Publications

Main publications

• 2024

Tcymbal, A., Messing, S., Rachel, M., Perez, R. G., Akter, T., Rakovac, I., Gelius, P., & Abu-Omar, K. (2024). Validity, reliability, and readability of single-item and short physical activity questionnaires for use in surveillance: a systematic review.  PloS one, 19(3), e0300003. 

• 2023

Abu-Omar, K., Chevance, G., Tcymbal, A., Gelius, P., & Messing, S. (2023). Physical activity promotion, human and planetary health – a conceptual framework and suggested research priorities. The Journal of Climate Change and Health, 13.

Gelius, P., Till, M., Messing, S., Tcymbal, A., & Abu-Omar, K. (2023). Must we tell people to be less active? The dilemma of physical activity recommendations from a holistic health perspective. German Journal of Exercise and Sport Research.

Messing S., Gelius P., Abu-Omar K., Marzi I., Beck F., Geidl W., Grüne E., Tcymbal A., Reimers A.K. & Pfeifer K. (2023) Developing a policy brief on physical activity promotion for children and adolescents. Frontiers in Public Health. 11:1215746.

Messing, S., Tcymbal, A., Abu-Omar K., & Gelius, P. (2023). Research- vs. government-driven physical activity policy monitoring: a systematic review across different levels of government. Health Research Policy and Systems 21, 124

• 2022

Abu-Omar, K., Messing, S., Tcymbal, A., Fleuren, T., Richardson, D., Whiting, S.,… Wickramasinghe, K. (2022). A proposed checklist for climate-friendly sport and exercise programmes. European Journal of Public Health, 32, i44-i49.

Marzi, I., Tcymbal, A., Reimers, A.K., Gelius, P., Abu-Omar, K., Whiting, S., & Wickramasinghe, K. (2022). Monitoring of physical activity promotion in children and adolescents in the EU: current status and future perspectives. European Journal of Public Health. (see Visual Abstract)

Tcymbal, A., Gelius, P., Abu-Omar, K., Messing, S., Whiting, S., & Wickramasinghe, K. (2022). Cross-country collaboration for physical activity promotion: experiences from the European Union Physical Activity Focal Points Network. European Journal of Public Health, 32, i14-i21. (see Visual Abstract)

Tcymbal, A., Abu-Omar, K., Hartung, V., Busskamp, A., Comito, C., Rossmann, C.,… Reimers, A.K. (2022). Interventions simultaneously promoting social participation and physical activity in community living older adults: A systematic review. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. (see Visual Abstract)

• 2021

Gelius, P., Tcymbal, A., Whiting, S., Messing, S., Abu-Omar, K., Geidl, W., Reimers, A. K., Pfeifer, K., Mendes, R., Berdzuli, N., & Breda, J. (2021). Impact of the First Wave of COVID-19 on Physical Activity Promotion in the European Union: Results From a Policymaker Survey. Journal of Physical Activity and Health (see Visual Abstract)

Gelius, P., Messing, S., Tcymbal, A., Whiting, S., Breda, J., & Abu-Omar, K. (2021). Policy Instruments for Health Promotion: A Comparison of WHO Policy Guidance for Tobacco, Alcohol, Nutrition and Physical Activity. International Journal of Health Policy and Management. (see Visual Abstract)

Messing, S., Krennerich, M., Abu-Omar, K., Ferschl, S. & Gelius, P. Physical activity as a human right? Health and Human Rights Journal. 23 (2) (check Video summary)

Tcymbal, A., Gelius, P, Abu-Omar K,… Breda, J. (2021). Development of national physical activity recommendations in 18 EU member states: a comparison of methodologies and the use of evidence. BMJ Open, 11(4), e041710 (see Visual Abstract)

• 2020

Geidl, W., Abu-Omar, K., Weege, M.H., Messing, S., & Pfeifer, K. (2020). German recommendations for physical activity and physical activity promotion in adults with noncommunicable diseases. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 17(12)

Gelius, P., Messing, S., Goodwin, L., Schow, D., & Abu-Omar, K. (2020). What are effective policies for promoting physical activity? A systematic review of reviews. Preventive Medicine Reports, 18.

Gelius, P., Tcymbal, A., Abu-Omar, K., Mendes, R., Morais, S.T., Whiting, S., & Breda, J. (2020). Status and contents of physical activity recommendations in European Union countries: a systematic comparative analysis. BMJ Open, 10(2), e034045.

Tcymbal, A., Andreasyan, D., Whiting, S., Mikkelsen, B., Rakovac, I., & Breda, J. (2020). Prevalence of Physical Inactivity and Sedentary Behavior Among Adults in Armenia. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 1-8.

• 2019

Gelius, P., Messing, S., & Abu-Omar, K. (2019) Nine types of recommendations, guidelines, and policies: an explanatory test of a proposed typology of physical activity promotion documents. Archives of Public Health 77:52

• 2018

Abu-Omar, K., Messing, S., Sarkadi-Nagy, E., Kovács, V., Kaposvari, C., Brukało, K.,… Tecklenburg, E. (2018). Barriers, facilitators and capacities for childhood obesity prevention in 12 European Union Member States: results of a policy-maker survey. Public Health Panorama, 3(4), 360-367.

Breda, J., Jakovljevic, J., Rathmes, G., Mendes, R., Fontaine, O., Hollmann, S.,… Galea, G. (2018). Promoting health-enhancing physical activity in Europe: Current state of surveillance, policy development and implementation. Journal of Public Health, 122(5), 519-527.

• 2016

Gelius, P., Rütten, A., Goodwin, L., Marin, M., Abu-Omar, K., Kahlmeier, S.,… Foster, C. (2016). Study on the implementation of the European Physical Activity Guidelines Final Progress Report of Tender EAC-2014-0574. Luxemburg: Publications Office of the European Union.

Rütten, A., Schow, D., Breda, J., Galea, G., Kahlmeier, S., Oppert, J-M., van der Ploeg, H., & van Mechelen, W. (2016). Three types of scientific evidence to inform physical activity policy: results from a comparative scoping review. International Journal of Public health, 61(5),553-63

Rütten, A., & Pfeifer, K. (Eds.) (2016). National Recommendations for Physical Activity and Physical Activity Promotion. Erlangen: FAU University Press.