Physical activity and health promotion: comparative results on the interplay of policy, behaviour, and infrastructure

Objectives: The focus of physical activity promotion is moving from measure s to increase health-enhancing physical activity on the individual level to higher-level strategies including policy and environmental approaches. Sci entific evidence, traditionally related to individual-based strategies, cal ls for adaptation and refinement when environmental and policy changes beco me more relevant. Methods: This paper investigates differences in physical activity promotion and public policy among six European countries. Data from a European study on public health promotion policy and health behaviours (MAREPS) is analys ed to study behaviour, community-based opportunities for physical activity, and populations' perception of the effectiveness of their national politie s in promoting physical activity. Results: Analyses show significant differences in both involvement in acid perceived opportunities for physical activity among the investigated countr ies. Populations in Finland, Switzerland, and The Netherlands show comparab ly higher participation and, at the same time, perceive better opportunitie s for physical activity within the residential environment than people in E ast Germany, Belgium, and Spain. Moreover, respondents from the former grou p of nations report considerably greater contribution of health policy in t heir country to the promotion of physical activity than respondents from th e latter group. Conclusions. In conclusion, the results provide empirical support for the s ignificance of environmental and policy approaches with regard to physical activity. Opportunities created by implementing such approaches may enable populations to develop more active lifestyles conducive to health. Further research employing longitudinal designs could be especially helpful to expl ore the causalities of the relationship between policy environment and phys ical activity.