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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

Import to your local calendar

GR1_3_1: Symposium: Co-creating evidence-based guidance for physical activity and physical activity promotion: Experiences from Germany

Time:

Thursday, 10/Sept/2026:

10:00am - 11:10am

Session Chair: Klaus Pfeifer
Session Chair: Sonja Kahlmeier

Location: Glass room 1

Presentations

Co-creating evidence-based guidance for physical activity and physical activity promotion: Experiences from Germany

Chair(s): Klaus Pfeifer (FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany); Sonja Kahlmeier (City Health, Switzerland)

Background and Aim of the Symposium

Germany has launched an update of its combined National Recommendations for Physical Activity (PA) and Physical Activity Promotion (PAP). This process is based on an intersectoral initiative by the German Federal Ministry of Health (“Round Table on PA and Health”) and the latest scientific evidence on health-enhancing PA and measures to promote PA. In addition, the expertise of stakeholders from politics and practice (practice-based evidence) was incorporated to develop actionable, sector-specific recommendations. The update is grounded in systematic literature reviews (scientific reviews and international policy documents) and a systematic analysis of Germany’s political landscape for PAP. Draft recommendations were refined through a participatory process involving sector stakeholders. The symposium explores this process, the methods applied, and the potential to enhance the integration of PAP into policy and practice.

Summary of Contributions:

Geidl et al. outline the process to update PA recommendations, using a GRADE-ADOLOPMENT approach. The update innovatively expands the population group focus and incorporates considerations of PA quality and evidence on light-intensity PA.

Resch et al. present a co-creation approach to develop sector-specific and practice-relevant recommendations for PAP, grounded in evidence and further refined by more than 100 key stakeholders.

Abu-Omar et al. address the innovative integration of cross-cutting themes—planetary health, crisis resilience, and health equity—detailing methods and outcomes.

Birkholz et al. describe a systematic analysis of physical activity policy in Germany and the co-creation of policy recommendations using the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI).

Added Value:

The symposium highlights the innovation potential, opportunities, and challenges of co-creating sector-guided recommendations for PAP, and their potential impact on policy and practice.

Conclusion and Key Take-Home Messages:

Including movement quality and light-intensity activity broadens the understanding of health-enhancing PA.
The participation of stakeholders from political sectors enables contextual adaptation and supports the practical implementation of recommendations.
Addressing planetary health, crisis resilience, and equity offer opportunities for tackling current societal challenges.
Aligning the use of international tools with national processes can increase their policy relevance, and ultimately strengthen advocacy for the promotion of PA.

Presentations of the Symposium

Updating the German National Physical Activity Recommendations: Extending population groups and integrating physical activity quality, planetary health, and light-intensity physical activity

Wolfgang Geidl¹; Eriselda Mino¹; Karim Abu-Omar¹; Julian Resch¹; Antonina Tcymbal¹; Sven Messing²; Eva Lorenz¹; Melinda Herfet³; Malin Bleistein³; Susanne Tittlbach³
1: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2: University of Limerick, Ireland; 3: University of Bayreuth, Germany

Purpose

German physical activity (PA) recommendations require updating to address gaps concerning underrepresented populations and emerging topics. This initiative will revise the national guidelines by integrating PA quality, planetary health, and light-intensity PA.

Methods

Phase 1 of the update followed a structured approach based on the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT framework. A systematic review and content analysis of PA guidelines was conducted for major population groups. Based on identified guidelines, evidence maps were created to identify gaps and inform the need for additional reviews. Evidence reports were prepared for each population group including suggestions for modifications of the recommendations. In Phase 2, these evidence reports will be discussed with experts for each population group and used to finalize the recommendations

Results

In Phase 1, we identified 69 PA guidelines. Evidence gaps prompted additional reviews, including guideline reviews for people with NCDs and disabilities (n=131 guidelines) and frail older adults (n=4 guidelines), as well as umbrella reviews on light-intensity PA (n=24) and PA quality (n=23). Planetary health is addressed by a dedicated expert group. Since February 2026, five working groups for key population groups (5–8 experts each) review the evidence reports and will finalize recommendations through consultation by July 2026.

Conclusions

The evidence update forms the basis for the current revision of the German National Physical Activity Recommendations. By integrating emerging evidence on population groups, light-intensity PA, PA quality, and planetary health, the updated recommendations aim to better inform policy and practice.

Support/Funding Source

German Federal Ministry of Health

Updating Germany’s National Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion: A Co-Creation Approach to Sector-Specific Recommendations

Julian Resch¹; Karim Abu-Omar¹; Simone Kohler¹; Sven Messing²; Eriselda Mino¹; Antonina Tcymbal¹; Philip Bachert³; Peter Gelius⁴; Katja Siefken⁵; Susanne Tittlbach⁶; Gorden Sudeck⁷; Claudia Voelcker-Rehage⁸; Alexander Woll³; Klaus Pfeifer¹
1: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2: University of Limerick, Ireland; 3: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany; 4: Université de Lausanne; 5: Medical School Hamburg, Germany; 6: University of Bayreuth; 7: University of Tübingem; 8: University of Münster

Purpose:

Germany’s national recommendations for physical activity promotion (PAP) are updated following an intersectoral policy initiative of the Federal Ministry of Health. The update aims to replace the previous life-course with a sector-guided logic to improve strategic relevance and usability in PAP. Recommendations are developed for the sectors education, health, sport, transport, urban planning, and work, alongside intersectoral recommendations addressing overarching topics such as digital approaches and public education.

