.1 PUBLIC HEALTH SIGNIFICANCE OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
  • 2.2 MANDATE ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
  • 2.3 IMPORTANCE OF NATIONAL AND REGIONAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES
• 3. DEVELOPMENT OF THE GLOBAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
  • 3.1 SCOPE AND TARGET AUDIENCE
  • 3.2 DEVELOPMENT PROCESS
• 4. RECOMMENDED POPULATION LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
  • 4.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 4.2 AGE GROUP: 5 – 17 YEARS OLD
  • 4.3 AGE GROUP: 18 – 64 YEARS OLD
  • 4.4 AGE GROUP: 65 YEARS OLD AND ABOVE
  • 4.5 Future review of recommendations and research gaps
• 5. HOW TO USE THE RECOMMENDED LEVELS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
  • 5.1 INTRODUCTION
  • 5.2 NATIONAL ADAPTATION OF THE GLOBAL RECOMMENDATIONS
  • 5.3 SUPPORTIVE POLICIES IN PROMOTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
  • 5.4 STRATEGIES FOR COMMUNICATING THE GLOBAL RECOMMENDATIONS AT NATIONAL LEVEL
  • 5.5 MONITORING AND EVALUATION
• 6. RESOURCES
  • INTRODUCTION
  • POLICY DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION
  • SURVEILLANCE, MONITORING AND EVALUATION
• APPENDIX 1 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE METHODOLOGY USED FOR DEVELOPING THE GLOBAL RECOMMENDATIONS ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR HEALTH
• APPENDIX 2 DETAILED REFERENCE OF LITERATURE
• APPENDIX 3 EXAMPLES OF MESSAGES USED TO PROMOTE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AT NATIONAL LEVEL AND CONSISTENT WITH THE GLOBAL RECOMMENDATIONS
• APPENDIX 4 GUIDELINE GROUP MEMBERS
• APPENDIX 5 GLOSSARY
• APPENDIX 6 LIST OF PEER REVIEWERS (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)
• APPENDIX 7 WHO REGIONAL OFFICES CONSULTED
• APPENDIX 8 WHO SECRETARIAT
• REFERENCES

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