Health Promotion
We work to enhance people’s wellbeing and reduce their health risks associated with tobacco use, alcohol consumption and physical inactivity, thereby contributing to better population health. We develop and implement cross-cutting normative, fiscal and legal measures and capacity development tools. We advance global health in health literacy, community engagement strategies and good governance for health, and foster public health action in the settings of every-day life.

Advocating for physical activity

Global progress on physical activity must be accelerated if the world is to reach the 2030 target of a 15% relative reduction in levels of inactivity. Improvements in levels of physical activity will also support many of the SDG targets as it is noted that many countries are falling behind on their commitments to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (per the SDG Report 2023).  The 2022 Global status report on physical activity shows that implementation of the global action plan is slow and uneven. There is an urgent need to scale up efforts to implement evidence-based strategies such as those in the Global action plan on physical activity and in the Tackling NCDs—Best Buys. Advocacy for change requires data on the problem; analysis to make the economic case for investments across sectors; and effective communications. 

WHO supports physical activity advocacy in many ways. For example, WHO

  • provides economic analysis to demonstrate the value of investing in physical activity;
  • monitors physical activity surveillance data to understand trends in behavior and impact of action; and
  • develops resources such as Fair Play, a policy brief on physical activity; the Global status report on  and the reINVENT and reBUILD webinar series which are valuable resources for policymakers and stakeholders.
  • Working together, advocating for change, and implementing global policy recommendations will lead to increases in physical activity that will benefit individuals, societies, and the environment.

    Webinars recordings