Health promotion journal of Australia : official journal of Australian Association of Health Promotion Professionals
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Health Promot J Austr · Apr 2007
ReviewMaori physical activity: a review of an indigenous population's participation.
Indigenous populations have disparities in health along with disparities in modifiable risk factors, including low participation in physical activity. Given the importance of physical activity in moderating ill health, do all indigenous peoples exhibit low activity prevalence in concert with ill health? If an indigenous population is relatively active, what can be learned about physical activity development that has underlined this activity and could this be transferred to practice in other countries? ⋯ Despite health disparities, Maori are at least as active as European New Zealanders. The reasons for this lack of disparity in physical activity prevalence between Maori and European New Zealanders could be due to environmental influences, including those in the socio-cultural and policy environment.