Perceptions of environmental opportunities for physical activity in the European Union

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred R�tten ◽  
Karim Abu-Omar
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
The European Union

scholarly journals Validity and Reliability of IPAQ-SF and GPAQ for Assessing Sedentary Behaviour in Adults in the European Union: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4602
Author(s):  
Kaja Meh ◽  
Gregor Jurak ◽  
Maroje Sorić ◽  
Paulo Rocha ◽  
Vedrana Sember
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Sedentary Behaviour ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
National Language ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Single Item ◽  
Physical Activity Questionnaire ◽  
Activity Questionnaires ◽  
Activity Questionnaire

Current lifestyles are marked by sedentary behaviour; thus, it is of great importance for policymaking to have valid and reliable tools to measure sedentary behaviour in order to combat it. Therefore, the aim of this review and meta-analysis is to critically review, assess, and compile the reliability, criterion validity, and construct validity of the single-item sedentary behaviour questions within national language versions of most commonly used international physical activity questionnaires for adults in the European Union: The International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form and the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 1749 records were screened, 287 full-text papers were read, and 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The results and quality of studies were evaluated by the Quality Assessment of Physical Activity Questionnaires checklist. Meta-analysis indicated moderate to high reliability (rw = 0.59) and concurrent validity (rw = 0.55) of national language versions of single-item sedentary behaviour questions. Criterion validity was rather low (rw = 0.23) but in concordance with previous studies. The risk of bias analysis highlighted the poor reporting of methods and results, with a total bias score of 0.42. Thus, we recommend using multi-item SB questionnaires and smart trackers for providing information on SB rather than single-item sedentary behaviour questions in physical activity questionnaires.

scholarly journals Policy, trade, economic, and technological aspects of improving nutrient intake and lifestyles in the European Union

2001 ◽  
Vol 4 (2a) ◽  
pp. 325-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jo Hautvast ◽  
Ibrahim Elmadfa ◽  
Mike Rayner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
European Commission ◽  
European Community ◽  
Vegetable Consumption ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The Public ◽  
Nutrition Labelling ◽  
Nutrition Committee ◽  
The Eu

Summary of recommendations1.A new Nutrition Committee for the European Union1.1 A new Nutrition Committee for the European Union, should be created to give independent scientific and policy advice on nutrition, diets and physical activity to the Commission. This should be supported by a strengthened Nutritional Unit within the Commission.2.Policy development2.1 There needs to be a comprehensive and coherent nutritional policy for the EU2.2 The development of European dietary goals should continue after the completion of the Eurodiet Project.2.3 The European Commission should revise its Recommended Daily Allowances for vitamins and minerals using a systematic, evidence-based approach. Recommended Daily Allowances should be set at a level which would prevent deficiencies and lower the risk of disease.2.4 The European Commission should produce, preferably every four years, a report on the state of nutrition, diet and physical activity in the EU. This report should contain proposals for action3.Components of a nutrition policyEducation3.1 The European Commission should not be involved in the direct delivery of lifestyle advice to the public.3.2 The European Commission should continue to support networks whose members are involved in educating the public and in training professionals about nutrition, diets and physical activity.Research3.3 European Community funding of health-related research should better reflect the Community's public health priorities.3.4 The European Community should ear-mark funds for large, multi-centre studies into nutrition, diet and physical activity with a duration of up to 10 years.Consumer protectionFood labelling3.5 The European Commission should draw up proposals for the regulation of health claims.3.6 The European Community should agree rules for the use of nutrition claims along the lines agreed by the Codex Alimentarius Commission.3.7 The European Commission should review the 1990 Nutrition Labelling Directive particularly with a view to making nutrition labelling more comprehensible and it should encourage the development of other ways of providing consumers with information about the nutrient content of foods though, for example, the Internet.Food composition3.8 The European Commission should review the Novel Food Regulations, particularly with a view to ensuring that the nutritional consequences of consuming novel foods are better assessed and to making approval procedures more efficient.3.9 European Community rules on food fortification and on food supplements should be harmonised but in such a way that the interests of consumers are paramount.Agriculture policy3.10 The Common Agriculture Policy should be subject to a regular and systematic health impact assessment.3.11 Given that there are subsidies under the Common Agricultural Policy designed to increase consumption of surplus food, these should be directed towards promoting the consumption of foods for which there is strong evidence of a need for increased consumption in the EU for health reasons.Special issuesFruit and vegetable consumption3.12 The promotion of increased fruit and vegetable consumption across the EU should be a key aspect of the European Union's proposed nutrition policy.Breast feeding3.13 The European Union should review its policy on breast feeding including assessing and, if necessary, improving its legislation on breast milk substitutes and maternity leave.Physical Activity3.14 The European Union should have a policy for promoting physical activity in Europe. This should be part of, or at least closely integrated with, the European Union's proposed nutritional policy.

