ACTIVE What is physical activity? active and thus can either enable or hinder participation. Understanding There are many different ways to b these causes of inactivity in a community physically active: walking, cycling, sports is necessary for the development of and other active forms of recreation(for effective tailored policy response example, dance, yoga, tai chi). Physical activity can also be undertaken as a Of note, is that girls, women, older adults form of transport(walking and cycling), people of low socioeconomic position, at work and around the home(cleaning, people with disabilities and chronic carrying and care duties). All forms of diseases, and marginalized populations hysical activity can provide health are often less active than others because benefits if undertaken regularly and of they have less access to appropriate sufficient duration and intensity (3) places and programmes to support them What is sedentary Economic development and the behaviour? associated changes towards more sedentary occupations and Sedentary behaviour is characterized recreation, as well as the increasing by a very low energy expenditure, use of motorized transport, can such as sitting, reclining or lying down help explain the higher levels of (4). Extended periods of sedentary inactivity seen in some high-,as behaviour(for example sitting at well as middle-income, countries work, during travel, or for leisure)are Governments and communities must detrimental to health (5). All individuals, act to counterbalance these trends a d especially children, should be and provide the environments, facilities advised and supported to limit long and services that support people to periods of sedentary behaviour by be active through more walking and incorporating regular activity breaks cycling, sports and active recreation, throughout the day, and, in particular as well as through incidental physical to limit the amount of time spent using activity throughout each day screen-based devices such as phones and tablets, and watching television What are the causes of The global recommendations physical inactivity? on physical activity for health Participation in physical activity outline the type, intensity influenced not only by individual and frequency and duration of family characteristics, such as knowledge, physical activity for optimal motivation and social support, but also health benefits for youth, adult by wider social and cultural values, as and older adults (2). Regular well as environmental and economic participation in physical activity conditions. These factors determine how is recommended for all ages accessible, affordable acceptable and and abilities to provide multiple safe it is for individuals to be physically health benefitsACTIVE ACTIVE 8 A technical package for increasing physical activity What is physical activity? There are many different ways to be physically active: walking, cycling, sports and other active forms of recreation (for example, dance, yoga, tai chi). Physical activity can also be undertaken as a form of transport (walking and cycling), at work and around the home (cleaning, carrying and care duties). All forms of physical activity can provide health benefits if undertaken regularly and of sufficient duration and intensity (3). What is sedentary behaviour? Sedentary behaviour is characterized by a very low energy expenditure, such as sitting, reclining or lying down (4). Extended periods of sedentary behaviour (for example sitting at work, during travel, or for leisure) are detrimental to health (5). All individuals, and especially children, should be advised and supported to limit long periods of sedentary behaviour by incorporating regular activity breaks throughout the day, and, in particular, to limit the amount of time spent using screen-based devices such as phones and tablets, and watching television. What are the causes of physical inactivity? Participation in physical activity is influenced not only by individual and family characteristics, such as knowledge, motivation and social support, but also by wider social and cultural values, as well as environmental and economic conditions. These factors determine how accessible, affordable, acceptable and safe it is for individuals to be physically active and thus can either enable or hinder participation. Understanding these causes of inactivity in a community is necessary for the development of effective tailored policy responses. Of note, is that girls, women, older adults, people of low socioeconomic position, people with disabilities and chronic diseases, and marginalized populations are often less active than others because they have less access to appropriate places and programmes to support them. Economic development and the associated changes towards more sedentary occupations and recreation, as well as the increasing use of motorized transport, can help explain the higher levels of inactivity seen in some high-, as well as middle-income, countries. Governments and communities must act to counterbalance these trends and provide the environments, facilities and services that support people to be active through more walking and cycling, sports and active recreation, as well as through incidental physical activity throughout each day. ACTIVE The global recommendations on physical activity for health outline the type, intensity, frequency and duration of physical activity for optimal health benefits for youth, adults and older adults (2). Regular participation in physical activity is recommended for all ages and abilities to provide multiple health benefits