DENMARK

This is one of the 28 European Union Member States factsheets on health-enhancing physical activity,
developed as a part of a joint initiative between the European Commission (EC) and WHO Regional
Office for Europe in the context of the implementation of the Recommendation of the Council of the

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY European Union on promoting health-enhancing physical activity across sectors and the European
Noncommunicable Diseases Action Plan 2012-2016.

FACTSHEET The Regional Office is grateful to the European Commission (EC) for its financial support for the
preparation of this country profile.

DENMARK
PREVALENCE (%) OF ADOLESCENTS REACHING WHO
RECOMMENDED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVELS, 2013/2014

ADOLESCENTS
%
11 YEARS 13 YEARS 15 YEARS

MALES 20 16 15

FEMALES 11 12 7

Total population: 5 627 235

Median age: 41.3 years
Life expectancy at birth: males 78.3 years
Life expectancy at birth: females 82.4 years
GDP per capita: €44 400
GDP spent on health: 10.9% (1)
 Monitoring and surveillance
Physical activity in adults
In Denmark, the national recommendations on physical activity for health (2) address children, young people, adults,
pregnant women and older adults. The country’s national health monitoring and surveillance system captures some
measures of physical activity through the Danish National Health Profile (3), which was established in 2009 and is
produced under the leadership of the Danish Health and Medicines Authority. In the past, national physical activity
monitoring was carried out at various intervals by the National Institute of Public Health (4). Now, every 4 years, the
survey measures different aspects of the population’s health-related behaviours, with data disaggregated by several
variables, notably socioeconomic status and age.

No systematic collection of national data takes place relating to the percentage of the population that reaches
recommended levels of physical activity; however, this is expected to be included in the next round of the Danish
National Health Profile, in 2017. Physical activity levels in the Danish adult population (aged 16+ years) are currently
measured and reported retrospectively in the National Health Profile, using questions that try to capture different
dimensions of physical activity in leisure activities.1

However, in 2012, the Nordic Council of Ministers published monitoring data collected in 2011 from all Nordic countries
on the percentage of the population meeting the minimum recommendation of 3.5 hours of moderate-intensity
activity per week (5). In Denmark, 67% of all adults meet this minimum recommendation.

The intercountry comparable physical activity estimates for 2010 for Denmark from the WHO Global Health
Observatory (GHO) show that 73.4% reach the WHO physical activity for health recommendations, and that males in
Denmark are more physically active than females (75.7% and 71.1%, respectively) (6).

Physical activity in children and adolescents

Denmark uses the international cut-off point for children reaching the recommended physical activity levels, as
endorsed in WHO’s Global recommendations on physical activity for health (2010) (7).

The latest Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study (8) reports data disaggregated by age (11, 13 and 15
years). Unpublished data for Denmark from the 2013/2014 round of the study are shown in Table 1. For all age groups,
more boys aged 11, 13 and 15 years reach the physical activity recommendations (20%, 16% and 15%, respectively)
and are therefore more physically active than girls in the same age groups (11%, 12% and 7% for girls aged 11, 13 and
15 years, respectively).

1
For example: “In the past year, what would you say best describes your leisure activities? (Only one answer)

• heavy exercise and competitive sports, regularly/several times a week (8.8%)

• exercise or heavy gardening, at least 4 hours a week (27.2%)
• walking, biking or other light exercise, at least 4 hours a week (includes Sunday excursions, light gardening and cycling or walking to work) (48.3%)
• reading, watching TV or other sedentary activity (15.7%).

2 Denmark
Table 1. Prevalence (%) of children and adolescents reaching the WHO recommended physical activity levels,
2013/2014

CHILDREN*b ADOLESCENTSa ADOLESCENTSa ADOLESCENTSa ADOLESCENTS*b

%
(9—10 YEARS) (11 YEARS) (13 YEARS) (15 YEARS) (14—16 YEARS)

MALES 14 20 16 15 2

FEMALES 3 11 12 7 1

*Based on objective measurements (accelerometers): cut-off 2296 counts per minute (CPM) for moderate- to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA), including
children aged 9—10 years and adolescents aged 14—16 years.

Sources: aunpublished data from the HBSC 2013/2014 study (for adolescents aged 11, 13 and 15 years); bEuropean Youth Heart Study.

