Liverpool Active City 2005-2010: Increasing Population Physical Activity Levels Through Intersectoral Action.

BACKGROUND The process of working together across sectors to improve health and to influence its determinants is often referred to as intersectoral action for health. The Liverpool Active City strategy and action plan were launched in 2005, bringing together partners from diverse sectors such as education, transport, and civil society to boost levels of physical activity among the city's residents. METHODS The research material was based on semistructured interviews with key stakeholders and on review and analysis of gray literature and media reports. A case-study method was used to analyze the experience. RESULTS The results show that Liverpool Active City succeeded in boosting levels of physical activity among the city's residents and demonstrate how intersectoral action benefited the goals of the program and promoted common aims. CONCLUSIONS Important lessons can be drawn from the experience of Liverpool Active City for public health professionals and policy makers. Success factors include the involvement of a broad range of agencies from a variety of sectors, which reinforced the sense of partnership in the physical activity agenda and supported the implementation of activities. The experience also demonstrated how intersectoral action brought benefits to the physical activity goals of Liverpool Active City.