Author: I-PARC Team

Assessing the implementation of physical activity-promoting public policies in the Republic of Ireland using the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI)

In this featured blog, PhD Student Kevin Volf provides an overview of a recently published study, of which he is lead author, which is the first to apply the Physical Activity Environment Policy Index (PA-EPI) monitoring framework to assess the extent of implementation of government policies and actions: If you’re reading this you probably agree…
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Shining light on interdisciplinary walking promotion partnerships using social network analysis

Get Ireland Walking, in collaboration with a research team from South East Technological University, set out to investigate how useful systems approaches can be to Get Ireland Walking’s national and local walking promotion work in Ireland. This blog outlines one research study conducted by Dylan Power, Dr Barry Lambe, and Prof Niamh Murphy which investigates…
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ICDAM 2023, University of Limerick, 26th-29th June

The University of Limerick are looking forward to hosting this year’s ICDAM conference which will be held over a 4-day period from June 26th to 29th. The theme of the conference is ‘Physical Activity and Dietary Assessment Across the Lifespan’ and includes a 3-day scientific programme with keynote speakers across dietary and physical activity assessment.…
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Health-Enhancing Physical Activity & Healthy Lifestyle for All Course

This course, offered by the International Sport and Culture Association (ISCA) will equip participants with the knowledge and confidence to contribute to reversing the growing prevalence of unhealthy lifestyles in our societies and help people thrive more in their everyday lives. By completing the online course, participants will discover evidence-based approaches, tools and expert tips…
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Ireland’s Active School Flag featured in ISPAH Community of Practice Hub

Whole-of-school physical activity initiatives have been identified by the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) as one of the eight investments that work for physical activity. However, research shows that they can be challenging to design and to implement, particularly at scale. Ireland’s Active School Flag (ASF) programme is a whole-of-school physical activity initiative…
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Using systems thinking to understand and enhance walking promotion in Ireland

Whole-of-systems approaches – involving communication and alignment between organisations working across sectors and disciplines – are increasingly prominent in public health and health promotion. Notably, The World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan for Physical Activity (GAPPA) is a global call to action for governments to adopt whole-of-systems approaches to address physical inactivity. Get Ireland Walking –…
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MOVING policy index launch webinar

The World Cancer Research Fund International, in partnership with the Norwegian Institute of Public Health, as part of the EU Horizon 2020 funded CO-CREATE project, is launching the MOVING policy index, rating and ranking the design of physical activity policies from 30 countries in Europe. The amended date for the MOVING (physical activity) policy index webinar is…
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Public Health Matters: New online course to help healthcare professionals support older people to be more physically active

The Institute of Public Health (IPH) recently launched a free online learning pathway developed to help general practitioners, nurses, physiotherapists, and occupational therapists, to support older people to have more physically active lives. The ‘Getting Active for Better Ageing’ pathway sets out key facts, information and guidelines on physical activity, and tools on how to…
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Kit and body image issues affect girls’ participation in sports, according to new study

Gendered sports kits – such as skirts – play a major role in teenage girls dropping out of sport, according to research recently published in the peer reviewed journal Sport, Education and Society and highlighted in BBC Sport. The research, based on responses from more than 400 women, has already led to the adoption of…
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Ireland set to be most obese country in Europe, WHO forecasts

Ireland is on course to become the most obese country in Europe, according to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted in an article in The Irish Times. Europe is heading for an unprecedented explosion in rates of obesity and excess weight, which will lead to a crisis of “enormous proportions” by…
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