Physical activity, healthy diets open gateway to preventive lifestyle

"A physical active lifestyle opens the gateway to a preventive lifestyle including healthy diets" - this was the main message from a scientific  presentation of Prof. Wolgang Schlicht, Institute of Sport and Health Sciences, Stuttgart University, held during the last meeting of the EU supported Food Cluster Initiative in Ghent, Belgium.

Healthy food and activity lie in the center of the  prevention of diseases like obesity, cardiovasculaire disorders, cancer, osteoporose and metabolic diseases. According to Prof. Schlicht, in 2010 Diabetes II  reached a peak with 221 Mio cases worldwide. Likewise, the prevalence of Obesity is raising constantly in industrialized countries due to "sedentary and hazardous" lifestyles with poor actvity and low excersise patterns. Schlicht could demonstrate the risk reducing effects of "Health Enhancing Physical  Activty" (HEPA), comprising 2,5 hours per week moderate physical activity,  and/or  Fitness, comprising 1 hour per week intense physical activty.

Even the slight excersise level in the HEPA category reduced the mortality risk of obese women by 30 %, those of men by 20 %
(Buksch & Schlicht, 2010). The active behaviour was correlated with  less food intake and the acceptance of "less attractive" low-cal food and drink  products like raw vegetables and full cereals. The main problem identified is to stabilize healthy behaviour by raising the acceptance for healthy and "less attractive" food products accompanied by constant levels of physical activity.

The promotion of a "culture of healthy diet and active living", ( Schlicht) is seen as a key domain in order to foster the necessary sustainable behavioural changes.

The Stuttgart Institute of Sports and Health Sciences is member of the EU-supported "AFRESH" project where food clusters and physical activity clusters  cooperate in the definition of new research areas and concepts for diet and activity related products and services. The "AFRESH" project is member of the Food Cluster Initative. During the network meeting in Ghent 110 researchers and SMEs exchanged views and results of an improved integration of food research and food industries.