Tulemas:

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Turu Ülikooli emeriitprofessor
Ilkka Vuori:
"The roles of research in promoting
health through physical activity"

Soome tippteadlased Tartu ülikoolis 2009
Avalike Granö loengute sari

Neljapäeval, 14. mail kell 14.15
TÜ kehakultuuriteaduskonnas (Jakobi 5 aud 203)

Loeng on inglise keeles

Kõik huvilised on oodatud

Ilkka Vuori, MD, PhD, professor (emeritus),
Former Director of the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland

Abstract of the Granö lecture, Tartu, May 14, 2009

Roles of Research in Promoting Health by Physical Activity

There is wide consensus among people, health professionals, and politicians that physical activity is healthy. This consensus has not been and will not be sufficient, however, to lead to large willingness among people to increase their physical activity, not to its systematic recommendation by health professionals, nor to investments in its serious promotion by politicians. Stronger measures are needed to increase awareness and credibility of the value of physical activity for health. What are or what could be the roles of research in strengthening promotion of physical activity for health?

The roles (value, need, contribution) of research in promoting physical activity for health can be systematically examined in reference to the frameworks developed for and used in physical activity promotion. In the following this approach is applied to the framework developed in a WHO/CDC meeting held in Atlanta in 2002. Most roles of research are related to the research done in the past. This implies especially to the planning phase of physical activity promotion. Part of the roles of research are related to research to be done during the implementation of the promotion. In both cases the role of not only research but of the researchers is important in giving credibility to the promotion, and in advising and even demanding the promotion personnel to use strategies, methods and measures that are based on reliable scientific evidence.

Parts of the framework

Development of vision of the promotion process and its results
Making the case for the need to promote physical activity for health
Defining the problem related to current situation regarding physical activity
Searching and selecting for solutions in promoting physical activity
Implementation of the selected strategies and measures
Evaluation of the process and results of the promotion

In the presentation, examples are given on the roles of research and researchers in various parts of the physical activity promotion framework.

Conclusion

Research and researchers have been instrumental in laying foundations for the need of physical activity promotion, and for feasible, safe, and effective strategies, methods and measures in its realization. The roles of research and researchers continue to be essential in developing even stronger base for physical activity promotion to be used in the advocacy for, and planning and implementation of even more effective physical activity promotion in much larger scale than currently in order to decrease the great and partly unnecessary burden of physical inactivity.

Brief Curriculum Vitae of professor emeritus Ilkka Vuori

Professor Ilkka Vuori

Professor Ilkka Vuori (born 29.12.1937), MD and PhD from the University of Turku, is the Former and Founding Director of the UKK Institute for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland. He has served as Professor of Public Health at University of Jyväskylä and University of Turku, and as Visiting Professor at Stanford University, USA. He has earned specialist degree in clinical physiology and sports medicine. He has devoted his professional career to study the health-related effects of physical activity on health, and to promote health-enhancing physical activity. He has published over 350 scientific articles and several books. He has served many international and national scientific, professional, and citizen organisations in various posts, including WHO as consultant, the EU-funded Europe on the Move project as project manager, the European Association of Cardiovascular Rehabilitation as president, the European College of Sports Sciences as member of the Board of Directors, and the European Heart Network as the chairman of its Expert Group on Physical Activity. He has been invited as Honorary Member of Suomen Latu (Finnish Outdoor Association), Suomen Kuntoliikuntaliitto (Finnish Sport for All Association) and Liikuntatieteellinen Seura (Finnish Society of Sport Sciences). He is Fellow of American College of Sports, Invited Fellow of the European College of Sports Sciences, and International Fellow of the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. He is recipient of several international and national awards including the Citation Award of the American College of Sports Medicine and Award for Lifetime Achievement of the Juho Vainio Foundation.