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This course will focus on physical activity as a health issue to enable students to extend their understanding of health and wellbeing issues. The connection between the health of the population and levels of physical activity has been a topic of intense discussion and research over the past two decades. Students undertaking this course will develop an understanding of a range of issues related to the connection between health and physical activity levels of the population. Students will explore information on the prevalence of obesity and other chronic conditions across the lifespan and how this has a significant impact on the health status of the population. Students undertaking this course will appreciate how professionals in areas of health, fitness and sport have challenges and responsibilities in addressing the issue. Because of the importance of being proactive students in this course will complete activities associated with designing and evaluating population level interventions – based on best practice – in order to increase physical activity levels and reduce sedentary behaviour of the population across the lifespan (including for those people with special needs such as disability and chronic disease).

This course outlines contemporary thinking with regard to health promotion, particularly as it relates to the levels of physical activity of the population. The course will examine a range of health programs and agencies, including the importance of using theoretical frameworks, behaviour change theory and partnerships when planning population level physical activity programs. Physical activity levels across the lifespan and within special populations will be presented and interventions to improve health and fitness (and associated psychological aspects) will be examined. Research and other information from other areas of health, sport and exercise will be outlined and related to the course as a way of improving the health status of the population.