Self-rated health and physical activity in the European Union

2004 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Abu-Omar ◽  
Alfred R�tten ◽  
Jean-Marie Robine
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Self Rated Health

scholarly journals Stages of change towards physical activity in a nationally representative sample in the European Union

1999 ◽  
Vol 2 (1a) ◽  
pp. 115-124 ◽  
Author(s):  
John M Kearney ◽  
Cees de Graaf ◽  
Soren Damkjaer ◽  
Lars Magnus Engstrom
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Stages Of Change ◽  
Behavioural Change ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Similar Proportion ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Maintenance Stage ◽  
Nationally Representative

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the distribution of the stages of change towards physical activity across Europe and the influence of sociodemographic variables on this distribution.DesignA cross-sectional study in which quota-controlled, nationally representative samples of approximately 1000 adults from each country completed a face-to-face interview-assisted questionnaire.SettingThe survey was conducted in the 15 member states of the European Union between March and April 1997.SubjectsThe questionnaire was completed by 15 239 subjects (aged 15 years upwards). Data were weighted by population size for each country and by sex, age and regional distribution within each member state.ResultsTwenty-nine per cent of subjects were in the precontemplation stage, while a similar proportion (30%) were in the maintenance stage. Ten per cent had been physically active but had relapsed recently. Considerable intercountry variation existed with Scandinavian countries tending to be lower in the precontemplation stage and southern countries tending to be higher (particularly Greece and Portugal). Men and younger subjects with a higher education level were more likely to be in the maintenance stage. Overweight and obese subjects were more likely to be in the precontemplation stage than normal-weight subjects. In terms of barriers to participating in physical activity ‘not being the sporty type’ was more important for those in precontemplation stages, while ‘work/study commitments’ was more important for those people in the maintenance stage.ConclusionsThe model of the stages of behavioural change towards physical activity was able to distinguish people according to their level and attitude to physical activity. The considerable intercountry and sociodemographic variation in the distribution of stages of change suggest that targeted programmes aimed at specific subgroups in the population identified using the model may be more effective in promoting physical activity.

scholarly journals A concise overview of national nutrition action plans in the European Union Member States

2005 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Lachat ◽  
John Van Camp ◽  
Stefaan De Henauw ◽  
Christophe Matthys ◽  
Yvan Larondelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Stakeholder Involvement ◽  
Nutrition Policy ◽  
Global Strategy ◽  
World Health ◽  
Action Plans ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States

AbstractObjectiveThis study presents an overview of national nutrition action plans in the member states of the European Union (EU), before its enlargement in 2004. In addition, their compliance with key recommendations of the World Health Organization, as documented in the First Action Plan for Food and Nutrition Policy and the Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, has tentatively been evaluated on the basis of the policy documents published.DesignLiterature review of publicly available policy national plans on nutrition and physical activity.SettingMember states of the EU before enlargement in May 2004.ResultsThe development of national nutrition action plans is gaining momentum. Six of the 15 EU member states – namely, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, France, The Netherlands and the UK – have an operational nutrition policy and four of them have published an elaborated description of their nutrition policy in English. By the end of 2004, another four countries are expected to have their plan finalised. The available nutrition action plans generally seem to comply with international recommendations, although large variations are observed between the member states in terms of terminology, nutritional recommendations, institutional framework, nutritional scope, social groups targeted and monitoring and evaluation structures.ConclusionsAlthough the importance of nutritional surveillance, a comprehensive approach to nutritional problems and stakeholder involvement is recognised by the action plans, the justification for it is vaguely described. This paper advocates for proper evaluation and documentation of interventions in public health nutrition and nutrition policies.

scholarly journals Impact of Policies in Nutrition and Physical Activity on Diabetes and Its Risk Factors in the 28 Member States of the European Union

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (10) ◽  
pp. 3439
Author(s):  
Szabolcs Lovas ◽  
Nour Mahrouseh ◽  
Olaniyan Simisola Bolaji ◽  
Noel Johny Nellamkuzhi ◽  
Carlos Alexandre Soares Andrade ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Population Based ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Member States ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Lifestyle Choices ◽  
European Health Interview Survey ◽  
The Impact

Since healthy eating and physically active lifestyles can reduce diabetes mellitus (DM) risk, these are often addressed by population-based interventions aiming to prevent DM. Our study examined the impact of nutritional and physical activity policies, national diabetes plans and national diabetes registers contribute to lower prevalence of DM in individuals in the member states of the European Union (EU), taking into account the demographic and socioeconomic status as well as lifestyle choices. Datasets on policy actions, plans and registers were retrieved from the World Cancer Research Fund International’s NOURISHING and MOVING policy databases and the European Coalition for Diabetes report. Individual-based data on DM, socioeconomic status and healthy behavior indicators were obtained via the European Health Interview Survey, 2014. Our results showed variation in types and numbers of implemented policies within the member states, additionally, the higher number of these actions were not associated with lower DM prevalence. Only weak correlation between the prevalence of DM and preventive policies was found. Thus, undoubtedly policies have an impact on reducing the prevalence of DM, its increasing burden could not be reversed which underlines the need for applying a network of preventive policies.

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