Recommendations for the promotion of physical activity in children

Background Despite some methodological difficulties, different studies support the assumption that the physical performance of children has decreased in the last two decades. On the other hand, physical activity should be a normal part of growing up. Furthermore, a physically active lifestyle has direct and indirect health benefits for young people, for instance, by preventing overweight and obesity and establishing healthy lifestyles that may be continued into adulthood.Aim This article presents the current state of existing recommendations for the promotion of physical activity in children.Results The presented recommendations are grouped around the hierarchy of influences on a young person’s life: from home and family; through school, community and the environment; to national and European Union (EU) policies.Conclusion Physical activity is clearly important to health, and national surveillance of physical activity is an important step to counteract the global inactivity. With the recommendations, we have given an overview about the necessary ways and measures to promote the physical activity for children and their close relatives.