Improving national health-enhancing physical activity promotion policies

CONTEXTIn order to help states to develop policies and strategies impacting on all determinants of physical activity, the WHO has set up a policy analysis tool, the HEPA PAT (Health-Enhancing Physical Activity Policy Analysis Tool). This tool allows evaluation of national policies, while considering the complex network of determinants and influencing factors. This article has a double objective: firstly, to present this tool in order to define its specificity and utility in the development of HEPA national policies; secondly, to illustrate its application in the case of France.METHODSThe national HEPA policies and projects in France were identified and analysed using the HEPA PAT methodology and quality criteria to highlight the opportunities and to propose recommendations for improvement.RESULTSHEPA promotion is a recent and fragmented process in France. Development is more intensive at the local level and needs stronger national support and coordination. The main problem seems to be the lack of long-term vision accompanied by a unified national strategy. Implementation is impaired by vaguely defined action plans, very often without any evaluation criteria or sustainable financing methods.CONCLUSIONThe use of HEPA PAT provides a clear and complete overview of the political structure in the field of physical activity promotion. Further analysis of regional policies and projects is recommended to complete this work.