Methods:

The update is based on a comprehensive evidence review that informed the development of an initial draft of recommendations. A rapid review of relevant reviews (N = 861) and a content analysis of policies (N = 62) were conducted. Subsequently, a structured participatory development process is conducted to refine and contextualize this draft, involving stakeholders from research, policy and practice. Structured co-creation formats are applied to integrate sector-specific system knowledge and implementation perspectives.

Results:

A total of 124 stakeholders contribute to the participatory process. The 169 draft recommendations are further developed in sector-specific working groups using online and in-person formats. The co-creation process informs the formulation of sector-specific recommendations and supports contextual adaptation of international evidence to the German policy and practice environment.

Conclusions:

Replacing a life-course with a sector-guided logic represents a strategic shift in national PAP policy. Combining evidence synthesis with structured co-creation enables the systematic integration of field-based expertise while maintaining an evidence-informed foundation. Participatory and sector-guided approaches may enhance legitimacy, cross-sector coherence and uptake of the PAP recommendations.

Support/Funding Source:

German Federal Ministry of Health

Pushing boundaries – integrating planetary health, emergency preparedness and health equity in the National Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion for Germany

Antonina Tcymbal¹; Karim Abu-Omar¹; Eriselda Mino¹; Julian Resch¹; Sven Messing²; Wolfgang Geidl¹; Klaus Pfeifer¹
1: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2: University of Limerick, Ireland

Purpose: Over the past 30 years, physical activity (PA) guidelines have primarily focused on individual health benefits under the “health-enhancing physical activity” concept. Societal challenges such as increasing national and international inequality, pandemics and the climate crisis potentially require the adaptation of recommendations and measures to promote PA.

Methods: To integrate planetary health, emergency preparedness, and health equity as cross-cutting topics into the German Recommendations for PA Promotion, three expert groups (n = 7-15) were established. Literature searches and eight semi-structured interviews with experts (diet/nutrition, public health ethics) were conducted to discuss and develop plans on how to integrate the three topics in the PA promotion recommendations. Draft recommendations were developed in collaboration with the expert groups and shared with more than 100 stakeholders for feedback through a co-production process.

Results: The current draft recommendations emphasize engaging in PA that is seasonal, regional, and uses minimal equipment. Emergency preparedness guidelines now include adaptations for PA in extreme heat and the integration of PA promotion into emergency planning. Health equity is addressed across all sectors, with tailored recommendations on how to support vulnerable populations in being more physically active.

Conclusions: Integrating planetary health, emergency preparedness and health equity in PA promotion recommendations seems to be feasible However, discussions on the degree of implementation, potential trade-offs, and more general strategies of promoting PA on the population level are ongoing. This process highlights both opportunities and challenges in aligning PA promotion recommendations with broader sustainability and equity objectives.

Funding: German Federal Ministry of Health

Co-creating Policy Recommendations to Strengthen Physical Activity Promotion in Germany: A study using the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index

Leonie Birkholz¹; Johannes Brandl¹; Michael Becker¹; Antonina Tcymbal¹; Simone Kohler¹; Julian Resch¹; Eriselda Mino¹; Karim Abu-Omar¹; Geidl Wolfgang¹; Pfeifer Klaus¹; Sven Messing²
1: FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany; 2: University of Limerick, Ireland

Purpose
Despite the growing body of research on the effectiveness of policies to promote physical activity (PA), translation of evidence into action remains challenging. To better influence decision-making, it is crucial to formulate specific and actionable recommendations. Therefore, this study aimed to co-create policy recommendations to strengthen PA promotion in Germany.

Methods
We used the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI), following a four-step process. First, a systematic search identified national policies and implementation data for the 45 PA-EPI good practice statements, resulting in an evidence document. Second, the findings were validated by government officials via an online survey. Third, stakeholders from policy, practice and academia developed policy recommendations in a multi-sectoral expert workshop and an online survey. Fourth, these recommendations will be prioritised in another survey based on their relevance and feasibility.

Results
The search resulted in a 110-page evidence document, which was validated by 28 government officials (average of 11 responses per good practice statement). A total of 83 stakeholders and 12 facilitators participated in the expert workshop. Preliminary results indicate a need to shift from behaviour-focused interventions towards structural approaches. Moreover, policy actions supporting existing interventions such as exercise prescription were perceived as relevant. These recommendations will be further refined and prioritised in spring 2026.

Conclusion
The PA-EPI provides a systematic structure for co-creating policy recommendations based on country-specific data. Aligning its application with national processes – in our case the update of Germany’s national PA recommendations – is essential to ensure the buy-in of key stakeholders.

Funding source
ERA4Health