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Evidence and Research

Physical Activity

• Change4Life survey: too many children not getting enough exercise
  The results from the Change4Life ‘How Are The Kids?’ survey launched in January shows that 72% of children do not get 60 minutes of physical activity outside of school. According the Department of Health, the biggest national survey of children’s diet and physical activity levels also shows that 45% watched TV or played non-active video games before school and only 22% did something active after their evening meal.
• Children and Parents’ Experiences of Recently Improved Play Areas: Qualitative Research
  The purpose of this evaluation is to understand the impact of the play investment on children and parents’ satisfaction with, and use of, play spaces, as well as wider outcomes linked to children’s health and well-being, and impacts on local communities.
  Qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with parents and children in seven case study areas in England which had recently been improved from alternative sources of funding such as the BIG Lottery Fund.
  This early research aims to provide some early indications of the likely impacts of the Play Pathfinder and Play Builder investment and to inform the evaluation design and programme delivery.
• Mapping of West Midlands Exercise Referral Schemes: Final Report
  It was recognised by PAN-WM that little was known about the Exercise Referral Schemes currently running in the region and a mapping exercise was prioritised to identify schemes, highlight similarities and differences and inform future developments. This exercise was completed by the Physical Activity Networks in the East and West Midlands in their respective regions.
• Play and Outcomes for Children and Young People: Literature Review to Inform the National Evaluation of Play Pathfinders and Play Builders
  The purpose of the evaluation is to understand the impact of the Government’s play investment on children and parents’ satisfaction and use of play spaces, as well as wider outcomes linked to children’s health and well-being, and impacts on local communities.

Chief Medical Officer's Report

• At least five a week: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health
  Warning large file: 1,945kb

Nice Guidance

• Four commonly used methods to increase physical activity: brief interventions in primary care, exercise referral schemes, pedometers and community-based exercise programmes for walking and cycling
  
• Guidance on the promotion and creation of physical environments that support increased levels of physical activity
  
• Promoting physical activity for children and young people
  This guidance is for all those who have a direct or indirect role in - and responsibility for - promoting physical activity for children and young people. This includes those working in the NHS, education, local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It will also be of interest to parents, grandparents and other carers (including professional carers), children and young people and other members of the public. It includes recommendations for schools, but does not make recommendations for the national curriculum.
• Promoting Physical Activity in the Workplace
  
• Public health interventions to promote positive mental health and prevent mental health disorders among adults
  This evidence briefing is a review of reviews about the effectiveness of public health interventions aiming to promote positive mental health and prevent mental health disorders among adults. The necessity for reviewing reviews, or tertiary-level research, stems from the proliferation, over the last decade or more, of systematic and other types of review in medicine and public health.

Nice Briefings

• Promotion of physical activity among adults: Evidence into practice briefing
  
• Transport interventions promoting safe cycling and walking: Evidence briefing
  

Dance Active

• The Evaluation
  This report seeks to evaluate a pilot programme, Dance Active, developed and delivered by DanceXchange in partnership with Youth Dance England and PAN West Midlands on behalf of The Department of Health. Dance Active was more than a training course. It had a strong element of advocacy and was targeted at raising the levels of engagement and understanding between health professionals and dance artists. The programme included a four-day training course which took place at DanceXchange during the period January 2010 – March 2010. The course was aimed at providing professional dance artists and commissioning health professionals with the knowledge and skills to effectively work together to deliver specific health outcomes through the use of dance.

Sport England Evidence

• "Sport Playing its Part" resources
  
• Sport England research
  

Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP)

• Local Exercise Action Pilots
  Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAPs) are locally run pilot programmes to test and evaluate new ways of encouraging people to take up more physical activity.
• The National Evaluation report for the Local Exercise Action Pilots (LEAP)
  

London 2012 Olympics