Overview of French public policies promoting health-enhancing physical activity

Background: Physical inactivity is widely recognized as risk factor for non-communicable diseases and preventable mortality. Nevertheless, the rate of physical inactivity continues to increase in France and Europe. Multiple factors influence the adoption of a physically active lifestyle, including the development, implementation and coordination of public policies. The French Society of Public Health has conducted an analysis of national public policies promoting physical activity in France. This article presents some of the results of this project based on an overview of these policies and their government actors. Method: This analysis was based on the use of the HEPA-PAT (Health Enhancing Physical Activity- Policy Audit Tool), which provides an overview of public policies promoting physical activity in a country, and identifies the levers used to strengthen promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity. Data collection included 15 interviews with experts, a literature review and a validation workshop. Results: The results indicate the absence of a global French policy promoting physical activity, but rather a diversity of policies driven by the Ministries of Health, Sports and Sustainable Development, assisted by several other ministries. Discussion: Although multiple strategies are used to promote physical activity, they do not cover all sectors. This configuration also raises the question of the harmonization of these national public policies and the existence of intersectoral coordination mechanisms.