[Physical activity and physical activity promotion among people with a migration background in Germany].

Abstract

Health equity has gained increasing importance in physical activity and health promotion and is firmly established as an important goal both internationally and in Germany. As social inequalities and multiple disadvantages influence physical activity behavior, population groups facing particular barriers to access-including people with a migration background-should receive greater consideration in physical activity promotion. This article provides an overview of the current state of research on physical activity and physical activity promotion among people with a migration background in Germany.Representative data indicate that people with a migration background are less physically active than people without a migration background. Key barriers reported include limited financial resources, language barriers, restricted opportunities for physical activity, and cultural factors. Different forms of social disadvantage, for example those related to gender, socioeconomic status, and migration background, may intersect and reinforce barriers to access. Using the project "Bewegung als Investition in Gesundheit" (BIG; "Physical Activity as an Investment in Health") as an example, this article illustrates how participatory and target-group-specific interventions can be used to reach, in particular, women with a migration background.In addition to participatory and target-group-specific interventions, equitable physical activity promotion requires structural conditions that facilitate access to opportunities for physical activity. The sustainable implementation and scaling-up of such interventions can contribute to reducing barriers to access and promoting health equity.