1 a Department of Health, Kinesiology and Applied Physiology, Concordia University, Montreal, QC H4B 1R6, Canada.
2 b School of Human Kinetics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada.
3 c School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC V1V 1V7, Canada.
4 d Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada.

Youth get a D+ grade in physical activity: How can we change public health messages to help reverse this trend?

Appl Physiol Nutr Metab. 2019 May;44(5):567-570

Authors: Alberga AS, Fortier M, Bean C, Freedhoff Y

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to critique how the promotion of physical activity (PA) is communicated and offer evidence-based alternative framings to encourage PA in youth. We argue that PA promotion messaging should not be tied to outcomes that focus on changing physical appearance, preventing or treating diseases, or sport performance or competition. From a public health perspective, we suggest that PA should instead focus on campaigns, policies, and programs that tie PA to enjoyment, wellbeing, and play.

PMID: 30689401 [PubMed - in process]