Physical Activity and Combating a Sedentary Lifestyle: How Does Santé publique France Support the French People?
As part of “Septembre Bouge,” Santé publique France is highlighting several ways to take action to remove barriers to physical activity and combat a sedentary lifestyle in order to improve everyone’s health: self-assessment tools, support for young people, and the implementation of concrete projects in the field.
In France, levels of physical activity among the population remain low, particularly among young people, and highlight several social and regional health inequalities. However, regular physical activity has a positive impact on physical and biological health (including the prevention of chronic diseases) and also offers psychological and social benefits.
That is why, through its support programs, Santé publique France is fully committed to the National Sports and Health Strategy 2025–2030 (SNSS), spearheaded by the Ministry of Sports, Youth, and Community Life, as well as by the Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy, and People with Disabilities. The goal: to promote physical activity and support every French citizen, regardless of age, health status, or living conditions.
Mangerbouger.fr: Assess Your Level of Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior and Gradually Move Toward an Active Lifestyle
For several years now, Santé publique France’s mangerbouger.fr website has allowed everyone to assess their level of physical activity and sedentary behavior in just a few minutes using specialized tests:
These tests provide clear benchmarks and personalized advice to help you:
- be more active in daily life,
- reduce the amount of time spent sitting or lying down,
- discover activities to gradually move toward a more active lifestyle.
Find more tips, articles, and advice for a more active lifestyle at: mangerbouger.fr
Get Moving More This School Year with the First Edition of “Septembre Bouge”!
To mark the start of the new sports season and build on the momentum of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the “Septembre Bouge” initiative aims to put physical activity and sports back at the heart of everyday life for the French people.
On the agenda for the month:
- a national tour with 18 stops in mainland France and the overseas territories,
- workshops, demonstrations, and introductory sports sessions open to everyone and free of charge in dedicated activity zones,
- meetings with professionals, organizations, federations, and local stakeholders,
- physical activity challenges and free online sessions (yoga, Pilates, gentle exercise, etc.).
Taking Action from an Early Age: The ICAPS Approach
Santé publique France also works with young people to increase their physical activity and reduce their sedentary lifestyles. Since 2019, the agency has supported the National Center for the Promotion of Physical Activity and the Fight Against Sedentary Lifestyles, which assists local stakeholders in carrying out projects using the ICAPS (Intervention Focused on Physical Activity and Sedentary Lifestyles) approach.
This socio-ecological approach operates on three levels:
- the young person (attitude and motivation toward physical activity),
- their social circle or support network (parents, teachers, educators, youth workers, etc.),
- their environment (physical, organizational, institutional, etc.).
Recognized by the WHO in 2009, the ICAPS study has proven its effectiveness by increasing middle school students’ physical activity by one hour per week, reducing their screen time by 20 minutes per day, and lowering their risk of becoming overweight.
During the 2025–2026 school year, approximately 120 projects were implemented by at least 75 partners across nine regions, involving a total of about 7,100 middle school students who increased their level of physical activity. The rollout is continuing for the 2026–2027 school year.
A prevention program for parents of teens to encourage them to be more active
“Getting teens to be active isn’t easy. But encouraging them is important.” In 2022, Santé publique France launched a three-year prevention initiative aimed at parents, with the goal of highlighting the importance of parental support and helping parents encourage their teens to be more physically active and less sedentary.
Eat and Move
Visit mangerbouger.fr for comprehensive information on nutrition, tools and tips to help you eat better and be more active, as well as a wide variety of recipes.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
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