Physical activity and its promotion in a primary care population

Abstract

The rising burden of non-communicable diseases signals a stark and growing threat to the world's health and physical inactivity coupled with an increasingly sedentary lifestyle are recognised as significant and persistent risk factors in their development. This presents a significant challenge to health systems particularly within the primary care arena, where there is a professional responsibility to promote and maintain health and wellbeing and prevent disease. This research was set in the context of the ongoing commitment from the Irish government to continue to develop Irish primary care services and within the current health strategy "Healthy Ireland" (Department of Health 2013b) in which physical activity is explicitly targeted as a means to prevent chronic disease and maintain health.