Physical activity: a challenge for the French

cp-dp-activite-physique-260917.pdf

Published on 26 September 2017

The latest data from the Esteban* study conducted by Santé publique France show that physical inactivity and a sedentary lifestyle are on the rise among the French population. Women are the most affected. Over the past 10 years, the proportion of physically active women has fallen by 16%. This is a concerning decline, given that physical inactivity was identified in 2009 as the fourth leading risk factor for noncommunicable diseases, contributing to more than 3 million preventable deaths. Based on this finding, Santé publique France has developed new digital tools for the start of the school year—tools designed to inform and encourage—inviting the French public, and particularly French women, to move more and move better.

More than one in five women are both sedentary and physically inactive

A high level of sedentary lifestyle combined with low physical activity increases the risk of noncommunicable diseases. In France, in 2015, 22% of women had both of these risk factors, compared to 17% of men. And only 53% of women meet the World Health Organization’s recommendations for physical activity, compared to 70% of men. Over the past 10 years, the physically active female population has declined by an alarming 16%, a drop that is particularly pronounced among women aged 40–54 (-22%).

Create Your Own Physical Activity Program with Mangerbouger

Completely redesigned, the "Move More" section of the www.mangerbouger.fr website aims to help French people increase their physical activity and reduce the time they spend sitting. Enriched with a wealth of content, the "Move More" tab allows visitors to learn about the benefits of physical activity. Visitors can then assess their level of physical activity, exercise at home using the 41 exercise guides provided, find activities that suit them, and create a program to fit into their schedule.