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Published on October 17, 2024

National Health Profile: Denmark (with proposals)

In the National Health Profile for Denmark, published by the Danish Health Authority in 2021, we learn about the health of the Danish population. In this entry we'll briefly cover some of the key statistics for the general profile, and then focus on physical activity.

The data from the National Health Profile is then combined with data from Sport in Numbers, published by The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark, to provide a more comprehensive overview of the trend in sports participation in Denmark.

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General Health Profile

The data used in this section comes from the National Health Profile for Denmark, published by the Danish Health Authority.

  • Life expectancy: The report mentions a life expectancy at birth of 81.3 years for men and 85.1 years for women

  • Obesity prevalence: The report indicates that 27.1% of adults aged 20 and over are classified as obese

  • Smoking prevalence: The report confirms that 11.7% of adults smoke cigarettes daily

  • Alcohol consumption: 54.1% of adults drink alcohol occasionally, as per the data

  • Mental health: About 1 in 5 adults have experienced a common mental disorder in the past year

  • Physical inactivity: 1 in 3 adults do not meet the recommended guidelines for physical activity

  • Antidepressant use: 1 in 10 adults reported using antidepressants in the past year

Physical activity

The data used in this section comes from the National Health Profile for Denmark, published by the Danish Health Authority.

  • Inactivity Rates: 58.1% of the adult population in Denmark does not meet the WHO's minimum recommendations for physical activity. This includes 55.3% of men and 60.7% of women, with higher rates of inactivity among older age groups

  • Age and Gender Imbalance: Physical inactivity is least common among young adults (16-24 years old) but increases significantly in the 75+ age group. More women (60.7%) than men (55.3%) fail to meet the recommendations

  • Socioeconomic Factors: There is a clear correlation between education level and physical activity. Individuals with only primary education show the highest inactivity rates (73.7%), while those with higher education demonstrate more activity

  • Desire for Change: Among those not meeting the WHO recommendations, 70.7% express a desire to become more physically active, with more women (73.2%) than men (67.9%) wanting to increase their activity levels

  • Inactive Lifestyle: 19% of the population describes their leisure activity as predominantly inactive. This trend is on the rise since 2010, particularly among the younger generation

The Future of Physical Activity

The suggestions provided in this section comes from the National Health Profile for Denmark, published by the Danish Health Authority.

  • Promote physical activity across all age groups, focusing on both structured (sports) and unstructured (walking, cycling) forms of exercise

  • Target lower socioeconomic groups to reduce disparities in physical activity levels by creating more accessible and inclusive programs

  • Encourage lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, improving diets, and enhancing mental health care

  • Leverage public interest: Over 70% of inactive individuals want to become more active, suggesting that well-designed interventions could be highly effective

  • Combat the inactive lifestyles by promoting active commuting (walking, cycling) and reducing time spent sitting, particularly in younger and older age groups

Sports in Numbers

The data used in this section comes from Sport in Numbers, published by The National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark.

  • Overall Decline in Membership: The total membership across the three main sports organizations (DIF, DGI, and Firmaidrætten) declined by 128,288 members in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19.

  • Impact on Indoor vs. Outdoor Sports: Indoor sports were particularly affected, with a 6% decline, while outdoor sports saw only a 1% drop

  • Significant Decline Among Younger Members: The age group 0-12 years experienced a significant decline, with 50,600 members lost, representing an 8% decrease. Other age groups experienced a smaller reduction of 2%

  • Growth in Certain Sports: Despite the overall decline, some sports saw growth. Tennis, golf, basketball, sailing, and surfing all registered increases in membership, with tennis growing by 11,945 members (15.7%)

  • Forenings Sizes: While the number of sports clubs increased by 27, the average club size decreased, reflecting a reduction in members per club

  • "Bevæg dig for livet" Vision: The collaboration between DIF and DGI under the "Bevæg dig for livet" vision aimed at increasing membership also faced setbacks, with a total decline of 46,756 members. However, the adult segment (18+) saw a smaller decline of 1.5%

  • Special Federations' Developments: Out of DIF’s 62 special federations, 21 experienced growth. The Danish Tennis Federation and Danish Golf Union were the top performers, while large federations like football and swimming saw the biggest losses

Comparatively

In this section the data from the National Health Profile is compared to the data from Sport in Numbers.

  • Higher life expectancy can be positively correlated with the physical activity and engagement in sports. The report shows a steady interest in activities like golf and tennis, which are known for maintaining physical and social health in older populations. Promoting such activities may contribute to increased life expectancy in the future

  • The increasing obesity rate could be linked to the reduced participation in indoor sports and fitness activities, as seen in the decline in members. Targeted programs to encourage gym usage and fitness activities could help address both obesity and inactivity rates

  • Participation in sports not only improves physical health but can also act as a preventive measure against smoking and excessive alcohol consumption. Sports programs, especially team-based ones like basketball or running clubs, either organized publically or at workplaces, could offer positive social outlets that promote healthier lifestyles

  • Physical activity, especially through organized sports, has proven mental health benefits. The significant drop in membership in these activities could contribute to worsening mental health. Promoting more inclusive and accessible sports programs, particularly for young and vulnerable groups, could have a positive impact on mental well-being

  • The strong desire for increased activity presents an opportunity. Programs focusing on sports with a lower entry barrier, workplace activities, and other popular sports could capitalize on this interest. Tailored interventions that encourage both structured (e.g., joining sports clubs) and unstructured (e.g., walking, cycling) forms of physical activity can make a significant impact on reducing inactivity

  • Socioeconomic gaps are evident in physical activity levels. Sports like tennis and golf may be less accessible to those with lower incomes. Thus, focusing on making sports more accessible and providing low-cost alternatives, such as community-based programs, or running clubs, can help bridge this gap

Both reports collectively emphasize the importance of physical activity in improving health outcomes and quality of life. However, disparities in participation based on socioeconomic status, education, and gender indicate that more inclusive and accessible strategies are needed to engage underrepresented groups. This could include reducing barriers to entry for sports, promoting low-cost community activities, and leveraging the expressed desire for greater physical activity.

By aligning the findings from both reports, it becomes clear that improving public health will require a multifaceted approach, combining structured sports initiatives with broader lifestyle interventions such as promoting mental well-being, reducing obesity, and encouraging active commuting.

The fact that over 70% of inactive individuals want to become more active provides a significant opportunity for well-designed programs to yield widespread health improvements across all segments of the Danish population.