The percentages reported in the European Youth Heart Study2, based on objective measures, are significantly lower
than in the other studies presented here. Cycling (which is very popular in Denmark) is not measured in this study; and
therefore these estimates probably underestimate the reality.

The results according to the WHO GHO 2010 data are in concordance with the two other studies, showing that boys
are more physically active than girls, with 11.7% of Danish adolescents (defined as aged 11—17 years in relation to
WHO data) reaching the recommended physical activity levels (12.9% for boys and 10.6% for girls, respectively).

Policy response
Major policy documents adopted by government bodies
Multi-sector collaboration is evident in the policy approaches taken by Denmark. The Ministry of Culture entered into
a multi-party agreement in May 2014 entitled the Political Agreement on Sports (Politisk stemmeaftale om idræt)
(9). A key part of this agreement is commitment to sports policy initiatives in the ministries that govern fields such
as culture, environment, health and prevention, children, equality, integration and social affairs, and education. The
emphasis is on informal sports and activity, using a so-called sports-for-all approach, with a special commitment to
diversity in sports , including the development of sports for people with disabilities and for socially vulnerable groups,
as well as gender-equitable sports. The Social Services Act (Bekendtgørelse af lov om social service) — proposed by the
Ministry of Children, Gender Equality, Integration and Social Affairs — acknowledges the need to preserve the physical
functionality of elderly people receiving care (10).

In 2014, the Danish government funded the establishment of several partnerships focusing on promoting physical
activity and reducing overweight among children. The partnerships involve collaboration between municipalities, local
organizations, and companies in the promotion of health and physical activity in communities. Public sector reforms
have led to local municipalities being primarily responsible for the prevention of physical inactivity, since 2007 (11).

2
Unpublished data from the European Youth Heart Study (collected in 1998 and 2004, with approximately 1000 participants in each age group), provided by Professor
Lars Bo Andersen of the University of Southern Denmark, in collaboration with the International Children’s Accelerometry Database.

Denmark 3
 In particular, two main strategies have been launched in Denmark to further improve physical activity: the updated
Folkeskole Act of 2014, focusing on improving physical activity in schools (see Box 1) and the campaign “Denmark — on
your bike!”, which aims to encourage and improve cycling uptake in the country (see Box 2).

The needs of certain target groups — such as older people and those from lower socioeconomic groups — are primarily
mainstreamed in these documents, rather than addressed separately.

Guidelines and goals

The Danish Health and Medicines Authority has adopted national recommendations on physical activity for children
and adolescents, adults, older people and pregnant women. It also provides guidance on exercise training as treatment
for 32 diseases (2). Recommendations for children aged under 5 years are anticipated to be released by the end of
2015.

Box 1. Physical activity in the curriculum: the Folkeskole Act

The Folkeskole (Consolidation) Act, passed by the Danish Parliament in 1993 and updated in 2014 (12), makes
it compulsory for schools to offer an average of 45 minutes of physical activity per school day in primary and
lower-secondary education, as well as adding an extra physical education (PE) lesson per school week in grade
1. Moreover, an exit examination in PE when students reach grade 9 in the Danish education system (15/16
years old). The Day-care Facilities Act states that all day care facilities must prepare a pedagogical curriculum.
The pedagogical curriculum shall describe the local goals of the day care facility in respect of children’s learning
within six themes including the theme “body and motion” (13).

Box 2. Cycling in Denmark

The findings of the National Travel Survey (Transportvaneundersøgelsen) showed that walking and cycling are
popular in Denmark, accounting for 18% and 17% of the modes of transport used for trips taken in 2014 (14).
Since 2009, Denmark has invested at least €350 million in cycling projects. The Capital Region of Denmark esti-
mates that one million fewer sick days are now recorded owing to the fact that 45% of people who study or work
in Copenhagen cycle to their place of study or work (15).

Furthermore, Denmark has implemented the national bike strategy entitled “Denmark — on your bike!” which has
three main pillars: everyday cycling, active holidays and recreation, and new and safe cyclists (16).

