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Volume 13
Issue 17
10.3390/healthcare13172110
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Article

The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy

by
Mădălina Giorgiana Mangra
1,
Gabriel Ioan Mangra
2,*,
Claudiu George Bocean
3,*,
Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru
4,
Cristina Claudia Rotea
5 and
Constantin-Cristian Văduva
6,7,8
1
Department of Finance, Banking and Economic Analysis, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
2
Department of Theory and Methodology of Motor Activities, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
3
Department of Management, Marketing and Business Administration, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
4
Department of Economics, Accounting and International Business, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
5
Faculty of Mechanics, University of Craiova, 200585 Craiova, Romania
6
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 200349 Craiova, Romania
7
Clinic of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Filantropia Clinical Hospital, 200143 Craiova, Romania
8
Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and IVF, HitMed Medical Center, 200130 Craiova, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Healthcare 2025, 13(17), 2110; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 18 May 2025 / Revised: 26 July 2025 / Accepted: 18 August 2025 / Published: 25 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Exercise and Physical Activity on Quality of Life)
Versions Notes

Abstract

Background: Physical activity is essential for public health, yet disparities in access to exercise opportunities and institutional support remain significant across European regions. Objectives: This study examines how locally available physical activity options and support from local authorities relate to exercise participation, life expectancy, and healthy life years within the European Union. Methods: Using artificial neural networks and cluster analysis, the research identifies patterns across EU countries and explores associations between exercise behaviors and public health outcomes. Results: The MLP analysis showed that moderate regular physical activity had the most decisive influence on predicting healthy life years (100%), followed by regular activity (44.7%). In comparison, inactivity had a notable negative impact (40.5%). Life expectancy was most closely associated with the model’s strongest predictive pathway (weight = 2.395). Access to physical activity opportunities (100%) and the presence of supportive community providers (90.8%) were the most influential factors in encouraging active lifestyles. Conclusions: Populations with greater access and engagement in physical activity tend to enjoy longer life expectancies and more years of good health. While the study’s observational nature limits causal interpretations, the findings highlight the potential of community-level strategies and infrastructural investment to foster active lifestyles and enhance population health across varied local contexts.
Keywords: physical activity; exercise or play sports; local providers; local authorities; healthy life years; life expectancy physical activity; exercise or play sports; local providers; local authorities; healthy life years; life expectancy

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MDPI and ACS Style

Mangra, M.G.; Mangra, G.I.; Bocean, C.G.; Vărzaru, A.A.; Rotea, C.C.; Văduva, C.-C. The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy. Healthcare 2025, 13, 2110. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110

AMA Style

Mangra MG, Mangra GI, Bocean CG, Vărzaru AA, Rotea CC, Văduva C-C. The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy. Healthcare. 2025; 13(17):2110. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110

Chicago/Turabian Style

Mangra, Mădălina Giorgiana, Gabriel Ioan Mangra, Claudiu George Bocean, Anca Antoaneta Vărzaru, Cristina Claudia Rotea, and Constantin-Cristian Văduva. 2025. "The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy" Healthcare 13, no. 17: 2110. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110

APA Style

Mangra, M. G., Mangra, G. I., Bocean, C. G., Vărzaru, A. A., Rotea, C. C., & Văduva, C.-C. (2025). The Role of Physical Activity Opportunities and Local Authority Engagement in Promoting Healthy Living and Increasing Life Expectancy. Healthcare, 13(17), 2110. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13172110

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