WHO INFORMATION SERIES ON SCHOOL HEALTH ... - PAHO/WHO

1.1 Why did WHO prepare this document?
Promoting Physical Activity in Schools
This document addresses the rise of sedentary lifestyles among young people and consequently adverse
health outcomes among children around the world. Interventions, in the form of policies and practices to
promote physical activity through schools, are suggested.
The World Health Organization has prepared this document to help policy makers, students, school personnel
and community members to understand:
• the significance of physical activity among children and adolescents.
• the significance of schools as an indispensable forum to promote physical activity.
• the nature of a Health-Promoting School and how efforts to promote health and physical activity
might be planned, implemented and evaluated as a part of the development of a Health-Promoting
School.
This document provides schools and communities with guidelines to promote physical activity in and through
schools in order to assist young people:
• to take control over and improve their health through physical activity.
• to obtain information that helps them make efforts for lifelong physical activity.
This publication is part of the Information Series on School Health developed by the World Health
Organization. Other publications in this series are listed on the inside front cover of this document.
1.2 Who should read this document?
This document is directed to:
a) School administrators, school staff, parents, community members who are concerned and committed
to fostering an environment conducive to physical activity and active living for children and adolescents.
b) Policy- and decision-makers, programme planners and coordinators at local, district (provincial) and
national levels who plan and implement physical activity programmes.
c) Officials in agencies, institutions and organisations who develop initiatives that promote physical
activity among young people.
d) Programme staff and consultants of international health, education and development programmes who
are interested in promoting health through schools.
e) Professional practitioners and researchers who design and deliver physical activity programmes for
young people.
f) Community leaders, health workers, service providers, media representatives and members of
organised groups, e.g. youth sports and public health organisations, interested in improving health, education
and well-being in schools and communities.
The concepts and strategies presented in this document apply to all countries, however due to variations in resources
and needs, programmes should be tailored according to the circumstances prevailing in each country.
WHO Information Series on School Health 2