Furthermore, the Ministry of the Environment implemented Denmark’s first outdoor recreation policy in 2015,
serving as a guideline for the development of outdoor recreation activities and future collaboration in the field
of outdoor activities (17). While this policy targets all population groups, there is a special focus on low socio-
economic groups, among whom there is often lower uptake of outdoor recreational activities.

4 Denmark
The national recommendations on physical activity for health are based on the various recommendations: WHO
Global recommendations on physical activity for health (2010) (7), recommendations by the United States Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention and the American College of Sports Medicine, and evidence and recommendations
from Canada. The national guidelines recommend that adults (aged 18–64 years) carry out at least 30 minutes
of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day and older adults (aged 65+ years) carry out at least 30 minutes
of moderate-intensity physical activity per day. Adults (aged 18–64 years) should do a minimum of 20 minutes
of vigorous-intensity physical activity at least twice per week, and older adults (aged 65+ years) should engage in
physical activity at least twice per week for at least 20 minutes to maintain or improve physical fitness, and muscle
and bone strength. Older adults should also perform stretching exercises for at least 10 minutes twice per week to
maintain or improve flexibility, and perform regular exercises to maintain or improve balance.

Table 2 presents a summary of the key measures in place to monitor and address physical activity in Denmark.

Table 2. Summary of key physical activity initiatives in Denmark

HEALTH SPORTS EDUCATION TRANSPORT MONITORING GUIDELINES

Counselling on Existence of a Mandatory physical National or subnational Physical activity Existence of national
physical activity national Sports for activity in schemes promoting included in the recommendation on
as part of primary All policy(ies) primary and active travel to school national health physical activity
health care services secondary schools and/or workplace monitoring system
or separate routine
survey

YES* YES YES YES YES YES

*The Danish Health and Medicines Authority is scheduled to publish materials in autumn 2015 — designed for hospitals and the primary care field — focusing on an ini-
tial assessment of the patient’s lifestyle (alcohol, tobacco and drug use, diet and physical activity), targeted lifestyle and health information for the patient, and, where
necessary and desired by the patient, referral for intervention in primary care.

Additional information on action in key areas

Supporting socially disadvantaged groups
In 2012, the Ministry of Children, Gender Equality, Integration and Social Affairs funded a project with the purpose of
creating sustainable partnerships between sports and gymnastics associations in order to ensure exercise facilities for
socially disadvantaged citizens. Three partnerships have been established to test different models of cooperation on
such facilities.

Schools
While PE is mandatory in Danish schools (on the basis of the aforementioned Folkeskole Act), the Learning through
Motion (Læring i bevægelse) scheme is a nationwide programme that aims to integrate motion-based behaviour such
as physical activity into learning situations for students, including in lessons and during school breaks. This is targeted
towards both primary and secondary education (18).

Denmark 5
 Workplace
The Danish Working Environment Authority is responsible for implementing a scheme to encourage dialogue on health
promotion, established in January 2012 as part of the Strategy for working environment efforts up to 2020 (19). This
scheme focuses on the psychological working environment, well-being and physical activity.

Transport and the built environment

Denmark is part of the WHO European Healthy Cities Network (20) and the European Network for the Promotion of
Health-enhancing Physical Activity (HEPA Europe) (21). Investment is being allocated to outdoor green public spaces,
such as exercise trails, natural playgrounds and peri-urban forests, which indirectly affect people’s opportunities for
physical activity. Specific funding has also been allocated for the promotion of cycling in Denmark (22, 23).

Successful approaches
Nationwide campaign: Get moving (24)
Since 2005, the Danish Health and Medicines Authority has conducted a nationwide campaign on physical
activity for children and adolescents, entitled “Get moving”. The principal message of the campaign is that all
children and young people must be physically active for at least 60 minutes per day, or preferably longer. Each
.,
year, the campaign comprises nationwide mass media elements, as well as local efforts. In 2015 the target
group was the parents of children aged 10—15 years, as well as leisure-time teachers in after-school clubs.
More information is available at the Danish Health and Medicines Authority website (25).

Aarhus Cycling City

Aarhus Cycling City is one of many projects that have received funds from the Cycling Fund (Cykelpuljen) for
the period 2009–2014. Aarhus has experienced a 19% increase in cycling in recent years. The increase is the
result of several improvements to infrastructure, such as new cycle paths, bicycle-friendly streets and new
bicycle parking solutions, as well as campaigning efforts. All initiatives that stem from the Aarhus Cycling City
project are carried out by Aarhus municipality, in collaboration with the Danish Road Directorate.

