Sports or Physical Activity for the Inactive World: Should we be Encouraging Safer Physical Activity Patterns more than Sports?

Abstract

The scientific evidence on the positive effects of physical activity as part of a healthy
lifestyle is well established. Physical activity has both direct and indirect effects for preventing
several chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD), obesity, diabetes and
cancer.1 Healthcare policies across the globe have developed numerous strategies to encourage
physical activity with several calls for action to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity,
such as calls for action in the US Department for health and Human Services in 2001, the UK
House of Commons Health Committee report on obesity and the Department of Health physical
activity guidelines in 2004.2-4 Moreover, numerous implementation initiatives have encouraged
physical activity and sports participation with an aim of achieving health outcomes and cost
saving strategies for healthcare.