JavaScript is Disabled
Your browser's JavaScript functionality is disabled. It has to be enabled to use this function of ConfTool.
Here you can find information on how to enable JavaScript
If you have any problems, please contact the organisers at info@hepa2026.si.

Conference Agenda

Overview and details of the sessions of this conference. Please select a date or location to show only sessions at that day or location. Please select a single session for detailed view (with abstracts and downloads if available).

Daily Overview

Session

WR3_2_2: Symposium: Discussing national experiences from Germany, Japan and Slovenia in regards to PA / 24h movement guidelines and PA recommendations’ development, update and adoption.
Location: White room 3
Session Chair: Petru Sandu

Presentation 1

Discussing national experiences from Germany, Japan and Slovenia in regards to PA / 24h movement guidelines and PA recommendations’ development, update and adoption.

Chair(s): Petru Sandu (The National Institute of Public Health in Romania, Romania)

Insufficient physical activity (PA) in the populations is a growing global health problem, nearly one-third (31%) of adults worldwide not meeting the recommended levels of PA in 2022, compared with 23% in the year 2000. In this context, the WHO’s Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour (2020) importance for PA promotion is multi-fold. It sets out global targets for PA practice within different population sub-groups, stand-out as progress monitoring indicators and can assist different stakeholders, from policy & decision-makers to practitioners in their endeavour to promote PA within the population.

However, the adoption and use of WHO’s PA recommendations at national level varies from country to country, and in time, depending on a variety of factors, e.g. own capacity to further develop national PA guidelines/recommendations based on the population PA status and include this information in the national PA strategy, in its deployment phase.

This symposium aims to cover this gap by presenting recent developments in the uptake/update of national PA recommendations or guidelines in 3 countries: Germany, Japan and Slovenia, that are in various stages of their national PA policy/strategy cycle.

The symposium will start with a presentation from Germany presenting a theory based, evidence informed and consensus-oriented update process of their national PA guidelines and PA promotion recommendations.

The second presentation examines the gaps, at different levels in Japan, regarding the knowledge and uptake of the updated national PA guidelines.

Finally, the third presentation from Slovenia showcases the importance of creating national evidence-based 24-hour movement guidelines (24-HMG), a supportive policy environment, and cross-sectoral engagement to achieve sustainable population-level behavioural change.

This symposium is unique in the way of presenting experiences of countries from different continents or regions, with different political-administrative systems and socio-cultural backgrounds impacting the national PA guidelines development and uptake.

The presentations will be followed by a moderated discussion related to gaining insights into e.g. 1. the relationship between the WHO and national PA guidelines and recommendations updates, 2. Guidelines and recommendations' promotion including the policy implementation or limitations and 3. challenges using the PA guidelines and recommendations to positively impact population’s PA levels.

Presentations of the Symposium

Updating the National Physical Activity Guidelines and Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion in Germany: the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach , Participation and Sectoral Relevance

Antonina Tcymbal¹; Karim Abu-Omar¹; Wolfgang Geidl¹; Eriselda Mino¹; Julian Resch¹; Sven Messing²; Klaus Pfeifer¹
1: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg; 2: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg; University of Limerick

Purpose: Physical activity (PA) guidelines and recommendations for PA promotion (PAP) are systematically connected in Germany. PA guidelines update integrates international guidelines, the latest evidence base, newly considered target groups, and quality aspects of PA. In parallel, sector-specific recommendations for PAP are being developed, addressing cross-sectional issues such as equity, planetary health, and crisis preparedness.

Methods: The PA guidelines update follows the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach, including systematic analyses of international guidelines and underlying evidence. Additional systematic reviews addressed light-intensity PA and PA quality. Adaptations were agreed upon through a structured consensus process involving 31 experts. For PAP, systematic reviews of reviews were conducted, relevant policy documents were analysed, and expert interviews and focus groups were carried out. The recommendations are refined in a comprehensive participatory process including experts from various social and political fields.

