Around 17% of adults in Georgia do not get the WHO-recommended amounts of physical activity during the day, and physical activity rates are even lower among children and adolescents. To improve the situation, Georgian authorities, in collaboration with WHO/Europe, are developing a National Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity in the country. A new WHO “Physical Activity Factsheet 2022: Georgia” gives an overview of the country’s current policies that may become a nationwide action plan for the promotion of physical activity.
Physical activity is one of the major factors that can protect people from the onset of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases.
“Given that 90% of all deaths in the WHO European Region are caused by NCDs, increasing physical activity levels across all social groups is a crucial need for Georgia as for any other Member State,” said Dr Kremlin Wickramasinghe, ad interim Head of the WHO European Office for the Prevention and Control of Noncommunicable Diseases (NCD Office). “It can be any form of activity – from a walk in the park to active play with your kids at home. Every minute of movement counts towards better health across all ages.”
Insufficient physical activity also increases the risk of overweight and obesity, both of which may contribute to developing other health conditions.
Benefits of physical activity: cleaner air, safer roads and healthier community
Together with the Government of Georgia, the NCD Office has produced a factsheet based on the latest WHO health surveillance data from the country. It highlights some of the prominent measures adopted in Georgia to increase physical activity levels:
- increasing access to exercise facilities for socially disadvantaged groups;
- promoting physical activity in schools: organizing mandatory lessons in school and various after-school events;
- improving city infrastructure and using urban design to inspire recreational physical activity and sports; and
- promoting physical activity in the workplace.
In addition to the positive health effects, a more physically active society has additional benefits in the form of lower fossil fuel consumption, cleaner air and safer roads. Increasing the rates of physical activity in the population can result in higher productivity, better academic achievement, community integration and reduced social isolation. It helps to establish new businesses, create jobs and attract tourists. All this has a positive effect on the socioeconomic development of the individual, society and the country.
Georgia on the road to a national action plan
In 2021 the Georgian authorities established the Multisectoral Working Group on Physical Activity under the leadership of the National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health. It has brought together experts, stakeholders and decision-makers who explore the most effective measures to make physical activity an essential part of people’s everyday lives.
The Working Group has developed a draft National Strategy for the Promotion of Physical Activity, which was presented at a high-level national dialogue on NCDs in July 2022 and discussed at the Parliament of Georgia in December 2022.
“Georgia has already launched a series of initiatives to promote physical activity in various sectors. This is a solid foundation for the implementation of a full nationwide strategy that will make people healthier and become a positive driver for the Georgian economy and society. It is very exciting to be part of this process,” said Dr Silviu Domente, Head of the WHO Country Office in Georgia.
Making physical activity an integral part of people’s lives is one of the aims of the WHO European Programme of Work, 2020–2025, which promotes united action for better health across the WHO European Region.