How effective are lifestyle activities for function and health?

Pekka Oja, the former Scientific Director of the UKK Institute, Centre for Health Promotion Research, Tampere, Finland, has been professionally active in the research and promotion of health-enhancing physical activity. In this capacity he has served as an expert for the Finnish Government, Council of Europe, European Union, World Health Organisation, European College of Sport Science, International Council of Sport Science and Physical Education, International Olympic Committee and the European Network for the Promotion of Health-enhancing Physical Activity.

He has participated in several international consensus projects evaluating the evidence on physical activity and health, as well as developing assessment tools for health-enhancing physical activity and fitness.

After his retirement from UKK Institute in 2003 he has served as a part-time adviser at the Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden and has continued to be active nationally and internationally in the area of health-enhancing physical activity with special interest in the dose-response issues of physical activity and health, in the assessment of health-related fitness, and in the environmental aspects of physical activity promotion.