Results: The German PA guidelines are based on the 2020 WHO guidelines, current guidelines from Canada, Ireland and Singapore, and relevant clinical guidelines. Evidence updates enabled refinements for children and adolescents, adults, pregnant and postpartum women, older and (pre-)frail adults, people with non-communicable diseases, and people with disabilities. For PAP, 101 sector-specific and 68 cross-cutting draft recommendations were derived. Approximately 120 stakeholders participate in sectoral working groups (education, health, transport and urban planning, sport, and workplace) to revise and consolidate recommendations by July 2026.

Conclusions: The combined evidence-based and participatory approach will improve implementation and cross-sectoral action on PAP with integrated responses to challenges such as equity, planetary health, and crises.

Cross-Level Dissemination Gaps Following the 2024 Revision of Japan’s National Physical Activity Guidelines

Noriko Takeda¹; Yuko Oguma²; Yoshinobu Saito³; Takayuki Tajima⁴; Yoshino Hosokawa⁵; Kazuhiro Harada⁶
1: Kogakuin University; 2: Keio University; 3: Nippon Sport Science University; 4: Tokyo Metropolitan University; 5: Tokyo University; 6: Kobe University

Background:
In January 2024, Japan revised its national physical activity guidelines (Physical Activity Guide for Health Promotion 2023). Although physical activity guidelines are key policy instruments, evidence on how guidelines diffuse across policy, professional, and population levels remains limited. Cross-level assessments of dissemination are scarce.

Purpose:
This study assessed awareness, knowledge, and early uptake indicators of the guidelines across multiple levels, including prefectural governments, health professionals (medical doctors, health fitness programmers, and physical therapists), and the general population, to examine gaps.

Methods:
Between February and March 2025, web-based surveys were conducted among medical doctors (n=1323), health fitness programmers (n=415), and physical therapists (n=192). Data for the general population (n=3000) were also collected in February 2025. Outcomes included awareness (having heard of the guidelines or knowing their content), knowledge of key recommendations (full correct response), and intention to apply. Findings were compared with prefectural-level data.

Results:
Awareness at the prefectural government level was 94.7%. Among medical doctors, awareness and full correct response were 48.1% and 14.6%, respectively; among health fitness programmers, 94.9% and 51.8%; among physical therapists, 19.3% and 4.2%. In the general population, the corresponding figures were 16.3% and 2.7%. Disparities were observed across levels.

Conclusions:
Extending assessment beyond the policy level to include professional and population groups revealed cross-level gaps in awareness, knowledge, and early uptake indicators. Integrating multi-level indicators into monitoring frameworks may strengthen dissemination and uptake and improve population-level physical activity.

Slovenian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Adults: From Development to Implementation in Policy and Practice

Andrea Backović Juričan¹; Kaja Kastelic²; Tjaša Knific¹
1: National Institute of Public Health;Angela Boškin Faculty of Health Care; 2: National Institute of Public Health; InnoRenew CoE, Andrej Marušič Institute, University of Primorska

Purpose: Physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and sleep (i.e., 24-hour movement behaviours) are strongly associated with health and quality of life, representing an important public health determinant. Recognition of their interdependence highlights the need to address them within an integrated framework. To achieve sustainable population-level behaviour change towards a healthy balance of 24-hour movement behaviours, national evidence-based 24-hour movement guidelines (24-HMG), a supportive policy environment, and cross-sectoral engagement are essential.
Methods: The Slovenian 24-HMG for adults were released in 2025. While their development was initiated under the National Programme on Nutrition and Physical Activity for Health 2015-2025, the core work was conducted within the GIB24 project (2023–2025), supported by the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency and the Ministry of Health. The development followed the rigorous GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach. Following their release, a structured implementation plan was launched to integrate the guidelines into policy and practice.
Results: The Slovenian 24-HMG for adults were systematically disseminated across multiple sectors, including health, sport, and the environment, and promoted to professionals, decision-makers, media, and the general public. The guidelines have already informed the drafting of new strategic public health documents in the field of physical activity. The ongoing implementation process includes nationwide awareness-raising, professional capacity building, and inter-sectoral collaboration.
Conclusions: Integrating 24-HMG into national policy frameworks enhances their visibility, legitimacy, and practical uptake. A coordinated policy-to-practice approach strengthens their impact and contributes to improved health and well-being of the Slovenian adult population.