Physical activity indicators are deteriorating worldwide, which requires policy recommendations and guidelines to respond in a relevant and timely manner — says Dr Gyöngyvér Lacza, Head of the Department of Recreation at the Hungarian University of Sport Science.
– Let’s perhaps start by clarifying the broader context surrounding physical activity.
– Public health encompasses several important aspects, one of which is physical activity. This area rests on several closely interconnected pillars, such as nutrition, mental health, environmental awareness, and social well-being. It has been shown that individuals who are physically active tend to have more stable mental health and broader, stronger social connections.
– Can you provide specific data?
– The large-scale Active Lifestyle Survey conducted in Hungary in 2024, as well as the Eurobarometer survey carried out across EU member states in 2022, both confirm that there has been a significant decline in health indicators throughout Europe, regardless of age. For example, the proportion of physically inactive individuals exceeds 50%. In Hungary, 55% of the adult population never engages in any form of sport, while nearly two-thirds of respondents do screen activities on daily basis. Additionally, the 2019 ELEF (European Health Interview Survey in Hungary) data shows a drastic increase in obesity rates.
– What provides an adequate response to this situation?
– This is where recommendations come into play — such as those issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) — which offer guidance for children, adults, and the elderly on the minimum amount of daily physical activity that should be performed.
– What role do guidelines play in all of this, and how can they change or positively influence the situation described above?
– In addition to recommending levels of physical activity, the WHO also provides suggestions on how to intervene in the situation. For instance, the WHO — and this is reflected in the Monspart Sarolta Active Lifestyle Strategy as well — recommends the creation of active communities, the activation of individuals, the development of environments that support an active lifestyle, and the establishment of proper strategies and supportive methods. The professional concept behind our strategy is fully aligned with the recommendations of the WHO’s guiding policy document “Be Active: WHO Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030.”I should also add that our strategy takes into account age-specific approaches, people with disabilities, disadvantaged social groups, and individuals with chronic illnesses, as these groups have different needs when it comes to physical activity programmes. Guidelines from countries around the world contain more or less the same elements: their aim is to ensure that everyone reaches the minimum recommended level of physical activity, while also addressing how to transform city structures, transportation systems, motivational foundations, and available opportunities for different age groups.
– What goals are being set for the Hungarian population in the Monspart Sarolta Active Lifestyle Strategy?
– The overarching goal of the strategy is to achieve at least a 10% improvement in the minimum physical activity indicators within the medium term (within five years), and in the long term, to ensure that every Hungarian citizen reaches the WHO-recommended level of physical activity. This includes at least 150–300 minutes of moderate or 75–150 minutes of high-intensity physical activity per week for at least half of the adult population, daily 60 minutes of physical activity for at least 60% of children and adolescents, reducing the proportion of physically inactive people to below 40% by 2030,ensuring universal access to physical activity opportunities — including for disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities, and increasing the number of years lived in good health across the population.