Put the school into motion

The project “Put the school into motion” (Sæt skolen i bevægelse) was initiated by the Danish School Sport
Association in 2009. Its purpose is to help teachers at primary and lower-secondary schools in Denmark to
integrate movement and physical exercise into their teaching during the school day, in order to strengthen the
students’ learning, health and well-being.
The project is divided into three parts, covering (i) a course, in which the teachers are educated in the various
ways of integrating movement into their teaching; (ii) a database of exercises, methods and tools, which the
teachers can incorporate into their teaching in order to encourage movement; and (iii) a yearly campaign week,
open to all, during which classes can register to compete with each other in various physical activities.
The Danish Evaluation institute has conducted an evaluation of the project, showing that physical activity has
a positive impact on students’ learning environment. In particular, the findings show a positive influence on the
students’ motivation to learn, as well as on their communicational skills and their social environment (26).

6 Denmark
References 14. The Danish national travel survey. Main results [website].
Kongens Lyngby: Technical University of Denmark; 2015
1. Eurostat. Your key to European statistics [online database]. (http://www.modelcenter.transport.dtu.dk/english/TU/
Luxembourg: Statistical Office of the European Union; 2015 Hovedresultater, accessed 2 July 2015).
(June update) (http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/data/database, 15. Facts about cycling in Denmark [website]. Copenhagen:
accessed 3 July 2015). Cycling Embassy of Denmark; 2015 (http://www.cycling-
2. Fysisk aktivitet — håndbog om forebyggelse og behandling embassy.dk/facts-about-cycling-in-denmark/statistics/,
[Physical activity — handbook on prevention and treatment]. accessed 2 July 2015).
Copenhagen: Danish Health and Medicines Authority; 16. A new national bike strategy: “Denmark — on your bike!”
2011 (http://sundhedsstyrelsen.dk/publ/publ2011/bofo/ [website]. Copenhagen: Danish Ministry of Transport and
fysiskaktivitet/haandbog2011.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015). Building; 2014 (http://www.trm.dk/en/publications/2014/
3. Danskernes Sundhed. Tal fra Den Nationale Sundhedsprofil denmark-on-your-bike-the-national-bicycle-strategy,
[Danish health. Figures from the Danish National Health Profile accessed 2 July 2015).
2013] [in Danish]. Copenhagen: Danish Health and Medicines 17. Danmarks nationale friluftspolitik [Denmark’s national outdoor
Authority; 2014 (http://www.danskernessundhed.dk, policy] [website]. Copenhagen: Danish Nature Agency; 2015
accessed 2 July 2015). (http://naturstyrelsen.dk/naturoplevelser/friluftspolitik/,
4. Danish health interview surveys 1987—2005 [online accessed 2 July 2015).
database]. Copenhagen: Danish National Institute for Public 18. Læring i bevægelse [Learning in motion] [website].
Health; 2015 (http://susy2.si-folkesundhed.dk/susy.aspx, Copenhagen: National Agency for IT and Learning; 2015
accessed 15 July 2015). (http://www.emu.dk/tema/l%C3%A6ring-i-bev%C3%A6gelse,
5. Rasmussen LB, Andersen LF, Borodulin K, Enghardt Barbieri H, accessed 2 July 2015).
Fagt S, Matthiessen J et al. Nordic monitoring of diet, physical 19. Agreement between the Danish Government (Denmark’s
activity and overweight. First collection of data in all Nordic Liberal Party and the conservative People’s Party), the Social
countries 2011. Copenhagen: Nordic Council of Ministers; 2012 Democratic Party, the Danish people’s Party and the Social
(http://norden.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:701468/ Liberal Party. A strategy for working environment efforts up to
FULLTEXT01.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015). 2020. Copenhagen: Danish Working Environment Authority;
6. Global status report on noncommunicable diseases 2014. 2011 (http://engelsk.arbejdstilsynet.dk/, accessed 2 July
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2014 (http://apps.who. 2015).
