Suva, Fiji, 4 February 2009—The World Health Organization has launched its Pacific Physical Activity Guidelines to help address the escalating prevalence of noncommunicable diseases in the Pacific region.
The guidelines, established in collaboration with Secretariat of Pacific Community and the University of Sydney's Center of Physical Activity and Health, is a critical step in the implementation of the "WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health", adopted in May 2004, to substantially reduce deaths and disease burden worldwide.
Healthy diets and regular, adequate physical activity are major factors in the promotion and maintenance of good health throughout the entire life course, WHO said. Unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyle are two main modifiable risk factors that could lead to cardiovascular diseases. Cancer, diabetes and obesity—other major chronic diseases in the Pacific—are also significantly affected by unhealthy lifestyles, diet or physical inactivity.
The guidelines were disseminated to health professionals, relevant stakeholders and the public, to raise awareness of the guidelines and encourage public participation in adequate physical activities for health-enhancing benefits. The guidelines also seek to help in the development of policies and programmes that support physical activity in populations and communities.
The document is divided into five parts:
- Part 1 sets out primary guidelines for physical activity for generally healthy adults age 18–65 which are applicable to all Pacific island countries.
- Part 2 provides the background, context and rationale of this document.
- Part 3 outlines the scientific evidence informing the development of the Pacific physical activity guidelines.
- Part 4 provides an approach for disseminating the guidelines and for evaluating their uptake by countries.
- Part 5 highlights the importance of linking the guidelines to policy and country plan of action.
http://www.wpro.who.int/southpacific