PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IMPLEMENTATION IN WORKPLACE, COMMUNITY AND SCHOOL (METHODS IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY)

Insufficient physical activity (PA) considered as one of the top 10 leading causes for premature death worldwide. It is estimated that at least 3.2 million deaths/year are attrib utable to insufficient PA (1). According to the World Health Organization (WHO) estimations, lack of PA contributes to approximately 17% of diabetes and heart disease, 12% of falls accidents in the elderly, and 10% of breast cancers and colon cancers (1). PA defined as any bodily movement that requires ener gy expenditure. It could contain a wide range of working, playing, carrying out household chores, travelling, and en gaging in recreational pursuits (2). In the past two decades, as a result of some effective health transitional factors, PA has decreased in all of age groups. More than 80% of the world’s adolescent popu lation is insufficiently physically active. Overweight and obesity in most individuals result from excessive energy consumption as primitive outcomes of physical inactivity (2).In Iran, most of studies reported high prevalence of physical inactivity. Results of some systematic review showed that estimates for inactivity ranged from approximately 30% to almost 70% and had considerable variation between sexes and studied sub-groups (3). In Iran, on average, 35.7% of the population (25.2% men and 46.5% women) are considered without physical activity (4). Also, in a national study conducted on 23183 school students (50.8% boys) with a mean age of 12.55 ± 3.3 years, it has been reported a considerably high prevalence of physical inactivity in Iranian children and adolescents, with higher rates among girls and older ages (7). A minimum amount of PA is recommended for adults aged 18 - 65 years is participation in aerobic PA with a moderate intensity for at least 30 minutes and 5 days a week or with a high intensity for at least 20 minutes and 3 days a week (5). Also, for adults, being physically inactive refers to not achieving the physical activity guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-to vigorous physical activity per week (8). In spite of the health benefits of PA and recommendations provided by international organizations, a significant percentage of individuals around the world take inadequate PA. Also, women are less likely to perform the minimum amount of PA. Barriers to PA from women’s perspectives are child responsibilities, role-ambiguity and role conflict, security concerns, lack of confidence, and insufficient knowledge about how to plan for PA, financial issues and time constraints (6). Most of our daily living environments, including transport, housing, employment, school and some leisure settings, have become less conducive to physical activity. Consequently, the overall trend is towards considerably lower levels of total physical activity.Technical developments have been most influential regarding opportunities for physical activity in occupational settings: a large proportion of employees now spend most of their work time sitting with little or no physical activity (9). PA is known as a complex and multi factorial behaviors, which is influenced by socio-demographic, psychological, physiological environmental and cultural variables. Specific strategies and ideas are shared regarding how physical educators can assert themselves and impart their knowledge in an effort to build support for policy implementations that enhance the delivery of physical education and physical activity in their schools and communities. Some strategies that can lead to enhanced physical education and PA experiences across all education settings are: The comprehensive school physical activity program should be implemented. High-quality physical education programs should be provided in schools. Afterschool programs should ensure participants are appropriately physically active. . Standards for childcare and early childhood education programs should be adopted to ensurechildren are physically active. School and universities should provide students and employees with opportunities and incentives to be physically active.Programmes and policies within the national physical activity strategy should reduce barriers and ensure access for all to physical activity and recreation. Target groups (age, gender, culture, norms, functionality, social class, etc.) should be involved in designing interventions that take account of their special needs. The health benefits of moderate-intensity physical activity must be emphasized. Adults should accumulate 30 minutes or more a day, while children and young people should have at least 60 minutes a day. Physical activity choices must be integrated in people’s daily lives in ways that make them easy, natural and desirable choices. Social and physical environments have to be created in which physical activity is the norm for all age groups.

Keywords:

Physical activity (PA) , Health , Community , School