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Wednesday, 1 November 2023

Have your say! Opportunity to provide feedback on the new Physical Activity Guidelines for Ireland.

Whether you are a member of the public or someone working to promote physical activity, we want to hear from you! The Physical Activity for Health (PAfH) Research Centre, and a wider research team, is working with the HSE to update the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Ireland. We would love to hear your thoughts on the draft guidelines and messages. Please select the most appropriate survey for you..

The Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health & Children published the first National Guidelines on Physical Activity for Ireland in 2009. The guidelines set out the recommended type and amount of physical activity for children and young people, adults, older people, and adults with disabilities. Many other countries and international organisations have since updated and published their physical activity guidelines. During this time, a focus was also put on prolonged sitting time and screen-time.  Most notably, the World Health Organisation published Guidelines on Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour and Sleep for Children under 5 years of Age in 2019, and the WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour in 2020. It is now time for the National Physical Activity Guidelines for Ireland to be updated.

The PAfH Research Centre at UL is carrying out this project for the HSE. Led by Prof Elaine Murtagh, the team also includes Prof Catherine Woods (UL), Dr Sean Healy (UL), Dr Grainne Hayes (UL), Dr Dylan Power (UL), Prof Charlie Foster (RCSI/University of Bristol), Prof Marie Murphy (Ulster University/University of Edinburgh), Prof Niamh Murphy (SETU), and Dr Chloë Williamson (University of Edinburgh).

The first stage of this project involved a review of evidence published since the WHO 2020 Guidelines. Evidence summaries were developed for the following population sub-groups:

  • Children under 5 years of age
  • Children and adolescents (5 – 17 years)
  • Adults (18 – 64 years)
  • Older adults (age 65 years and older)
  • Children and adolescents (aged 5 – 17 years) and adults (aged 18 years and older) living with disability

An expert meeting was then held to review the evidence and develop draft guidelines and message for public and professional audiences.  A stakeholder consultation is now being held to collect feedback on the draft guidelines. By clicking on the survey links above you can choose to provide feedback on one or several population subgroups. The survey will remain open until 7th November. Please share the survey among your colleagues, family and friends, so that the research team can gather feedback from a broad range of perspectives.

Follow @PAfH_UL and @PESSLimerick for updates on this project. The new National Guidelines will be published in early 2024.