Levels of Physical Activity Among Older Adults in the European Union

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ángel Luis Clemente Remón ◽  
Víctor Jiménez Díaz-Benito ◽  
José Emilio Jiménez Beatty ◽  
José Antonio Santacruz Lozano
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
European Union ◽  
Older People ◽  
World Health ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The North ◽  
Highly Active ◽  
Metabolic Equivalents ◽  
Health Organization

The study aimed to ascertain the levels of older European people’s physical activity according to sociodemographic variables. The sample size was 7,893 citizens aged 65 and over from the European Union. The participants were classified as physically inactive, adequately active, or highly active, according to the World Health Organization. The total metabolic equivalents of task minutes per week were also calculated. In the results, 55.5% of older people were adequately active, and 43.8% were highly active, especially in the North and West. The average metabolic equivalents of task minutes per week was 1,313 metabolic equivalents of task minutes, with walking as the main activity, followed by moderate physical activity and vigorous activity. Male older people of a lower age from the North and West, with a higher level of education and less difficulty in paying bills, were more likely to be physically active. As a conclusion, only slightly more than half the population were adequately active. These sociodemographic inequalities show the necessity of implementing specific measures.

scholarly journals Individuals’response to COVID-19 Restrictions in Europe: A Snapshot of Today and Hopes for Tomorrow

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kutl Ergün
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Demographic Variables ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Psychological Conditions ◽  
The World ◽  
The Future ◽  
Future Expectation ◽  
Self Discovery ◽  
Health Organization

This study presents the individuals' responses to the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering that many institutions and working places were closed due to the pandemic, the possible impact of COVID-19 restrictions on individuals was assessed. The study examined the number and frequencies of respondents in the survey including demographic variables (gender, income), and future expectation on economic situation and psychological conditions. There were 218 individuals from 24 European countries participating in the survey. The percentage of respondents, discovering personal strength (previously unaware of) during restrictions was 40%. This is a high percentage showing that isolation may contribute to self-discovery. Despite annoying restrictions, many individuals expressed their economic optimism for the future. Also, most of the participants stated that they had not enough money during these restrictions. Also, this study shows that trust in governments, the European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) was low during the pandemic restrictions. The results of this study might be useful and taken into account for potential future waves of this pandemic and possible new pandemics that may occur in the future.

scholarly journals Mental healthcare in the Slovak Republic: current situation and future challenges

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 88-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jozef Dragašek ◽  
Alexander Nawka
Keyword(s):  
Slovak Republic ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
International Organisations ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
The Czech Republic ◽  
The North ◽  
Future Challenges ◽  
Health Organization

The Slovak Republic is a landlocked country in central Europe with a population of over 5 million. The Czech Republic and Austria lie to the west, Poland to the north, Ukraine to the east and Hungary to the south. The largest city is the capital, Bratislava; the second largest city is Košnice. Slovakia is a member of the European Union, the United Nations, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organization, among other international organisations. The majority of the inhabitants of Slovakia are ethnically Slovak (85.8%). Hungarians are the largest ethnic minority (9.5%). With a gross domestic product (GDP) of €63.3 billion in 2009, Slovakia is classified as a middle-income country. In that year total health expenditure represented 6.7% of GDP (Pažitny, 2008), 34% of which went on pharmaceuticals, the highest share among all OECD countries (World Health Organization, 2010).

THE ACTIVIY OF INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS IN COVID-19 CRISIS MANAGEMENT

2021 ◽  
pp. 114-127
Author(s):  
Svetlana Cebotari ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
International Organizations ◽  
North Atlantic ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
The North ◽  
Un Security Council ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Impact

One of the most discussed issues in academia, but also in the discourse of polemologists, political scientists, economists and specialists in other fields is the issue regarding the impact of the COVID-19 virus on international security. Although all the attention of the international community has been focused on the emergence of the COVID-19 virus and its impact on the individual, societal, human and interpersonal relationships, it is worth paying attention to the involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. This article aims to highlight the role and involvement of international organizations in managing the COVID-19 crisis. The involvement of the United Nations, specifically of the UN Security Council, in the management of issues related to the COVID-19 crisis will be examined. The activity of the World Health Organization, the European Union, the North Atlantic Alliance in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will also be examined.

scholarly journals The Role of a Medicalized Discourse in the Global Activities of the World Health Organization

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 173-191
Author(s):  
Marta Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
European Union ◽  
Health Policies ◽  
World Health ◽  
Tobacco Policy ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Public Health Policies ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

This article presents selected results of a research project entitled Medicalization strategies of the World Health Organization1 in which the author analyzed and described three WHO policies characterized by a medicalizing approach. These three policies were compared with each other in terms of their conceptual (narrative) and institutional (practical) levels of medicalization and their effects. In order to better understand the role of a medicalized discourse in the global activities of the WHO, these three cases were also compared to one non-medicalizing policy. The aim of this article is twofold: firstly, to present two cases analyzed as part of the project, namely, the tobacco policy (a ‘medicalized’ one) and the ageing policy (a ‘non-medicalized’ one) and secondly, to consider the possible influence of WHO discourse on tobacco and ageing on public health policies in the European Union.

scholarly journals How to be physically active while social distancing? You need to exercise!

