Physical Activity and Health
The Physical Activity and Health division is dedicated to the promotion of physical activity across a broad spectrum. This encompasses measures for individuals and specific target populations, opportunities for actions within various settings (e.g., apprenticeship, healthcare systems, communities), and physical activity promoting policies.
Research questions we address in our research include:
- How can physical activity and sports be promoted in society?
- How can communities, associations, companies, health insurance companies, health professionals, or political actors be empowered to sustainably promote physical activity?
- How can we strengthen the physical activity related health competence (PAHCO) of individuals?
- What are the conditions, facilitating factors, and barriers for health-promoting physical activity and sports?
In our work we focus on the development and testing of innovative interventions, further development of theories and frameworks, and the development of appropriate measurement instruments and methods. All this is done in close collaboration with stakeholders, including those from the health sector, education, sports, and politics.
One of only three WHO Collaborating Centers worldwide exclusively focused on physical activity is located within the Physical Activity and Health division. Experts at the department advise and support the WHO on the topic of physical activity promotion, such as networking between relevant actors and sectors, and in planning, implementing, and evaluating specific measures for promoting physical activity. The center is not only a key contact for the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG) but also for the national contact points for physical activity promotion in the 27 EU member states. The center’s national and international leadership in the field of physical activity promotion is complemented by long-standing experience in projects aimed at promoting physical activity in various settings. Recently, there has been an increased focus on advising organizations and expert associations on the topics of physical activity promotion, planetary health, and sustainability.
Information on the division’s staff can be found here.
Our projects:
| Project Name | Project Start | Funding | Keyword | Contact Person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NEBB-Update | 2025 | Federal Ministry of Health | Update and further development of the national recommendations for physical activity and physical activity promotion | Prof. Dr. Klaus Pfeifer |
| IMPAQT | 2024 | European Union under Horizon Europe | Improvement of policy for physical activity and its impact on health | Dr. Sven Messing |
| LARGE | 2024 | Franco-Bavarian University cooperation center) | Policy Monitoring for Physical Activity Promotion | Dr. Sven Messing |
| Bikepool | 2024 | bikepool Hessen e.V. | Evaluation of a school intervention to promote cycling among children and adolescents | Johannes Brandl |
| KAB-Mon | 2023 | Federal Ministry of Health | Indicators for Physical Activity Promotion in Preventive Reporting | Dr. Sven Messing |
| STABEKO | 2023 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bayern Süd & Deutsche Rentenversicherung Nordbayern |
Strengthening physical activity related health competence in medical rehabilitation | PD Dr. Wolfgang Geidl |
| TakeCare! | 2022 | Gesund.Leben.Bayern & Kaufmännische Krankenkasse KKH | Dissemination of physical activity-related health competence in nursing education | Dr. Eva Grüne Dr. Johanna Popp |
| VERBUND | 2020 | GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit | Dissemination and cooperative implementation of community-based physical activity promotion | Dr. Simone Kohler |
| GESTALT | 2010 | GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit | Physical activity program for the prevention of dementia | Dr. Simone Kohler |
| BIG | 2005 | GKV-Bündnis für Gesundheit | Community-based physical activity promotion for women | Dr. Simone Kohler |
Completed Projects:
| Project Name | Project Duration | Funding | Keyword |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRO-BT | 2022-2024 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | Practice recommendations for optimizing movement therapy in medical rehabilitation |
