The Healthy Lifestyles for Europe project (HL4EU) hosted its Community Building Conference, bringing together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to advance cross-sectoral collaboration for healthier lifestyles across Europe.

The conference opened with Alina Chebes (Senior Policy Officer, EuropeActive), who presented HL4EU's vision and objectives, setting the stage for the day's discussions.

Luz Divina De La Cruz Lastre, science project manage from EIEIM, presented ongoing work on the future HL4EU platform, which gathers data, information, and best practices on community-driven health initiatives.

Floor Van Houdt (Head of Sport Unit, DG EAC, European Commission) shared insights from the HealthyLifestyle4All campaign, illustrating the power of collaboration in linking sport and active lifestyles with health, food, and other policy areas.

Juana Willumsen (Technical Officer, World Health Organization) presented data showing that 31% of adults worldwide do not meet recommended levels of physical activity, along with key recommendations to support Member States' efforts to address this gap.

Michele Cecchini (Head of Public Health, OECD) introduced the OECD's initiatives on cross-sectoral collaboration for disease prevention and health promotion.

Knut Inge Klepp (Scientific Coordinator, JA PreventNCD) presented the Joint Action Prevent Non-Communicable Diseases project, highlighting its role in helping national authorities prioritize the most effective prevention strategies.

Panel Discussion: Cross-Sector Cooperation

The conference concluded with a panel discussion moderated by Jerome Pero (Secretary General, Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry), featuring Juana Willumsen (WHO), Kitti Almer (Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the EU), Stefano Pintus (DG EAC, European Commission), and Dr. Ashley Ridout (Faculty of Sport & Exercise Medicine, UK).

Panelists shared their organizations' approaches to promoting health through partnership, including the European Commission's HealthyLifestyle4All initiative and WHO's work supporting governments in integrating physical activity policies across sectors. The discussion also addressed common barriers, such as differing sector priorities, drawing on examples like the UK's Moving Medicine initiative to illustrate how health goals can be aligned with broader sector interests.

The European Initiative for Exercise in Medicine (EIEIM) took part in Exercise is Medicine Day at FIBO 2024, bringing together leading experts for a day of enlightening and inspiring discussions on the role of physical activity in health and well-being.

Sessions covered a wide range of timely topics, including returning to sport and daily life after COVID-19, the growing impact of wearable technologies in sports medicine, and the digital technologies shaping the future of sport. Speakers also addressed load tolerance, global active cities, and physical activity during pregnancy, reflecting the breadth and depth of the day's programme.

EIEIM extends its thanks to all speakers who contributed their expertise, including Prof. Dr. Jürgen Michael Steinacker, Apl. Prof. Dr. Christian Puta, Prof. Dr. Wilhelm Bloch, Dr. Cailbhe Doherty, Prof. Dr. Moritz Schumann, Christoph Holstein, Alexander Rosi, and Dr. Nina Ferrari.

Exercise is Medicine Day at FIBO 2024 reinforced the vital role of movement in overall health, furthering EIEIM's mission to advance healthier, more active communities across Europe and beyond.