Using the health economic assessment tools (HEAT) for walking and cycling: lessons learnt

The joint WHO/EC project on promoting networking and action on healthy and equitable environments for physical activity (PHAN) ran from February 2010 to January 2013. It aimed at providing Member States with intelligence, guidance, tools, examples of good practices and exchange platforms on physical activity promotion. In addition, the project supported Member States in creating stronger collaboration with other sectors (such as urban planning, transport, education, tourism, sport and leisure) and promoted the use of new tools and approaches to physical activity promotion in different urban environments.

Specifically, two of the five project goals aimed to strengthen exchange on experiences made on application of tools for integrating physical activity into city planning and economic assessments and to further develop and refine the tools for planning for and economic assessment of physical activity based on experiences made in their practical application.

This report summarizes the experience made in using the health economic assessment tools (HEAT) for walking and for cycling in Brighton-and-Hove (United Kingdom), Modena (Italy), Kuopio (Finland), Pärnu (Estonia) and Viana do Castelo (Portugal), lessons learnt and suggestions for improvements. The PHAN project was supported by the European Union in the framework of the Health Programme 2008-2013.