The proportion of physical inactivity of citizens in the EU remains unacceptably high. 42% of EU citizens do not exercise or play sport at all (2017). This might indicate that the message about the importance of sport and physical activity for an individual's health and wellbeing has still not got through to significant segments of the EU population. More and more Europeans eat unhealthily and suffer chronically from stress. In the past 50 to 70 years, generations of us did not learn about the health & prevention guidelines, that research is giving us now, so it’s time for a knowledge update. Not only for the consumer, but specially for professionals who work with consumers in the healthcare, sports and lifestyle areas. 

To work toward a solution, more attention should be put into spreading the knowledge and understanding of what is a healthier life: for youth, adults and seniors, and also for people with special health-related conditions such diabetes, heart disease, post-cancer treatment or pregnancy. That’s why the European Erasmus + approved the development of the New Health Program 'Lifestyle/health promotor'. AEDESA in Spain is the partner in this project.

The Lifestyle/health knowledge center and academy that is going to be developed provides scientific information and courses to professionals, volunteers and consumers with easy to obtain, understand and use tools to improve physical activity, healthy eating, health mindset, mind(re)set, positive health and a healthy lifestyle. The partnership, that works together with The Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Lithuania and Slovakia, will develop education standards for Lifestyle/health promotor, a free consumer lifestyle platform and Lifestyle/health promotor course and e-learning. They will also conduct research on the role and impact Lifestyle/health promotor have on behavioral change of the target groups.

The Lifestyle/health promotor can be a sports professional, healthcare professional, teacher, but also a community worker, member of a sport organization or volunteer. New Health provides them with motivation and knowledge about healthy eating, sports, the risks of unhealthy living and the use of doping. This partnership will create and support a European network of Lifestyle/health promotor. 

The project coordinator is the New Health Foundation in the Netherlands, The partners are:

• Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM): Portugal
• Europe Active: Belgium
• Fitness Federation: Belgium
• Lithuanian Association of Health and Fitness Clubs: Lituania
• Asociación Europea de Deporte, Ejercicio y Salud (AEDESA): Spain
• Comenius University (Faculty of Physical Education and Sports): Slovakia

The expert panel is composed by:

• European Network of Sport Education (ENSE): Austria
• Movisie: Netherlands
• Knowledge Center Sports (KCSportNL): Netherlands
• NL Active: Netherlands
• Jan Middelkamp: Netherlands

El pasado jueves 5 de Marzo, los partners del proyecto se reunieron en Eindhoven, Holanda, para una exitosa reunión de lanzamiento del proyecto que finalizó el viernes 6 de marzo.

Este programa está apoyado por Erasmus+program de la Unión Europea.