Nationwide monitoring and surveillance question development: Physical activity

Abstract

Physical activity has long been identified as a key issue related to an individual's health and well-being. In the recent discussion paper prepared for the National Public Health Partnership on Preventing Chronic Disease - A Strategic Framework physical activity, along with diet, smoking, alcohol, personal control/self efficacy, social support and early life experience, was identified as a key behavioural, environmental and protective factor. The principal behavioural risk factors to be targeted in this strategic framework are smoking, diet and physical activity.

This discussion paper examines a number of issues related to physical activity and the instruments that have been used to measure physical activity in the population. In particular, the paper looks at health surveillance data collection.