Editing Exercise (section)

== Public health measures ==
Community-wide and school campaigns are often used in an attempt to increase a population's level of physical activity. Studies to determine the effectiveness of these types of programs need to be interpreted cautiously as the results vary.<ref name=":0" /> There is some evidence that certain types of exercise programmes for older adults, such as those involving gait, balance, co-ordination and functional tasks, can improve balance.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Howe TE, Rochester L, Neil F, Skelton DA, Ballinger C | title = Exercise for improving balance in older people | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 11 | pages = CD004963 | date = November 2011 | volume = 2012 | pmid = 22071817 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.cd004963.pub3 | publisher = John Wiley & Sons, Ltd | s2cid = 205176433 | pmc = 11493176 }}</ref> Following progressive resistance training, older adults also respond with improved physical function.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Liu CJ, Latham NK | title = Progressive resistance strength training for improving physical function in older adults | journal = The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews | issue = 3 | pages = CD002759 | date = July 2009 | volume = 2009 | pmid = 19588334 | pmc = 4324332 | doi = 10.1002/14651858.CD002759.pub2 }}</ref> Brief interventions promoting physical activity may be cost-effective, however this evidence is weak and there are variations between studies.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Gc V, Wilson EC, Suhrcke M, Hardeman W, Sutton S | title = Are brief interventions to increase physical activity cost-effective? A systematic review | journal = British Journal of Sports Medicine | volume = 50 | issue = 7 | pages = 408–417 | date = April 2016 | pmid = 26438429 | pmc = 4819643 | doi = 10.1136/bjsports-2015-094655 }}</ref>

Environmental approaches appear promising: signs that encourage the use of stairs, as well as community campaigns, may increase exercise levels.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Kahn EB, Ramsey LT, Brownson RC, Heath GW, Howze EH, Powell KE, Stone EJ, Rajab MW, Corso P | display-authors = 6 | title = The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity. A systematic review | journal = American Journal of Preventive Medicine | volume = 22 | issue = 4 Suppl | pages = 73–107 | date = May 2002 | pmid = 11985936 | doi = 10.1016/S0749-3797(02)00434-8 }}</ref> The city of [[Bogotá]], [[Colombia]], for example, blocks off {{convert|113|km|mi|sp=us}} of roads on Sundays and holidays to make it easier for its citizens to get exercise. Such [[pedestrian zone]]s are part of an effort to combat chronic diseases and to maintain a healthy [[Body Mass Index|BMI]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PIN/ePersp001_article01.htm |title=Stopping the rising tide of chronic diseases Everyone's Epidemic | vauthors = Durán VH |work=Pan American Health Organization |publisher=paho.org |access-date=10 January 2009}}</ref>

Parents can promote physical activity by modelling healthy levels of physical activity or by encouraging physical activity.<ref>{{cite journal | vauthors = Xu H, Wen LM, Rissel C | title = Associations of parental influences with physical activity and screen time among young children: a systematic review | journal = Journal of Obesity | volume = 2015 | pages = 546925 | date = 19 March 2015 | pmid = 25874123 | pmc = 4383435 | doi = 10.1155/2015/546925 | doi-access = free }}</ref> According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States, children and adolescents should do 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/guidelines.htm|title=Youth Physical Activity Guidelines|website=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|date=23 January 2019}}</ref> Implementing physical exercise in the school system and ensuring an environment in which children can reduce barriers to maintain a healthy lifestyle is essential.

The [[European Commission]]'s Directorate-General for Education and Culture (DG EAC) has dedicated programs and funds for Health Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) projects<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/sport/policy/societal-role/health-participation_en |title = Health and Participation|publisher=European Commission |date = 25 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705033323/https://ec.europa.eu/sport/policy/societal-role/health-participation_en |archive-date=2019-07-05}}</ref> within its [[Horizon 2020]] and [[Erasmus+]] program, as research showed that too many Europeans are not physically active enough. Financing is available for increased collaboration between players active in this field across the EU and around the world, the promotion of HEPA in the EU and its partner countries, and the European Sports Week. The DG EAC regularly publishes a [[Eurobarometer]] on sport and physical activity.