33. Supports the Commission’s approach in regard to increasing physical activity levels of the population in order to improve active and healthy ageing, recalling that lack of regular exercise gives rise to a number of health problems which, according to the WHO, constitute the fourth most common risk factor causing death; is concerned that most EU citizens fall short of the recommended daily amount of exercise;

Effective promotion of physical activity leading to increased physical activity rates must involve different sectors as set out below in paragraph 6, including the sport sector given that sporting activity and sport for all are among the major sources of physical activity.

The EU Physical Activity Guidelines provide a good basis to encourage cross-sectoral policies aimed at promoting physical activity, in particular in the fields of sport, health, education, environment, urban planning and transport, by offering guidance to the Member States in the development of their national strategies for HEPA.

The Commission’s White Paper on Sport of 7 July 2007 (2), which highlighted the importance of physical activity and set out a plan for the Commission to propose physical activity guidelines by the end of 2008; and the Commission’s Communication on Developing the European Dimension in Sport of 18 January 2011 (3), which recognised that sport constitutes a fundamental part of any public policy approach aiming at improving physical activity and called for continued progress toward the establishment of national guidelines, including a review and coordination process;

1. Stresses that sport is a major public-health tool and a powerful factor for reducing public-health expenditure; reiterates that the positive effects of regular physical activity include the prevention of health problems such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer and osteoporosis; stresses that sport and physical exercise can play a therapeutic role by boosting self-esteem, improving physical self-perception, developing social skills, promoting inclusiveness and contributing to positive mental health and well-being; deplores the pressure sometimes exerted ...[+++]on children and adolescents involved in sporting activities; notes that, given that the EU population is ageing, specific attention should be paid to the positive impact that physical activity can have on the health of the elderly;

Of the conclusions on promoting physical activity in Europe, the following are of note: the Council conclusions on obesity, nutrition and physical activity adopted on 3 June 2005 and the Council conclusions on health promotion by means of nutrition and physical activity of 31 May 2007 .