The focus of this session was physical activity and the meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the recent activities of the Commission and to hear presentations from both platform members and guest speakers. The presentations focused on ’health enhancing physical activity.’ Afterwards the floor was opened for a debate where stakeholders’ proposals and commitments to physical activity were discussed.
The meeting was chaired by Mr. Robert Madelin, Director General of DG Sanco.
The session began with a brief follow up from the Joint HLG/Platform meeting, which took place on 2 July 2008 . The issues covered included: National Salt Initiatives Cooperation between platform members and the HLG Monitoring/Governance/Awareness Raising
Regarding National Salt Initiatives, it was suggested that members themselves should investigate how they could support campaigns to reduce salt intake, such as raising public awareness of the health implications. Findings from an EU Salt study found that the average daily intake of salt across Europe was 8-11g which is above the Recommended Daily Intake (RDI) level. Of this amount of salt intake, 70-75% came from the consumption of processed foods, whilst only 10-15% came from discretionary use of salt when cooking. By increasing awareness of the dangers of too much salt, and by clearly labelling salt content on packaged food, people will be able to reduce their intake. An EFSA Platform is to examine the similarities and differences in salt intake within European diets.
The Platform received responses to its enquiry about furthering cooperation between platform members and the High Level Group (HLG). At the time of the plenary meeting, the Commission had received 23 responses from the platform members and 17 from the HLG. There was a general consensus on several ideas:
1.Annual joint Platform/HLG meeting 2.Participation of the Member State holding the Presidency at the Platform 3.Exchange of documents between Platform and HLG
EPHA welcomes the move to incorporate on a more permanent basis, and we would also like to see more regular joint meetings of the Platform and HLG. We do believe, however, that the relationship should be one with more mutual exchange, such as HLG reporting to the Platform.
With regards to monitoring, governance and awareness raising, the chairman announced a workshop to be held on 27 October 2008 in Brussels, where issues that need to be monitored can be identified. On 21 October, a meeting will be held in Luxembourg to discuss the Salt Initiative and also the issue of raising awareness together with a discussion on Pubic Private Partnerships (PPP) governance. This could prove to be a contentious issue, with some platform members expressing concern that there is an intrinsic conflict of interests between the public and private sectors.
Next on the agenda was the topic of physical activity in the European Commission. Michal Krejza (DG EAC) presented the draft EU guidelines for physical activity. The guidelines are to encourage and aid Member States to create their own policies and guidelines, policies which ,will hopefully make it easier and more attractive for people to undertake physical activity. The guidelines aim to be cross-sectional, covering sports, health, education and transport.
The members reaction to the guidelines was on the whole positive, as it was recognised that physical activity was a cheaper means of achieving a healthy population and lower level of obesity. There was, however, some disagreement as to how specific the guidelines should be. As sport remains a Member State competency, regulations regarding sports in schools, for example, cannot be made. In addition, given the fact that the realities differ across Member States and regions within these states, the guidelines would have to be kept general, but some platform members said that lessons should be taken from Member States where similar guidelines are already having an effect.
Brian Martin from Health Advancing Physical Activity (HEPA) gave a presentation on what exactly constitutes health-enhancing physical activity. He provided statistics showing that on average only 30% of the European population is sufficiently active. Schemes for tackling this issue were introduced, such as cross-sector work with the transport sector and incentives for employers to provide exercise facilities for their employees. Platform observer Michael Sjostrom commented upon the fact that there is still a need to document the situation further by measuring levels of physical activity, and he also questioned what the aim of increasing physical activity was. If it is to prevent/reduce levels of obesity, then one must not ignore the nutritional aspect.
Dr. Alisdair Thin from the Heriot-Watt University gave a presentation documenting developments in a more novel area of physical activity, namely interactive and exercise-generating video games. His research provided interesting results comparing the level of physical activity needed for different games, such as the Wiifit.
Tamsin Rose introduced the Working Paper on Platform Commitments in Physical Activity. This provided an opportunity to clarify the difference between physical activity and health-enhancing physical activity. She also pointed out that the current obsession with cardio-vascular fitness ignores the need for muscle strength and flexibility. It was underlined once more that levels of activity not explain increase in body weight, nutrition is a huge factor. Neville Rigby from the International Obesity Task Force suggested that the priority should be to identify and support inactive and vulnerable groups with policies such as Sports for All.
There followed a series of short presentations on the Platform Commitments:
“GO”- Girls Only, an activity programme designed to change the negative perception of physical activity amongst girls and young women. Project led by DC Leisure Management, a member of the European Fitness and Health Alliance (EFHA). Found that 40% of girls drop out of all physical activity by the age of 18. Targeted disengaged girls from deprived areas. Results showed that intervention had a positive impact on attitudes to physical activity. However, the logistical impediments to implementing this programme nationwide are numerous. Where would the funding for subsidised sports classes at gyms come from, and what about the lack of facilities in deprived areas.
Physical Activity and Diabetes Management and Prevention- Joao Nabais from the International Diabetes Federation reported how the findings of the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study (DPS), which showed a 58% reduction in diabetes type 2 risk as a result of lifestyle modification, have led to the project being adopted in Cyprus, Slovenia and Portugal.
PATHE (Physical Activity Towards a Healthier Europe)- Saska Benedicic Tomat reported on the progress of the ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association) project aimed at developing an effective national campaigns to make selected targeted audiences aware of the necessity to lead healthy lifestyles by doing physical activity. The project also aims to broaden the availability of physical activity programmes.
Shape Up Project aimed at increasing participation in physical activity in schools across Europe. The results provoked a discussion about timetable restraints for children engaged in sport and also the space required for physical activity. Platform members did remark that a similar programme carried out in the USA had produced no change in physical activity, despite large effort.
The ECF and Lifestyle Commitments- Randy Rzewnicki from the European Cyclists’ Federation spoke briefly about how the federation advocates for a healthier urban transport policy.
The meeting finished up with an open floor debate on matters discussed that afternoon, with particular reference to how platform members can incorporate physical activity into their work programmes. The chairman asked the platform whether they would be able to adopt a physical activity commitment in 2009. There was also a request for the networks to align their policies, and find out their strengths and weaknesses by continuing to work together.
