Third Party Funds Group - Overall project
Acronym: IMPALA
Start date : 01.01.2009
End date : 31.12.2010
Website: http://www.impala-eu.org/project/overview/
in the EU, two thirds of the adult population do not reach recommended levels of activity and a social gradient exists.
Although poorer people are more likely to walk or cycle to shops or work than those with higher incomes, they are less likely to be active in their leisure time. lack of nearby sports facilities, transport or su cient money may act as a barrier to engaging in leisure time physical activities.
A range of policy documents published by both the European Union and the World Health Organisation highlight the importance of equalising opportunities to engage in physical activity through inclusive and participatory approaches, stakeholder networks and multi-sectoral action.
A central theme to all of these strategies is the strong emphasis placed on policy- and environmental interventions which appear to show most promise for increasing physical activity levels of the population. Key features of such interventions are highlighted as: strong government intervention and leadership, community based action and the potential of a societal role for organised sports to improve PA behaviour and public health.