Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Sport Science and Sport, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
2
Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, Health Research Institute, Department of Physical Education and Sport Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
3
Université Côte d’Azur, LAMHESS, Nice, France
4
Center for Promotion of Higher Education, Kogakuin University, Tokyo, Japan
5
Adults on the Move Program, Jamk University of Applied Sciences, Jyväskylä, Finland
6
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
7
Sports Medicine Research Center, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
8
Faculty of Sport Management, Nippon Sport Science University, Yokohama, Japan
9
Independent Researcher, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
10
Institute of Sport Sciences, Université de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
Abstract
Background
As public policies have the potential to change the entire system of physical activity (PA) promotion and to create conducive environments, they are particularly relevant to address the persistently low levels of PA across the world. Furthermore, World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) Global Action Plan on Physical Activity highlights the relevance of local governments as important partners for policy action. However, our knowledge on how local PA promotion policy compares across countries remains limited.
Methods
We conducted an exploratory study as part of the LoGoPAS project to compare the status quo of local PA policies across five municipalities in five different countries. Using purposive sampling, Jyväskylä (Finland), Nice (France), Erlangen (Germany), Fujisawa (Japan), and Cluj-Napoca (Romania) were selected. Data were collected and analysed via desk research and expert consultation using the CAPLA-Santé, a validated tool designed to assess relevant aspects of local PA promotion policies.
Results
The analysis showed that the main responsibility for PA promotion varied between municipalities, resting either with the sport or the health sector. A total of 50 relevant PA policy documents were identified, focusing on multiple settings and target groups. Budgets for PA promotion differed across municipalities. Research on PA was reported to have informed policy development in some but not all cases. Across countries, political support was identified as a key driver of local PA promotion.
Conclusion
LoGoPAS is the first study to apply the CAPLA-Santé outside of France and the first to use it for an international comparative analysis. Results highlight the ability of the tool to provide insights into local PA policy development, contents, and implementation worldwide. While this study provided a cross-sectional in-depth analysis of the status quo in select municipalities, future research could also aim to assess policies at a large scale, ie, for multiple municipalities and/or on a regular basis.
Keywords
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