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Physical Inactivity and COVID-19: When Pandemics Collide

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journal contribution
posted on 2021-11-08, 14:36 authored by Andrea Ramirez Varela, Robert Sallis, Alex V Rowlands, James F Sallis
In 2012, the Global Observatory for Physical Activity (GoPA!) was established to provide information that would enable countries to initiate or improve research capacity, surveillance systems, program development, and policymaking to increase physical activity levels. Findings from the first GoPA! Country Cards showed an unequal distribution of physical activity surveillance, research productivity, and policy development and implementation around the world. Regular global monitoring of these factors, especially in countries with the largest data gaps, was recommended to combat the global pandemic of physical inactivity. After 6 years and using standardized methods, GoPA! is launching the second set of Country Cards based on data up to 2019 from 217 countries. Overall results showed that periodic national surveillance of physical activity was less common in low-income countries, compared with middle- and high-income countries. Large inequities were seen with more than a 50-fold difference in publications between high- and low-income countries and 32% of the countries worldwide had no physical activity policy. GoPA! has a critical role in facilitating evidence-based physical activity promotion building on international guidelines and the World Health Organization Global Action Plan. GoPA! will continue to monitor progress as we battle the global pandemic of physical inactivity.

History

Citation

Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 18 (10), pp. 1159-1160

Author affiliation

Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester

Version

  • AM (Accepted Manuscript)

Published in

Journal of Physical Activity and Health

Volume

18

Issue

10

Pagination

1159 - 1160

Publisher

Human Kinetics

issn

1543-3080

eissn

1543-5474

Copyright date

2021

Available date

2021-11-08

Language

English

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