Physical Activity

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is proven to help prevent and manage many chronic diseases and conditions, such as, heart disease, stroke, diabetes and several cancers.

Being inactive carries health risks and, according to the World Health Organization, physical inactivity causes an estimated 3.2 million deaths per year.

Why is physical inactivity a public health issue?

Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, making it an important public health priority. People who are insufficiently active have a 20-30% increased risk of death compared to people who are sufficiently active (WHO).

By promoting physical activity at the population level, we can improve the health of individuals and communities and reduce the burden of chronic disease.

Regular physical activity has significant benefits for overall physical and mental wellbeing. It can improve muscular and cardio-respiratory fitness and bone health; reduce the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain cancers, and depression; reduce the risk of falls and fractures; and help maintain a healthy body weight.

Guidelines & Support

Finding something you enjoy doing is one of the easiest ways to be more physically active.

Ireland:

The Department of Health and Health Service Executive have produced National Guidelines on Physical Activity to support the promotion of physical activity.
Check with Sport Ireland and your Local Sports Partnership to see what’s available in your area.

Northern Ireland:

The Chief Medical Officers in the UK have issued this Guidance on the amount and type of physical activity people should be doing to improve their health.
The Choose to Live Better website, developed by the Public Health Agency, has information on becoming more active as well as information on local supports.

Key Facts: Physical Activity

Surveys offer insights into levels of physical activity among the general population

Ireland: 36% of adults met National Physical Activity Guidelines in the first half of 2022 (Irish Sport Monitor Report)

Northern Ireland: 25% of adults reported no activity in the previous week (Health Survey Northern Ireland)

Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Ireland, the following policies and strategies seek to promote physical activity.

Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan 2021-2025

National Physical Activity Plan (2016-2022)

Northern Ireland: Policy, Strategy, Legislation

In Northern Ireland, the following policies and strategies seek to promote physical activity.

Sport and Physical Activity Strategy

'Making Life Better' strategic framework

Recent work on physical activity

Our team use new and emerging evidence and data to develop policy briefs and submissions that will inform public policy in Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Recent work included the publication of the Ireland North and South Report Card in 2022, which found that that not all children and teens across Ireland and Northern Ireland have an equal chance to be active.

The Institute also recently launched a free online course, ‘Getting Active for Better Ageing’, to help healthcare professionals to support older people to have more physically active lives.

The online course is free and available through our Public Health Matters app and desktop platform. A second module on physical activity is in development and is expected to launch later in 2023.

Access the Public Health Matters desktop platform at https://learning.publichealth.ie/ or download the Public Health Matters app for free on the Google Play (Android) and iTunes store (Apple).

Latest Physical Activity Resources

Physical Activity

Cyclists

Factsheet: COVID-19 and Physical Activity

23 Oct, 2020 - The Institute of Public Health has launched a new factsheet series providing evidence relating to COVID-19 and key public health…

COVID-19 Physical Activity

Physical activity

Blog for #EPHW20: Covid-19, growing old and healthy

15 May, 2020 - It is European Public Health Week and today’s focus is on growing old and growing healthy. Dr Conor Cunningham from the Institute of Public Health provides some practical tips on how we can stay…

Ageing COVID-19 Physical Activity

Feet running

The COVID-19 Pandemic – How to stay physically active: advice for adults and older adults

7 Apr, 2020 - Why is it important to keep active at this time? Ensuring that we maintain our activity levels can help our physical health and reduce…

COVID-19 Physical Activity Ageing Mental Health

Older man performing exercises at home (online class)

The benefits of physical activity and the consequences of physical inactivity in older adults

10 Feb, 2020 - Older people who are physically active are at lower risk of developing breast and prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s disease and depression…

Ageing Cancer Mental Health Physical Activity