Conference Agenda

Introduction

Current policy programs on physical activity (PA) in the Netherlands are expiring. To determine focus areas for new national policy, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sports wants to gain a broad perspective on future societal developments and a prediction of the future PA trends.

Methods

This study comprises two parts: an exploration of future societal developments (qualitative research) and an analysis of the future development of PA key-indicators (quantitative research). For the first part, workshops with experts and citizens were organized. In these workshops the PA system was mapped out using causal loop diagrams and societal developments were linked to specific elements in this system map. Societal developments came from a DESTEP-analysis looking at demographic, economic, socio-cultural, technological, ecological and political-legal factors and developments. In the second part, a system dynamic model was used to model the future development of a selection of key-indicators up to 2040. In this analyses a broad range of scenarios were taken into account.

Results

Results provide a description of expected future societal developments that influence PA of the Dutch population. The analysis also gives insight into long-term future developments of several PA key-indicators, for example “weekly sports participation”, “number of sport accommodations” and “adherence to physical activity guidelines”. These results will be presented at the HEPA 2026 conference.

Conclusion

This study will form a basis for future policy on PA by providing insight into recent and anticipated developments. This creates a foundation for broad thinking with a long-term perspective in policy.

Purpose: To estimate the impact of policy interventions regarding physical activity (PA) on future public health in the Netherlands, we developed a life course disease microsimulation model (LCDM). The impact estimation from this model of PA on health, costs, and quality of life will facilitate decision making concerning PA interventions by national policy makers.

Methods: The LCDM, an existing microsimulation model, was extended to include PA and PA-related health outcomes. Self-reported PA from a Dutch national health survey was used to model PA as MET minutes/week. For model input regarding health outcomes, we studied recent literature on the association of PA-level with the odds/risk of developing major non-communicable diseases type 2 diabetes, stroke, ischemic heart disease, congestive heart failure, breast cancer, colon cancer & dementia. Costs, Quality Adjusted Life Years (QALY’s), and workforce productivity serve as secondary outcomes. In an additional literature study, PA policy interventions with a significant effect on PA levels were identified. To illustrate the potential impact of PA policy interventions on public health in 2050, the results of these interventions were modelled and compared with a ‘usual’ policy projection (i.e. without PA policy interventions).

Results: For our primary health outcomes, we are currently running projections with the LCDM, and are able to present the results at the HEPA conference.

Conclusions: These results will be used to model or estimate the evidence based public health impact of national policies concerning PA.

Purpose: Public health emergencies, including pandemics, climate-related disasters, and conflict settings, often disrupt physical activity (PA) through movement restrictions, infrastructure damage, and displacement. Lower PA worsens cardiometabolic health, physical functioning and mental well-being. Despite strong evidence that PA supports both physical and psychological resilience, PA promotion is rarely integrated into emergency preparedness and response strategies.

Methods: A structured, narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature, international emergency preparedness frameworks (e.g. WHO and UN disaster risk strategies), and interdisciplinary expert consultation was conducted. This approach aimed to identify best practices on how to integrate PA into emergency management strategies (e.g., pandemics, natural disasters, human displacement, and climate-related events).

Results: The synthesis identified six priority action areas: (1) integrate PA considerations into emergency preparedness and response plans; (2) maintain and adapt active mobility infrastructure during crises; (3) enable low-resource and remote PA delivery formats; (4) promote short, flexible, and safe PA sessions/routines; (5) tailor interventions to vulnerable groups; and (6) ensure multisectoral coordination.

Conclusion: Integrating PA into emergency preparedness and response policy requires cross-sector collaboration between public health, sport, urban planning, occupational safety, and emergency management sectors. PA promotion can serve not only as a preventive health behaviour, but also as a public health resilience strategy to support mental health and social cohesion during crises. Developing safe, adaptable, and inclusive PA examples for low-resource environments and displaced populations may help reduce secondary negative health impacts during times of emergencies.

Purpose: Urban design is not merely an engineering task, but a strategic tool for public health. We documented government measures using the PA-EPI framework. The research aims to map policies, with a focus on active mobility, mixed land use, and infrastructure development, as well as differences in international practice.

Methods: Using the PA-EPI methodology, we conducted desk research and policy analysis of national legislation, decisions, and infrastructure programs. We compared the regulatory framework with specific implementation data and international best practices.

