Pillole di movimento lands in Europe and becomes Movement pills

The UISP project, born in Bologna (IT) and grown with a national edition, reaches beyond the border. This new international version is financed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). The project is coordinated by UISP (leader of the consortium) and involves partners from Italy, Denmark, Belgium, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Poland. Movement pills kick off meeting will be held from 7 to 9 February in Brussels, when the partners will meet for the first time to prepare the common work plan. The objective is to discourage sedentary lifestyles and promote physical activity, through the development of a campaign to raise awareness and promote physical activity at a European level, considered as a natural remedy capable of preventing diseases. “It is a great satisfaction to see that an idea started in Bologna, awarded at European level by ISCA as a good practice and endorsed by the WHO, which last year included it in one of its commercials, becomes a European campaign - states Massimo Gasparetto, UISP health promotion policy manager - It is confirmation of the continuity of our associative work, from the local to the national level, up to the European level, but also of the perseverance and trust in our vision of social sport aimed at change of lifestyles. In fact, it must be remembered that change does not happen by magic, but a series of facilitating elements are needed to make sedentary people become active." The project foresees the widespread distribution, in partner countries, of a large number of Movement pill boxes, real boxes that resemble those of medicines but which contain a trial subscription for 2 free months of physical activity in gyms and swimming pools that participate in the project and access credentials to interactive online sports lessons and/or video tutorials. A booklet is also made available which provides information on the benefits of physical activity and the risks of a sedentary lifestyle. As in the Italian good practice, Movement's pill boxes will be distributed in pharmacies.

“L’Uisp prosegue il suo impegno nella promozione dell’attività fisica come opportunità di coltivare la propria salute e agevolare condizioni di benessere - aggiunge Gsparetto - La scatolina offre una serie di proposte per sperimentare attività nuove e avvicinare le persone sedentarie a nuove abitudine salutari.

"UISP continues its commitment to promoting physical activity as an opportunity to improve health and facilitate well-being conditions - adds Gasparetto - The little box offers a series of opportunities to try new activities and familiarize sedentary people with new healthy habits.

Movement pills is also proof that alliances are the key: Municipalities, pharmacies, UISP with its association system, united to offer people an opportunity at favorable conditions to start moving. We are fully in line with the Italian Ministry of Health “Guadagnare Salute/Gaining Health” campaign, which encouraged making choices for health easy, an approach that UISP adopted right from the beginning, creating a series of opportunities to make these choices easier. Now this international declination will allow us to compare ourselves at a European level, to constantly improve and make it adaptable to different contexts, with different socio-health systems".

Since access to opportunities to practice sports and physical activities is affected by various factors of socioeconomic and cultural discrimination, such as gender, age, education, financial position, geographical location, "Movement Pills" project was developed with particular attention to inclusion. The range of sporting activities provided will therefore include options that allow the inclusion of categories of individuals at risk of exclusion. (Edited by Elena Fiorani)