National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion

Abstract

Always and at any age, regular physical activity can act as a powerful elixir with a beneficial effect on health and well-being. The wide variety of health effects that physical activity can have, for example on our cardiovascular system, back and joints, is scientifically well proven. At the same time, we spend most of our time sitting – at school, at the office or in the car. Our bodies, however, want to be on the move! This fundamental instinct is deeply rooted in human nature and this basic urge to move does not really suit our modern sedentary lifestyle.That is why it is important to know what kind of, and how much, physical activity is most effective in improving the health of which sectors of the population. However, we also need to know the specific ways in which we can most effectively motivate people to become physically active. For the very first time, this publication sets out National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion for the Federal Republic of Germany. The recommendations apply to children and adolescents, adults and older persons as well as to adults with chronic diseases. In their present form, they are geared particularly to experts in different areas and institutions. The recommendations are characterized by their solid scientific grounding. Highly respected scientists from the fields of sports science, sports medicine and public health were involved in drawing them up. As with their creation, the recommendations’ further development and implementation will be accompanied closely by the working group on physical activity promotion in everyday life (“Bewegungsförderung im Alltag”) at the Federal Ministry of Health. This platform provides a forum for numerous organizations involved in health promotion, physical activity and sport in Germany and is part of the National Action Plan “IN FORM – German national initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity”.