23 Medical Sector

Medical research provides basic knowledge for measures to
promote physical activity among children. These should also
involve institutions such as children's clinics. At a local level
there should also be an intensive exchange with paediatricians,
since they are in close contact to both children and parents.

A connection between the promotion of physical activity among
children and medicine with its various institutions is necessary for
two reasons:

1. Awareness from science
Due to the enormously high figures of children suffering from
motor anamolies or overweight this topic is an issue for medical
research, in particular from a social medicine point of view.
Evidence-based findings are mostly derived from medical
research. Internationally the promotion of physical activity plays
an important role in public health issues.

2. medical institutions as door opener
Medical institutions are indispensable partners if the promotion
of physical activity within the municipality is to have an integrated
approach and is designed for the long term. Here the
following physicians play a special part: paediatricians (1), who
systematically examine children at an early age. Paediatricians
can also build up a relationship with the parents. Physicians employed
by the city (2), who examine the children as to their
school readiness. Again here there is an early systematic examination
system which is a good basis for building up the promotion
of physical activity. In paediatric clinics (3) there is also
a close exchange between physicians and parents, and therapies
or preventative measures are discussed and prescribed.

However, the possibilities of such an intensive cooperation has to
be clarified under the aspect of medical confidentiality and data
protection. Regardless of this, paediatricians can be important
agents of communication with the parents.

How can there be a closer cooperation between the promotion of
physical activity on a municipal basis and the medical sector?

• exchange within the municipality on intercept points (youth department, sports department, school department, health department)

• involvements of paediatricians

• involvement of superior instances of paediatricians (professional association) in the frame of a round table

• development of common approaches