43. Stresses the importance of physical exercise and sport in curbing obesity and eliminating unhealthy lifestyle habits, since this phenomenon has a significant positive impact on citizens' health on the one hand and as regards reducing the cost of health insurance funds on the other; expresses, however, concern at the fact that the extension of working hours and existing employment conditions in general deter workers from taking regular exercise and devoting themselves more single-mindedly to sport; calls on the Commission to deve ...[+++]lop and issue, together with sport federations, European guidelines and recommendations on physical activity before the end of 2008;

More recently, as Canadians have increasingly called upon the federal government to take action on health issues of national interest, we have also acted to address HIV/AIDS, chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer, and programs and activities promoting good health such as early childhood development, physical activity and community action on health.

13. Remarks that the "big killers" (e.g. cancer diseases, cardiovascular diseases) and the "big cripplers" (e.g. musculo-skeletal disorders and other work-related chronic diseases, health problems resulting from e.g. unhealthy diets, drug abuse, environmental degradation and reduced physical activity) could be considerably reduced by general intersectoral policies and individual preventive policies and improved ...[+++] measures to address those factors in people's working and living environment which cause disease; stresses, therefore, the importance of developing occupational health care with a view to the prevention and early detection of diseases and health problems;

Participation in sport and physical activity are known to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and cancer.

cardiovascular disease – heart diseases, stroke and other atherosclerotic vascular diseases - is the largest cause of death of men and women in the European Union, the European Union is experiencing declining rates of mortality from cardiovascular disease but increasing numbers of men and women are living with cardiovascular disease, the majority of cardiovascular disease is preventable, predominantly through lifestyle changes as well as through appropriate use of medicines, strategies to promote cardiovascular health need to address the whole population and those at high risk of or living with cardiovascular disease, population strategies need to address health determinants including lifestyles, risk factors, and social and ...[+++]physical environments to support health, unhealthy lifestyles, particularly tobacco consumption, as well as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity amongst European citizens are risk factors to be addressed in the development of national and European Union policy, heart health promotion and preventive strategies are cost-effective investments with measurable health, social and economic benefits, Member States should consider the development and implementation of guidelines for those at high risk or living with cardiovascular disease, comparable data is needed across the European Union to monitor cardiovascular disease mortality, morbidity and relevant health behaviours and risk factors, evidence-based information on the promotion of cardiovascular health is already very strong, but more research is needed in Europe.

take into account the results of national and international research, and existing national cardiovascular health strategies, encourage networking and the exchange of information between stakeholders, including professional, non-governmental and consumer organisations, consider the identification of best practice guidelines, in consultation with Member States, to enhance the co-ordination of population and individual high risk groups' health and prevention policies and programmes, strengthen the comparability of data on healthy lifest ...[+++]yles and behaviours data across Member States, as well as to study the possibility of using standardised procedures and methods for monitoring and surveillance of cardiovascular disease mortality, morbidity and risk factor data across Member States, take a multisectoral approach to promoting cardiovascular health and preventing cardiovascular disease and assessing the health impact of other public policies of the European Union; to include examining the economic cost of cardiovascular disease against the improved health status arising from a comprehensive public health strategy by Member States to reduce the burden of these diseases, continue to work towards the development of a comprehensive and integrated European food and nutrition policy, to include, among others, physical activity programmes, population dietary guidelines and address the impact on public health of promotion, marketing and presentation of foodstuffs, study ways of promoting better cardiovascular health, including