Romeu Mendes, a researcher at the Instituto de Saúde Pública da Universidade do Porto (ISPUP), is involved in the “Follow the Whistle” campaign. This initiative is coordinated by the National Program for the Promotion of Physical Activity of the Direção-Geral da Saúde (DGS), whose associate director is the ISPUP researcher. The campaign intends to show the Portuguese that the practice of physical activity can be easy, accessible and exciting.
“If you are between the ages of 35 and 65 and you think that to practice physical activity you need more time, more money, more equipment, or fitness, then the ‘Follow the Whistle’ campaign is for you”. This is the motto of the campaign that was designed to be present in several national media and started on June 19. The goal is to use mass media to reach as many people as possible and contribute to influencing attitudes and beliefs in order to change behaviors.
“The mass media campaigns for the promotion of physical activity are considered by the World Health Organization as one of the best buys in the context of fighting chronic noncommunicable diseases such as diabetes, cerebrovascular diseases, some cancers, and depression”, says Romeu Mendes.
The “Follow the Whistle” campaign, in which the researcher was involved, was built under the Principles of Social Marketing for Health Promotion and is supported by a formal impact assessment protocol. The preliminary results of the campaign’s impact will be presented in the last quarter of 2019.
It is known that a large part of the Portuguese adult population has difficulties in integrating the practice of physical activity in their daily lives. According to the Eurobarometer, lack of time and motivation are two of the main reasons given.
This campaign is part of an integrated strategy of the DGS to increase the levels of physical activity of one of the most inactive people in Europe, aiming to improve the health and quality of life of the Portuguese
The “Follow the Whistle” campaign has its own website and a video, which can be viewed here
#SigaOAssobio – physical activity calls for you!