2021 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-162
Author(s):  
Leonardo Gomes de Oliveira Luz ◽  
Marcos de Sá Rego Fortes ◽  
Geraldo de Albuquerque Maranhão Neto
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Activity Level ◽  
World Health ◽  
Moderate Physical Activity ◽  
Physically Active ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Insufficient Physical Activity ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
The Impact

Introduction: A coronavirus epidemic began in November 2019 (COVID-19) in the Chinese city of Wuhan. However, the current scenario shows the coexistence of other pandemics, the insufficient physical activity level and obesity, the effect of this combination tends to enhance the complications attributed to coronavirus infection. In this scenario, among other strategies to combat COVID-19, social distancing, and active lifestyle compatible with a healthy immune function are recommended. Objective: The aim of this study was to analyse the impact of COVID-19 pandemic over the populational habitual physical activity and recommend the inclusion of a physical exercise routine in your daily life. Conclusion: Moderate physical activity is indicated in order to meet the recent recommendations of the World Health Organization and to optimize the immune response. Therefore, the daily physical exercise should be included, especially at home in longer periods of social distancing.

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.

Developing a postgraduate curriculum for European psychiatry

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (01) ◽  
pp. 45-49
Author(s):  
W. Gaebel ◽  
M. Hermans ◽  
M. Muijen ◽  
E. Sönmez ◽  
A. Kerst
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Task Force ◽  
Graduate Training ◽  
World Health ◽  
Psychiatric Training ◽  
European Federation ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Post Graduate ◽  
European Standards ◽  
Health Organization

Summary Background: The internal market of the European Union allows medical professionals, like psychiatrists, to work in their country of choice. Although the medical qualification is recognized in other countries, considerable differences in education remain. Objective: This article gives an overview of the current state of psychiatric training in Europe, previous efforts to harmonize it and future directions for action. Results: Psychiatric training in Europe is highly diverse. There is no official body within the European Union (EU) that is responsible for training harmonization. Despite previous efforts to generate common European standards for post-graduate training in psychiatry, the implementation continues to be a major challenge. Conclusion: The European Psychiatric Association (EPA), the European Union of Medical Specialists (UEMS), the World Health Organization (WHO) Europe and the European Federation of Psychiatric Trainees (EFPT) have decided to revive previous work on harmonized post-graduate education and created the Task Force on Education in European Psychiatry (TFEEP) in order to reach a training and education consensus in Europe. The creation of an attractive and high quality framework which is based on the needs of modern psychiatric practice and sensitive to European traditions and values is the main aim to be pursued in future.

scholarly journals The role and importance of the European Union and the WHO (World Health Organization) in ensuring social safety during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 34-39
Author(s):  
Magdalena Molendowska
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
World Health ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Current Assessment ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Guidelines And Recommendations ◽  
Time Information ◽  
The Eu

Purpose of the study: The object of the analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken by international organizations in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and thus to assess the effectiveness in ensuring public security. Two very important organizations were chosen for the analysis – the European Union, whose competences resulting from treaty provisions do not directly concern health, and in contrast – the World Health Organization (WHO), which was established to promote, ensure, and protect health. Methodology: The paper was prepared based on critical analysis of literature and the uncontrolled observation method. Main findings: The methods, forms of action and measures adopted to combat the pandemic, both by the EU and the WHO, cannot be described as fully effective. This was due to many reasons, different for both organizations, including lack of experience, adequate preparation, response time, information flow, access to vaccines, etc. Nevertheless, both organizations played a very important role. The EU has played and continues to play an integrating role, providing a sense of solidarity in the fight against the pandemic. The WHO, in turn, acts as an authority in the medical field, its guidelines and recommendations are credible to most of the international community. Application of the study: The presented article refers to the issue of security in a crisis situation, which is the COVID-19 pandemic. It implies reflections in such scientific fields as, among others security, healty and psychology. In addition, the study may be relevant to the discussion on strengthening the competences of the EU and WHO. Original/Novelty of the study: The subject matter addressed is very timely, in fact we are all caught up in the problem identified. The fight against the pandemic is still on and the current assessment is probably only a fraction of the research that can be fully presented once the pandemic is over. Therefore, the article may serve as an inspiration to continue deliberations about this topic. Perhaps only the invention of an effective drug, rather than a vaccine for COVID-19, can be declared a battle won.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document