Promoting physical activity – reducing obesity and non-communicable diseases

Regular participation in physical activity is known to promote good health, prevent disease, and enhance well-being. Physical activity promotion requires a whole-of-government approach, not simply efforts of the health sectors. This chapter first provides a brief overview of non-communicable disease trends and the importance of physical activity in reducing the risks of these diseases. It then considers the association between access to public open space (land reserved for the provision of green space and natural environments that is freely accessible and intended for active or passive recreation) and physical activity patterns across the life course. The extent to which policy can be used to increase access to public open space is then discussed before some concluding comments about the important role played by planners, urban designers, and landscape architects in creating active living friendly environments, and researchers in addressing policy-relevant research priorities that could help move the agenda forward.