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Evidence-based physical activity promotion - HEPA Europe, the European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity

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Abstract

There has been a world-wide increase in scientific interest in health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). The importance of a physically active lifestyle has now been well established both on the individual and on the population level. At the same time, physical inactivity has become a global problem. While sports for all has a long history, only a few examples of long-term integrated physical activity promotion strategies have been in place in Europe until recently, namely in Finland, the Netherlands and England. A number of countries have now begun to develop their own activities. However, there has been a noticeable lack of a platform for sharing the development and implementation of evidence-based policies and strategies. In order to fill this gap, HEPA Europe, the European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity, was founded in May 2005 in Gerlev, Denmark. The goal of the network is to strengthen and support efforts and actions that increase participation in physical activity and improve the conditions favourable to a healthy lifestyle, in particular with respect to HEPA. The Network is working closely with the WHO Regional Office for Europe (http://www.euro.who.int/hepa). The network focuses on population-based approaches for the promotion of HEPA, using the best-available scientific evidence, and is currently implementing its first projects. HEPA Europe has established collaboration with EU Commission projects and Agita Mundo. Priorities for future work have been defined, and interested organisations and institutions have the opportunity to join the network and participate in the process.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Physical Activity and Health Branch, Swiss Federal Institute of Sports Magglingen, Swiss Federal Office of Sports, 2532, Magglingen, Switzerland

    Brian W. Martin & Michael Sjöström

  2. WHO, European Centre for Environment and Health, Rome Office, Rome, Italy

    Sonja Kahlmeier & Francesca Racioppi

  3. Gerlev PE and Sports Academy, Gerlev, Denmark

    Finn Berggren

  4. Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, Helsinki, Finland

    Mari Miettinen

  5. University Pierre et Marie Curie-Paris 6, Nutrition, Hotel Dieu, Paris, France

    Jean-Michel Oppert

  6. South East Public Health Group, London, UK

    Harry Rutter

  7. Faculty of Physical Culture, Palacky University, Olomouc, Czech Republic

    Radim Šlachta

  8. VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Mireille van Poppel

  9. Countrywide Integrated Noncommunicable Diseases Intervention Programme (CINDI), Ljublijana, Slovenia

    Jozica Maucec Zakotnik

  10. Dresden Technische Universität Dresden, Research Association Public Health Saxony and Saxonx-Anhalt, Dresden, Germany

    Dirk Meusel

  11. UKK Institute, Tampere, Finland

    Pekka Oja

  12. Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

    Pekka Oja

Authors
  1. Brian W. Martin
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  2. Sonja Kahlmeier
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  3. Francesca Racioppi
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  4. Finn Berggren
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  5. Mari Miettinen
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  6. Jean-Michel Oppert
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  7. Harry Rutter
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  8. Radim Šlachta
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  9. Mireille van Poppel
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  10. Jozica Maucec Zakotnik
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  11. Dirk Meusel
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  12. Pekka Oja
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  13. Michael Sjöström
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Brian W. Martin.

Additional information

Members of the Steering Committee of HEPA Europe.

Representatives of the European Commission Working Party on Lifestyle (DM, MS), and the European Commission Network Project Task Force on Public Health Nutrition and Physical Activity (JMO, HR, JMZ, DM, PO, MS).

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Martin, B.W., Kahlmeier, S., Racioppi, F. et al. Evidence-based physical activity promotion - HEPA Europe, the European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. J Public Health 14, 53–57 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0029-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10389-006-0029-5

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