National physical activity and sedentary behaviour policies in 76 countries: availability, comprehensiveness,...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Policy Analysis
• Global Health

Background:

• Limited evidence exists on current national physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) policies worldwide.
• International analysis of PA and SB policies is crucial for understanding global trends and gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the availability, comprehensiveness, implementation, and effectiveness of national PA and SB policies across countries.
• To identify disparities in PA and SB policy development based on income level and geographic region.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) Policy Inventory.
• Data collected from GoPA! Country Contacts in 76 countries, assessing national PA and SB policies.

Main Results:

• Formal PA policies exist in 92% of countries, while SB policies are present in 62%.
• Comprehensiveness, implementation, and effectiveness scores for PA and SB policies are generally low-to-moderate.
• PA and SB policies are more developed in high-income countries and European/Western-Pacific regions.

Conclusions:

• While PA policies are widespread, their quality and impact require improvement.
• SB policies lag behind PA policies in all assessed aspects.
• Enhanced investment and targeted strategies are necessary to strengthen PA and SB policies, especially in lower-income nations.