Behavioural Epidemiology of Physical Activity

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Physical activity is important for young people’s current and future health. However, it appears that many young people are not active enough to enjoy these health benefits. We also know that children do less physical activity when they become older, particularly during teenage years. Identifying ways to maintain and promote young people’s levels of physical activity is therefore important for public health. Physical activity behaviour is complex, not just consisting of sports activities but including behaviours such as walking the dog, cycling to school, playing in the playground and physical education lessons. How active young people are is influenced by many factors, such as their preference for physical activity, the provision of footpaths in the neighbourhood, weather and how much their parents support them in being physically active. How these factors work together in promoting physical activity and how to use this knowledge to promote increases in physical activity is still largely unknown. The Behavioural Epidemiology of Physical Activity Group therefore aims to improve the long-term health of young people by: - developing and evaluating interventions to increase physical activity in young people - increasing our understanding of where, when and how physical activity interventions in young people may be applied