World leaders in healthy lifestyle research and promotion will all meet in the Czech Republic next June. Faculty of Physical Culture of Palacký University Olomouc has been entrusted with the organization of a conference of the International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA), which is one of the largest scientific events in the field. An estimated 1400 participants are expected.
"It's a tremendous honour for us. ISBNPA brings together the world's largest experts in the field of research and promotion of healthy lifestyle and publishes its own high-impact journal. Its conferences are, together with the International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH), like Olympic Games in our field. It opens a door to the wider scientific circles and at the same time, it allows us to put the work we do at the faculty to good use," said Ferdinand Salonna of the Institute of Active Lifestyle.
The conference will be held June 4-7, 2019, at the Prague Congress Centre. The Prague venue with the organization of the Faculty of Physical Culture eventually won over Paris and Utrecht thanks to the support from both Czech and Central European partners from schools and similarly focused institutes, as well as the Prague City Hall. Dr. Salonna also pointed out that some of the committee's members remembered HEPA Europe meeting (European Network for the Promotion of Health-Enhancing Physical Activity) hosted by the Faculty in 2010.
Yet, Olomouc will not be forgotten this time either. The main programme of the conference will be held in Prague, however, it is traditionally preceded or followed by so-called satellite meetings. "We would like to organize one or two of these meetings in Olomouc, focusing on the research themes we are dealing with, especially the influence of the environment on physical activity or the movement activities of seniors. It is a great opportunity to bring ten or fifteen top experts to Olomouc," added Salona.
The impact of the environment on the level of physical activity, diet, various preventive and intervention programmes or e-health electronic applications are among the dominant themes discussed at the ISBNPA conferences. Moreover, the topic of healthy lifestyle is present not only during the scientific presentations. For example, half of the space in the lecture hall is intended for standing, there are various physical activities prepared for the participants and the organizers have a strict ethical code regarding potential sponsors of the event.
Scientists at the Faculty of Physical Culture first started to be involved in the ISBNPA conferences a few years ago, through a collaboration with Professor James F. Sallis and the International Physical Activity and the Environment Network (IPEN), which examines the impact of the environment on physical activity. This year's meeting in Hong Kong was attended by delegates from forty countries, including four representatives of our Faculty, namely Michal Kudláček, Josef Mitáš, Ferdinand Salonna and Michal Vorlíček. Besides attending organizational meetings associated with the upcoming conference in Prague, they also actively participated, presenting IPEN research and GAČR project Social Intervention for Active Adolescents (SONIAA) on the perception of physical activity in adolescents.