int/iris/bitstream/10665/148114/1/9789241564854_eng. 20. WHO European healthy cities network [website]. Copenhagen:
pdf?ua=1, accessed 18 July 2015). WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2015 (http://www.euro.who.
7. Global recommendations on physical activity for health. int/en/health-topics/environment-and-health/urban-health/
Geneva: World Health Organization; 2010 (http://whqlibdoc. activities/healthy-cities/who-european-healthy-cities-
who.int/publications/2010/9789241599979_eng.pdf, network, accessed 16 July 2015).
accessed 15 July 2015). 21. HEPA Europe (European network for the promotion of healthy-
8. Health behaviour in school-aged children. Publications: enhancing physical activity) [website]. Copenhagen: WHO
international reports [website]. St Andrews: University of St Regional Office for Europe; 2015 (http://www.euro.who.int/en/
Andrews Child and Adolescent Health Research Unit (HBSC health-topics/disease-prevention/physical-activity/activities/
International Coordinating Centre); 2015 (http://www.hbsc. hepa-europe, accessed 16 July 2015).
org/publications/international/, accessed 2 July 2015). 22. Cykelpuljen 2014. Status og udvalgte eksempler. Rapport 523
9. Politisk stemmeaftale om idræt [Political agreement on [Bicycle pool 2014. Status and selected examples. Report
sports]. Copenhagen: Danish Ministry for Culture; 2014 (http:// 523]. Copenhagen: Highways Agency; 2014 (http://www.
kum.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Politisk_stemmeaftale_om_ vejdirektoratet.dk/DA/viden_og_data/publikationer/Lists/
idraet.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015). Publikationer/Attachments/840/Cykelpuljen%202014%20
WEB.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015).
10. Bekendtgørelse af lov om social service [Social services act].
Copenhagen: Danish Ministry of Children, Gender Equality, and 23. Foreløbig Vejledning til ansøgning af tilskud fra “Pulje til
Integration and Social Affairs; 2015 (LBK No. 150, 16 February fremme af cykling” [Preliminary guidelines for the application
2015) (https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/R0710. of grants under the “Funds for the promotion of cycling”].
aspx?id=167849, accessed 2 July 2015). Copenhagen: Highways Agency; 2015 (http://vejdirektoratet.
dk/DA/vejsektor/samarbejde/puljer/cykelpuljen/Documents/
11. De 7 nationale mål for danskernes sundhed [The 7 national Ans%C3%B8gningsvejledning%20pulje%20til%20fremme%20
Danish health targets] [website]. Copenhagen: Danish Ministry af%20cykling%20-%20udkast.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015).
of Health and Prevention; 2015 (www.nationalemaal.dk,
accessed 2 July 2015). 24. Get moving. 60 minutter om dagen — og gerne mere [60
minutes a day — and preferably more] [website]. Copenhagen:
12. Bekendtgørelse af lov om folkeskolen [Act on primary school]. Danish Health and Medicines Authority; 2015 (http://
Copenhagen: Danish Ministry of Education; 2014 (LBK No. getmoving.dk/, accessed 16 July 2015).
665, 24 June 2014) (https://www.retsinformation.dk/Forms/
R0710.aspx?id=163970&exp=1, accessed 15 July 2015). 25. The Danish campaign get moving [website]. Copenhagen:
Danish Health and Medicines Authority; 2012 (https://
13. Consolidation act on day-care, after-school and club facilities, sundhedsstyrelsen.dk/en/campaigns/get-moving, accessed
etc. for children and young people (day-care facilities act). 16 July 2015).
Copenhagen: Danish Ministry of Children, Gender Equality,
and Integration and Social Affairs; 2014 (http://sm.dk/en/ 26. Evaluering af udvalgte idrætsprojekter [Evaluation of selected
files/consolidation-act-on-day-care-after-school-and-club- sports projects]. Copenhagen: Danish Evaluation Institute
facilities-etc-for-children-and-young-people-day-care- (EVA); 2014 (https://www.eva.dk/projekter/2013/evaluering-
facilities-act.pdf, accessed 2 July 2015). af-tre-2019laering-i-bevaegelse2019-projekter-1/download-
rapport/evaluering-af-udvalgte-idraetsprojekter, accessed 20
August 2015).