Due to World Health Organization, the promotion of physical activity is an important public health agenda, as it is well documented that adequate physical activity is vital for disease prevention and health promotion. (W.H.O., 2010). There is incontrovertible evidence that regular physical activity contributes to the primary and secondary prevention of several chronic diseases and is associated with a reduced risk of premature death. There appears to be a graded linear relation between the volume of physical activity and health status, such that the most physically active people are at the lowest risk. (Darren E.R. Warburton, 2006). Those days a low level of physical activity is a pervasive feature of our modern lifestyle.

Physical inactivity may be associated not only with being overweight but also with disorders such as coronary heart disease or type-2 diabetes1, which may be prevented by exercising regularly. Consequently, sedentary people often include spells of vigorous exercise in an otherwise inactive and unhealthy lifestyle. (Westerterp, 2021).

Physical activities could implement indoor or outdoor. The use of outdoor natural environments for physical activity and health is not new. For 99% of human history, not only we have lived off the land and sought nature for basic survival needs and health, but also for pleasure and physical activity. More recently climbers, hill-walkers, mountain bikers and endurance athletes have all enjoyed the great outdoors and green spaces. It may not only facilitate enjoyment for participants and improve adherence, but may also encourage positive physical activity behaviours which are likely to produce greater health gains. (Hug SM, 2009). As we maybe still genetically designed to be hunter-gatherers in the great outdoors, we are not being stimulated physically or mentally in the same way and this may be detrimental to health.

GymParks4All will focus on the participation of people, regardless of discrimination, in fitness activities in order to follow a healthy way of exercising. The project highlights the benefits and advantages of existing outdoor gyms (fitness equipment installed in public places) for the community. An outdoor gym is environmental infrastructure built in a public open space to promote structured physical activity. The provision of Outdoor Gyms is increasingly seen as an important strategy to realize public health agendas promoting habitual physical activity.

Visit the website and learn more about the project here.