26 Nov AHKGA introduction to HEPA: a presentation by Dr. Shawnda Morrison

Dr. Shawnda Morrison presented to the WHO- Health-Enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) Europe – Environment working group, which focuses on Environmental Approaches to HEPA in the European region, her presentation was titled “AHKGA Introduction to HEPA”. 

Dr. Morrison presented an overview of the AHKGA Global Matrix process and the FitBack fitness portal system to the HEPA Europe Environmental working group. This group of researchers works with an aim to raise the profile of the relationship between the environment and the promotion of health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA). Whilst planetary health and climate change are among its foci, the group also encompasses a broad approach of the intersections of physical activity and the physical environment (e.g. active transport, urban design, architecture, nature-based solutions, etc.). The group discussed how critical infrastructures can help or hinder a person’s ability to keep active in their neighbourhood communities. Dr. Morrison presented a brief history of the AHKGA, its aims and mission, and highlighted the need for all scientists to advocate for children maintaining adequate childhood fitness levels as a way to keep healthy across the lifespan. She incorporated recent evidence from the FitBack network and advocated for more countries to consider developing systematic physical activity and fitness monitoring systems.