variables are analyzed and the decisions made for each are often guided by policy, or laws that drive the educational system. The policies are often influenced by advocacy efforts designed to educate and garner support from decision makers. Unfortunately, in the case of physical education (PE), many past
Search Results
Policy and Advocacy in Physical Education: Looking Back, Looking Forward
Risto Marttinen and Aaron Beighle
Advocating for Implementation of the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: Challenges and Support Requirements
Joey Murphy, Karen Milton, Matthew Mclaughlin, Trevor Shilton, Gabriella M. McLoughlin, Lindsey J. Reece, Jacqueline L. Mair, Artur Direito, Katharina E. Kariippanon, Kelly J. Mackenzie, Myrto F. Mavilidi, Erin M. Shellington, Masamitsu Kamada, Leonie Heron, Edtna Jauregui, Chalchisa Abdeta, Ilaria Pina, Ryan Pinto, and Rachel Sutherland
(p43) The WHO defines advocacy for health as “a combination of individual and social actions designed to gain political commitment, policy support, social acceptance and systems support for a particular health goal or program.” 12 This definition highlights the central purpose of advocacy in
Early Career Professionals’ (Researchers, Practitioners, and Policymakers) Role in Advocating, Disseminating, and Implementing the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity: ISPAH Early Career Network View
Artur Direito, Joseph J. Murphy, Matthew Mclaughlin, Jacqueline Mair, Kelly Mackenzie, Masamitsu Kamada, Rachel Sutherland, Shannon Montgomery, Trevor Shilton, and on behalf of the ISPAH Early Career Network*
efforts to increase PA have been unsatisfactory. 5 There is a clear need to make better use of the available evidence and mobilize advocacy to successfully translate knowledge into practice and policy, 8 avoiding research waste and ultimately improving health. 9 Practices and policies to increase
Advocacy and Coordination of Services
Wanda Jean Rainbolt
Adapted physical educators are spending much of their time and energy advocating for the right of all children and youth to a high quality of physical education service delivery and the elimination of attitudinal, aspirational, and architectural barriers experienced by handicapped persons. Prior to the 1960s, lawyers or legal advocates were the ones who would plead the cause for others. Since then, however, three types of advocates have evolved: citizen, professional, and consumer advocates. Adapted physical educators are professional advocates, but they must have an understanding of the other types of advocates. The purpose of this article is to acquaint adapted physical educators with the job function of advocacy, the history of advocacy, and the many roles advocates play.
Achieving Advocacy Success—The International Society for Physical Activity and Health’s Long-Term Strategy to Advance Physical Activity as a Priority in Global Health Policy
Trevor Shilton and Karen Milton
particular advocacy for tobacco control measures. Such progress was hard won, achieved through sophisticated application of advocacy strategies, notably, the identification and recruitment of key leaders; forming of coalitions; consensus regarding actions; and the need for comprehensive action across
Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance Global Matrix 4.0—A Resource for Physical Activity Researchers
Mark S. Tremblay, Joel D. Barnes, Iryna Demchenko, Silvia A. Gonzalez, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Jakub Kalinowski, Peter T. Katzmarzyk, Taru Manyanga, John J. Reilly, Stephen Heung Sang Wong, and Salomé Aubert
This brief report provides an overview of the Active Healthy Kids Global Alliance (AHKGA), an introduction to the Global Matrix 4.0, an explanation of the value and opportunities that the AHKGA efforts and assets provide to the physical activity research, policy, practice, and advocacy community
Global Matrix of Para Report Cards on Physical Activity of Children and Adolescents With Disabilities
Kwok Ng, Cindy Sit, Kelly Arbour-Nicitopoulos, Salomé Aubert, Heidi Stanish, Yeshayahu Hutzler, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Mary-Grace Kang, José Francisco López-Gil, Eun-Young Lee, Piritta Asunta, Jurate Pozeriene, Piotr Kazimierz Urbański, Nicolas Aguilar-Farias, and John J. Reilly
Report Cards can be found in this special issue. With the increased participation in the AHKGA, a recent formalized partnership between IFAPA and the AHKGA, and greater awareness of the disparities of PA among CAWD, it is anticipated that future Para Report Cards will play a role in advocacy and research
Reporting Physical Activity: Perceptions and Practices of Australian Media Professionals
Ben J. Smith and Catriona M.F. Bonfiglioli
Background:
Advocacy informed by scientific evidence is necessary to influence policy and planning to address physical inactivity. The mass media is a key arena for this advocacy. This study investigated the perceptions and practices of news media professionals reporting physical activity and sedentariness to inform strategic communication about these issues.
Methods:
We interviewed media professionals working for major television, radio, newspaper and online news outlets in Australia. The interviews explored understandings of physical activity and sedentariness, attributions of causality, assignment of responsibility, and factors affecting news reporting on these topics. Data were thematically analyzed using NVivo.
Results:
Physical inactivity was recognized as pervasive and important, but tended to be seen as mundane and not newsworthy. Sedentariness was regarded as more novel than physical activity, and more likely to require organizational and environment action. Respondents identified that presenting these issues in visual and engaging ways was an ongoing challenge.
Conclusions:
Physical activity researchers and advocates need to take account of prevailing news values and media practices to improve engagement with the news media. These include understanding the importance of novelty, narratives, imagery, and practical messages, and how to use these to build support for environmental and policy action.
Report Card Grades on the Physical Activity of Children and Youth From 10 Countries With High Human Development Index: Global Matrix 3.0
Silvia A. González, Joel D. Barnes, Patrick Abi Nader, Dolores Susana Andrade Tenesaca, Javier Brazo-Sayavera, Karla I. Galaviz, Marianella Herrera-Cuenca, Piyawat Katewongsa, Juan López-Taylor, Yang Liu, Bilyana Mileva, Angélica María Ochoa Avilés, Diego Augusto Santos Silva, Pairoj Saonuam, and Mark S. Tremblay
aforementioned consequences of economic growth. In this context, it is important to document the current situation of physical activity–related indicators and the priorities for research and advocacy to advance efforts to promote active living in children from these countries and to study the variability in
Results from Colombia’s 2014 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Silvia A. González, Olga L. Sarmiento, Daniel D. Cohen, Diana M. Camargo, Jorge E. Correa, Diana C. Páez, and Robinson Ramírez-Vélez
Background:
Physical activity (PA) is central to the global agenda for the prevention on noncommunicable diseases (NCDs). Although 80% of NCDs occur in low-to-middle-income countries, the evidence on PA comes mainly from high-income countries. In this context, the report card for Colombia is an advocacy tool to help in the translation of evidence into concrete actions. The aims of this paper were two-fold: to present the methodology used to develop the first Report Card on Physical Activity in Colombian Children and Youth and to summarize the results.
Methods:
Twelve indicators of PA were graded using numerical grades (5, highest, to 1, lowest) based on data from national surveys and policy documents.
Results:
National policy and obesity indicators were graded “4,” while departmental policy and overweight indicators were graded “3.” Overall PA levels, sports participation, sedentary behaviors and nongovernment initiatives were graded “2,” and school influence was graded “1.” Active transportation, active play, low cardiorespiratory fitness, and family and community influence received an incomplete.
Conclusion:
PA levels are low and sedentary behaviors are high in Colombian children and youth. Although the prevalence of obesity in Colombia is lower compared with other Latin American countries, it is increasing. A rich legal framework and availability of institutional arrangements provide unique opportunities to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice that need to be evaluated.
