About 29% of the European population is sufficiently physical active

Across EU Member States, only 29% of the population shows ‘sufficient physical activity’, according to current guidelines. Percentages range from over 40% for the Netherlands and Germany to 23% in Sweden. This was reported from the 2002 Special Eurobarometer Wave 58.2, using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). Approximately 1,000 individuals were interviewed in each of the EU-15 countries (Sjöström et al., 2006). See Health-enhancing physical activity, sedentariness, walking and sitting across EU-15 countries and Sufficient total activity by country in the EU-15. For more information on how ‘sufficient physical activity’ is calculated, see Operationalisation of sufficient physical activity.

Only few international comparisons of physical activity exist

The 2002 Special Eurobarometer is one of the few examples of internationally comparable data on physical activity. The collection of such data has only been developed over the past few years (Cavill et al., 2006). Also, internationally agreed survey instruments to measure physical activity are in ongoing development (WHO, 2002d). For more details on development of harmonised data see Consensus process for measuring physical activity started in June 2006.

National data are available, but not comparable

National data on physical activity are available for several countries, but they are usually based on different survey questions or theoretical concepts. Also the periods of data collection are not similar (Elmadfa & Weichselbaum, 2004). Therefore, these data cannot be compared between countries. The European Nutrition and Health Report 2004 listed some examples of national data on physical activity:

In Austria, physical exercise 3 times per week or more was higher in men living in Vienna compared to men living in Federal states (37% versus 19%). No such difference was reported for woman (38% in Vienna versus 41% in Federal States). The survey asked for the frequency of exercise among adults.

In Finland, physical exercise at least 2 times per week was reported between 49% and 69% for various age groups (2003). Men were slightly less active than women in all age groups but one. Finland has a long tradition in assessing levels of regular physical exercise.

In France, about 52% of adult men were reported to walk more than 1 hour per day or perform equivalent activities, compared to 38% in women. But these data were derived from a non-representative sample.

In Germany, the percentage having ‘no leisure time exercise at all’ was lower (43.8%) for men than women (49.5%). The percentage of men that exercise at least 2 hours per week was higher (23.5%) than the percentage of women (15.4%). These data were reported for adults aged 18–79 years.

Internationally comparable data on physical fitness are not available

Cardiorespiratory fitness has been suggested to be included in the European Health Monitoring System for both children and the adult population, but as for now, international comparable data are not available (Ruiz et al., 2006a; Ruiz et al., 2006b; Sjöström et al., 2003). Although efforts are being made in order to standardize and improve the assessment in Europe, for example in the ALPHA study. See also Indicators proposed for the European Health Monitoring System.