Physical activity and health

Importance of exercise

Regular exercise and engagement in sport is crucial to stay physically and mentally fit. 

Sport activities help tackle weight and obesity issues, and play an important part in preventing or reducing the impact of many other health-related conditions.

Apart from the individual health benefits, there is also evidence of the positive direct and indirect economic effects of participation in sport and physical activity. 

Research shows that a large number of people across Europe are not engaging in exercise. Lack of exercise and engagement in sports activities has a serious impact on general health, the rates of preventable diseases, and the number of premature deaths.

An excessively high level of physical inactivity was reported in the last Eurobarometer on sport and physical activity (2022).

There are also serious social and economic costs related to physical inactivity. While the obligation of legislating health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) lies with Member States, the Commission is able to support, coordinate and complement national actions.

How the EU promotes physical activity and health

Recommendation on promoting health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA)

To encourage the development of effective policies in Member States, the majority of activities in the field of sport now focus on implementing the Council Recommendation on promoting health-enhancing physical activity (HEPA) across sectors.

The Recommendation establishes the collection of information and data on HEPA levels and policies, based on the EU Physical Activity Guidelines. Commission activities therefore argue for strengthening cooperation between stakeholders: EU Member States, the World Health Organization, and civil society.

The Commission has highlighted positive developments in its report on the implementation of the Council Recommendation on HEPA. Among these developments were the adoption of many new policies and action plans, as well as the strengthening of cross-sector cooperation at national level. The Health-enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA) in the European Union, 2024 report and the European Union Physical Activity country factsheets present the state of play on the implementation of the Council Recommendation as of 2024.

Studies

In addition, the Commission supports Member States and civil society by commissioning studies. 

Examples of the effectiveness of these policies can be seen with the report on the implementation of the EU Physical Activity Guidelines and a study on physical activity at the workplace. The promotion of HEPA is one of the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme.

Under the SHARE 2.0 initiative, two “ideas papers” provide recommendations on how to improve physical activity among the EU population, as well as insights on mental health support for young people through sport.

Several reports on harmonising sport statistics describe a newly agreed EU-wide methodology for collecting sports statistics data. They also provide insights into the socio-economic value and economic impact of sport, along with suggestions for measuring physical activity in the EU in a harmonised way.

Initiatives

The Commission also hosts initiatives that promote being active. Launched in 2015, the European Week of Sport (EWoS) coordinates numerous activities to build active engagement in sport. Events under the initiative take place every year between 23 and 30 September.

In late 2025, the European Commission and the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe signed a renewed joint contribution agreement, strengthening a collaboration established in 2015, which supports EU Member States to develop, implement and evaluate policies to increase levels of health-enhancing physical activity.

The future of physical activity and health

The Commission will continue to support Member States in implementing the Council Recommendation on HEPA at national level – and work with the WHO and Member States to propose a revised Council Recommendation of HEPA in 2027.

Under the Erasmus+ programme, support for projects, events, and measures to strengthen the evidence-base for policy and for dialogue will continue, with a particular focus on activities to support the further implementation of the EU Physical Activity Guidelines.