| ZielBewegung | 2023-2024 | Federal Ministry of Health | Target Group-Specific Assessments for Physical Activity Promotion in Germany |
| BewegtVersorgt | 2019-2024 | Federal Ministry of Health | Establishing supply chains for physical activity promotion for people with non-communicable diseases |
| NU-BIG | 2020-2023 | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Follow-Up Study of the BIG Project |
| EUROPLIT | 2021-2023 | – | |
| Capital4Health | 2014-2023 | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Capabilites for an active lifesstyle : a research consortium for an interactive-knowlegde to action approach in health promotion |
| Capital4Health – CAPCOM | 2014 -2023 | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Cross-cutting project – theoretical and methodological enhancement for the empirical projects |
| Capital4Health – PArC-AVE | 2014-2023 | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | Promotion of physical activity-related health competence among apprentices |
| BGK | 2017-2023 | – | |
| COPD-AReNa | 2021-2023 | DRV Bayern Süd | App-based rehabilitation follow-up for people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |
| Physical Literacy Interventions | 2020-2022 | – | |
| PEN | 2019-2022 | Federal Ministry of Education and Research | |
| FaST-PD | 2017-2021 | Deutsche Stiftung Neurologie | Optimization of motor learning processes in the rehabilitation of parkinson’s patients |
| KOMBINE | 2018-2020 | BzgA im Auftrag und mit Mitteln der gesetzlichen Krankenkasse nach § 20a SGB V im Rahmen des GKV-Bündnisses für Gesundheit | |
| Bewegungsempfehlungen | 2015-2020 | ||
| ms-Bewegt | 2017-2020 | Techniker Krankenkasse Baden-Württemberg | |
| STAR | 2016-2018 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bayern Süd | |
| MS-intakt Bad Wildbad | 2015-2017 | – | |
| BewegTheReha | 2015-2016 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | Movement therapy in medical rehabilitation: an Inventory at facility and actor level |
| GESTALT-kompakt | 2014-2016 | Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care as part of the Gesund.Leben.Bayern Health Initiative | |
| KMU Bewegt | 2015-2016 | Virtuelle Hochschule Bayern und Europäischer Sozialfonds | |
| GeMeinSam aktiv | 2014-2015 | Hertie-Stiftung im Rahmen der Initiative mitMiSsion | |
| StaBLE | 2013-2014 | Deutsche Stiftung Neurologie | |
| FatEx | 2012-2014 | Neuropoint Ulm | |
| PACE Studie | 2013-2014 | Novartis Pharma GmbH | |
| VBT bei Rückenschmerz | 2011-2013 | ||
| GESTALT II | 2012-2013 | Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care as part of the Gesund.Leben.Bayern Health Initiative | |
| Patientenorientierte Schulungspraxis | 2011-2013 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | |
| GESTALT I | 2010-2013 | Bavarian State Ministry of Environment and Health | |
| SENSABLE | 2009-2012 | ||
| KASPADI | 2010-2012 | Deutsche Diabetes Stiftung, Deutsche Rentenversicherung Nordbayern | |
| Materialien evidenzbasierte Konzepte | 2010-2012 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | |
| MS-intakt: e-Training bei MS | 2009-2011 | Hertie-Stiftung, Deutsche Stiftung Neurologie, Bayer HealthCare | |
| Fit im Alter | 2008-2011 | Robert-Bosch Stiftung | |
| Nachsorge Rückenschmerz | 2008-2011 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | |
| PASTOR | 2007-2010 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | |
| Bewegungsförderung nach Hengstenberg | 2007-2010 | Gesundheitsamt Nürnberg, die Aktive Kinderwerkstatt gGmbH, Bayerischer Gemeindeunfallversicherungsverband, Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege, Techniker Krankenkasse | |
| MuSkAT | 2007-2009 | Bayer HealthCare | |
| Evidenzgesicherte Konzepte für die Bewegungstherapie | 2007-2009 | Deutsche Rentenversicherung Bund | |
| Dosis-Wirkung HüftTEP | 2009-2011 | Willy Robert Pitzer Stiftung | |
| Sensomotorisches Training | 2007-2008 | Federal Institute of Sport Science | |
| Evaluation von Rückenschulkonzepten | 2004-2007 | Bertelsmann-Stiftung, Bertelsmann BKK | |
| e-Training zur Gesundheitsförderung | 2006-2007 | Siemens Betriebskrankenkasse SBK; Meditrain, Erlangen; motionNet Systems LTD, Nürnberg |