Results: Our research identified a duality in policies. While the legal framework supports sustainable mobility and mixed-use land use, in practice, there is a shift toward infrastructure investment. The inventory highlights successful measures on PA infrastructure development, but specific regulatory mechanisms that directly encourage active mobility and the diversification of space functions are less prominent. The results highlight a gap between “strategic intent” and “physical implementation” as well as shortcomings relative to international good practice exemplars.

Conclusions: While progress has been made in the construction of sports and PA facilities, the systematic transformation of the urban fabric to support PA remains a challenge. These stop at the level of individual responsibility, while urban planning regulations do not provide the necessary infrastructure or equitable access. The results highlight the need for future policies to more deeply integrate the “Health in All Policies” principle into urban planning and development practices.

Funding: IMPAQT.

Background

Physical activity (PA) guidelines typically emphasise quantitative targets, e.g., 150 minutes aerobic PA per week. However, qualitative aspects, such as subjective experiences of PA might substantially affect adherence and health. With this systematic review of reviews, we aim to synthesise evidence on PA experiences and their influence on PA adherence and health outcomes.

Methods

We searched for reviews in PubMed, Scopus, PsycINFO and Web of Science. The quality of the included reviews was assessed using the JBI checklist for Systematic Reviews and Research Syntheses. We extracted the results and applied qualitative content analysis with a coding scheme including outcome domains (PA adherence and health) and PA experience aspects (social, affective, cognitive-evaluative and other).

Results

Of the initial 7,462 records, 22 were included into the review of reviews. 17 reviews were of mixed-methods design. Overall, samples were heterogeneous with participants ranging from children to older adults. The results of the evidence synthesis show that several aspects of positive PA experience (e.g., connectedness, enjoyment) are associated with enhanced health (e.g., self-esteem, reduced loneliness) and adherence outcomes. At the same time, negative experiences (e.g., experiencing bullying) are associated with reduced health (e.g., depression), lower adherence and higher dropouts from PA.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that subjective experiences of PA represent important qualitative factors influencing health and sustained participation in PA. These results are considered in the current update of the German guidelines for PA and PA promotion and might ultimately extend recommendations beyond quantitative targets.

Funding Source

German Federal Ministry of Health

Background: Promoting physical activity in childhood is a key public health priority, yet many primary schools face challenges in delivering structured opportunities due to limited teacher training and resources. #ABCdaBola is a regional initiative designed to strengthen schools’ capacity to promote health-enhancing physical activity through collaboration between the education sector and a sport organization. The programme targets primary school children and aims to equip teachers with skills, resources, and support needed to integrate physical-motor activities more consistently in schools trhough motor expression classes.

Methods: The initiative was developed by Associação de Futebol do Porto in partnership with schools, municipalities, and university. Implementation includes teacher training, provision of structured lesson plans, and distribution of material kits to support activity delivery. Follow-up school visits provide pedagogical support and mentoring, while teachers feedback collection helps improve the project. The programme also organizes intermunicipal events where schools participate in playful physical activities and football-based games, complemented by health literacy workshops on healthy lifestyles and nutrition. Besides this, there is a data collection of physical fitness and well-being indicators, led by a university, that will allow to inform physical activity policies and possibly normative data.

Results: The programme is currently implemented in 49 primary schools in 18 municipalities of Porto district reaching approximately 8,000 children. Cross-sector collaboration and teacher capacity-building have emerged as key enablers of implementation.

Conclusions: School–sport partnerships may represent a scalable approach to strengthening local ecosystems that support physical activity promotion in childhood.

AP is supported by FCT UID/00617/2025 and LA/P/0064

Background: Local governments play a central role in shaping physical activity (PA) environments. Despite their importance for developing and implementing PA policies, only a limited number of monitoring tools were designed for the local level, and none assess the extent of policy implementation. This study aims to assess if and how the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI) – that was developed to assess the implementation of national policies – can be adapted for use at the local level.

Methods: In a first step, the PA-EPI Good Practice Statements (GPS) were adapted to the local level in online workshops, involving researchers with expertise in PA policy. In a second step, an expert survey was conducted to assess the applicability of the tool at the local level in different countries. Both policymakers and non-government stakeholders with expertise in local PA policy were recruited.

Results: The terminology of 38 out of 45 GPS was adapted to fit with local contexts, e.g. reworded to emphasize aspects relevant to the local-level. For the online survey, experts from 11 European countries were recruited. The results reveal similarities and differences between countries with regards to the jurisdiction of the local level and the availability of evidence of policy implementation.

Conclusions: This study shows that the national PA-EPI can be adapted to the local level. The results also have implications for the importance of considering the local context when using standardized policy evaluation tools.

Funding: ERA4Health