# Promoting Adolescent and Youth Health Through Physical Activity Initiatives and Interventions in Sub-Saharan Africa: The ARISE-NUTRINT and DASH Initiatives

## TL;DR

This paper discusses how physical activity initiatives can improve adolescent health in Sub-Saharan Africa, focusing on challenges and solutions like the ARISE-NUTRINT and DASH programs.

## Contribution

The paper introduces culturally tailored strategies and innovative programs to address low physical activity in Sub-Saharan Africa.

## Key findings

- Low physical activity rates are prevalent among adolescents in Sub-Saharan Africa, especially among girls.
- Environmental and socio-cultural barriers hinder physical activity engagement in the region.
- Programs like ARISE-NUTRINT and DASH offer promising strategies to promote health through physical activity and nutrition.

## Abstract

Regular physical activity (PA) is essential for maintaining health and wellbeing across all life stages, particularly in children and adolescents. Despite its benefits, most adolescents fail to meet the World Health Organization’s PA recommendations, with global trends indicating alarmingly low participation rates, particularly among girls. This issue is pronounced in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where physical inactivity is a significant public health concern, contributing to rising obesity rates. Environmental, socio-economic, and cultural barriers further exacerbate low PA engagement, including extreme weather conditions, lack of recreational infrastructure, gender norms, and economic constraints. Addressing these challenges requires targeted interventions, including education, improved infrastructure, and policy implementation. Innovative programs such as ARISE-NUTRINT and DASH aim to enhance adolescent health in SSA through nutrition and PA-focused strategies. This commentary paper explores existing barriers to PA, evaluates promising on-going efforts and interventions, and highlights opportunities for promoting PA in SSA through community engagement, digital platforms, and cross-sector collaboration. Implementing sustainable and culturally tailored strategies is crucial to reversing current trends and fostering long-term health benefits for adolescents in SSA.