Last update:
19-Sep-2022

Regular physical activity and a healthy balanced diet are associated with multiple benefits for the physical, mental and social health of the population and they contribute decisively to the prevention and treatment of various diseases. There appears to be a systematic sidelining of physical activity worldwide, however, since more than one quarter of the adult population is physically inactive. At the same time, a shift towards unhealthy eating habits has taken place, turning obesity into a modern scourge. In order to address this modern challenge of insufficient physical activity and increasing rates of obesity, it will be necessary to design and implement sustainable public health policies and actions. Informing and educating citizens through appropriate awareness-raising activities, improving the health literacy and digital health literacy of the population, and establishing scientifically documented guidelines and practical recommendations may all contribute to making good health decisions and strengthening active participation in healthy activities, especially in vulnerable social groups. In an uncertain and constantly changing landscape posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, effective examples of public health actions to promote a healthy life style include the creation of health promotion schools, the use of workplaces as a framework for promoting healthy living, the development of urban green spaces and the regulation of the food industry, combined with a fight against deeply-established social health inequalities.

Key words: Empowerment, Health promotion, Physical activity, SARS-CoV-2, Sedentary lifestyle.