A comparative document analysis of national policies on physical activity among South East Asian region countries

Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor identified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as the fourth leading cause of global mortality. Global estimates indicate that 27.5% of adults and 81% of adolescents aged 11-17 do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity. Over the past two decades, research and policy development on physical activity have increased globally. This policy analysis aims to enhance understanding of the current status of physical activity related policies across 11 WHO South East Asia Region (SEAR) nations, contextualized with Indian policy developments. A comparative document analysis approach was adopted and a systematic search of policy documents was conducted across multiple governmental and non-governmental sources using specific search terms. The initial search identified 50 documents and after screening against the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 14 documents were included in the analysis. Select components of the Comprehensive Analysis of Policy on Physical Activity (CAPPA) Framework were used as a guiding framework for the analysis. The study found that several SEAR countries lacked standalone national physical activity policies, relying instead on guidelines within broader noncommunicable disease policies. It also found that the policies had a limited focus on tailored strategies across age, sex and socio-economic backgrounds. The findings underscore the need for standardised and disaggregated data on the prevalence of physical inactivity. Further it highlights opportunities for strengthening inclusivity and effectiveness of physical activity policies in India and similar contexts.

The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02739-8.