Physical activity advocacy in the UK: a multiple streams analysis of a hybrid policy issue

Abstract

Physical activity is increasingly being defined as a major, complex, multisector issue. In order to understand more about how this expanded conception of physical activity is being factored into public policy, this article applies the multiple streams theory of policy change to examine the United Kingdom (UK) physical activity domain. Participant observation, policy analysis and media analysis are combined to examine the ways in which the political context, problem framing and policy solutions were brought together by a range of policy entrepreneurs. The study pays particular attention to how one lobby effort in the UK, the All Party Committee on Physical Activity (APCPA) attempted to elevate physical activity to a higher level of importance. The findings show how a hybrid form of organisation made up of traditional interest groups, corporations and government insiders, has successfully decreased ambiguity about physical activity and increased both official and public attention about the issue. The article suggests that while the multifarious benefits of physical activity and the diverse range of organisations involved have contributed to momentum towards policy change, these factors may also inhibit physical activity from remaining high on the policy agenda.

A global systematic scoping review of studies analysing indicators, development, and content of national-level physical activity and sedentary behaviour policies

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How well do national and local policies in England relevant to maternal and child health meet the international standard for non-communicable disease prevention? A policy analysis

“…The 2012 Olympics provided impetus for policy action supportive of physical activity. 49 Challenging as the management of Brexit is, it provides a unique opportunity for policy change that holds great potential to reform food and transport systems to be supportive of healthy dietary and physical activity behaviours.…”

The politics of sport funding in Brazil: a multiple streams analysis

“…The methodological proposal of this study is in line with the statement by Zahariadis (2007), that Multiple Streams theorises processes from macro to micro scale, with the objective of trying to discover the rationality of political actions. Thus, based on the studies previously carried out by Piggin and Hart (2017) and Houlihan and Green (2006), a series of macro, meso and micro aspects of agenda setting were analysed.…”

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