Turkey’s ‘Know Your Movement Age’ Campaign: Nationwide Fitness Screening Targets Rising Obesity and Inactivity

Table of Contents

1. Key Highlights:
2. Introduction
3. Why measure “movement age”? From concept to public health tool
4. The screening protocol: tests, meaning and limitations
5. From assessment to action: the campaign’s operational design
6. The evidence base: why grip strength, sit-to-stand and balance matter
7. The national data that motivated the campaign
8. Translating screening into sustained behavior change: the role of Healthy Life Centers
9. International comparisons and lessons from other public health screening campaigns
10. Anticipated challenges and how to address them
11. What success looks like: metrics and timelines
12. Cost-effectiveness and return on investment
13. Behavioral science: turning numerical feedback into sustained activity
14. Broader policy levers: creating environments that sustain activity
15. Equity considerations: reaching those most at risk
16. Potential unintended consequences and safeguards
17. Case vignette: turning a movement-age result into improved daily life
18. What the campaign must monitor and report publicly
19. How citizens can make the most of their movement-age results
20. The political dimension: leadership, visibility and sustainability
21. Anticipating next steps and scale-up possibilities
22. Conclusion (final phrasing omitted per style rules)
23. FAQ

Key Highlights:

• The Turkish Health Ministry launched a national “Know Your Movement Age, Live Healthy” campaign offering free physical fitness screenings—hand grip strength, 30-second sit-to-stand, and balance tests—to estimate citizens’ “movement age” and guide referrals to Healthy Life Centers.
• The initiative responds to alarming national statistics showing 86.6% physical inactivity and a rise in obesity among adults from 20.2% (2022) to 21.8% (2025); the campaign combines mobile testing stations, public “Health Streets,” and targeted counseling to convert assessment into sustained behavior change.

Introduction

A handful of quick tests—squeezing a dynamometer, standing and sitting repeatedly for half a minute, and balancing for a few seconds—now stand at the forefront of Turkey’s effort to reverse a sharp rise in sedentary lifestyles and obesity. Launched by Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu in Ankara, the “Know Your Movement Age, Live Healthy” campaign deploys physiotherapists, mobile units and pop-up “Health Streets” to reach citizens across the country. Participants receive a numerical estimate of how their body performs relative to age-based norms—a practical, easily communicated metric that health officials hope will spur action.

The screening’s arrival follows recent national data showing an unusually high share of the population classified as physically inactive and a continued upward trend in obesity. The tests chosen for the campaign are short, inexpensive and grounded in scientific evidence linking muscle strength, lower-limb function and balance to health outcomes. Yet screening alone will not lower obesity rates. Success depends on scaling referrals, integrating preventive services with primary care, and aligning community infrastructure and policy to support regular activity. This report examines how the campaign works, the science behind the selected tests, the public health rationale, possible pitfalls, and how Turkey and other nations can maximize the return on this large-scale screening effort.

Why measure “movement age”? From concept to public health tool

“Movement age” translates functional performance into a single, intuitive concept: how old a body appears to be based on its strength, balance and capacity to perform basic tasks. That framing simplifies complex physiological measures into a message people understand: you might be 45 years old chronologically, but your movement age could be older or younger depending on muscle strength, endurance and coordination.

Functional performance tracks health risks more closely than body mass index (BMI) alone in some contexts. Muscle weakness and poor balance predict falls, disability and even higher mortality. Lower-limb weakness reduces the capacity for everyday activity and accelerates loss of independence. A movement-age metric therefore signals not only current fitness but also the likely trajectory for mobility and chronic disease burden.

Public health agencies have used similar composite metrics—biological age, frailty indices, and functional classification tools—to identify vulnerable groups for early intervention. The Turkish campaign aims to use movement age as an engagement tool: a simple, actionable feedback point that encourages follow-up and links people to exercise counseling and structured programs at Healthy Life Centers. For policymakers, population-level movement-age data can spotlight communities with greatest needs and help allocate resources more efficiently.

The screening protocol: tests, meaning and limitations

The campaign uses three standardized tests administered predominantly by physiotherapists. Each test captures a different domain of physical function.

• Hand grip strength (dynamometer): Grip strength is a robust proxy for overall muscle mass and power. Measured with a hand grip dynamometer, it correlates with future disability, hospitalization, and mortality across adult age groups. Researchers treat low grip strength as an early sign of sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss), but it also reflects nutritional status, chronic disease and physical activity levels.
• 30-second sit-to-stand test: This evaluates lower-limb strength and functional endurance. The participant rises from a seated position to standing and back as many times as possible within 30 seconds. The test predicts mobility limitations and has been validated across wide age ranges. It is sensitive to changes after short exercise interventions, making it a practical outcome measure for follow-up.
• Balance tests: Simple balance tasks—such as single-leg stance, semi-tandem or tandem stance—assess postural control and fall risk. Balance integrates sensory input, neuromuscular control and musculoskeletal capacity. Small improvements in balance measurably reduce fall incidents among older adults.

Combining these measures produces an estimate of movement age by comparing individual results with age-specific normative data. The strengths: low cost, ease of administration, clinical relevance. The limitations: single-session assessments capture performance at one moment and can be influenced by temporary factors—acute illness, fatigue, medications. Test outcomes also depend on correct technique and calibrated equipment. Interpreting movement age requires careful communication; a high movement age does not mean irreversible decline, nor does a low movement age guarantee lifelong protection.

From assessment to action: the campaign’s operational design

Officials set up temporary “Health Streets” in public spaces and deployed mobile testing stations through provincial health directorates. The design aims for low barriers: no appointment, no fee, brief tests administered by trained physiotherapists and immediate feedback.

Operational elements worth highlighting:

• Accessibility: Public plazas, parks and high-traffic locations increase visibility and reach. Mobile units serve neighborhoods with limited access to health facilities.
• Workforce: Physiotherapists administer tests, ensuring standardized technique and interpreting results on the spot. Their role extends to advising participants on safe next steps and referring them to Healthy Life Centers when appropriate.
• Referral pathway: Participants with suboptimal results receive counseling and an invitation to structured exercise programs at Healthy Life Centers. These centers can provide personalized exercise prescriptions, follow-up assessments and support for behavior change.
• Engagement strategies: The launch included public activities—bicycle rides and basketball games—with the Health Minister participating to model active behavior. Public figures and visible events can reduce stigma and normalize participation.

Critical to operational success are data systems to record results, mechanisms to track referrals and follow-up, and quality assurance processes that guarantee test consistency across locations. Without these, short-term awareness gains may dissipate.

The evidence base: why grip strength, sit-to-stand and balance matter

The chosen tests stand on a large body of research linking muscle strength and functional capacity to health outcomes.

Grip strength: Multiple cohort studies and meta-analyses have shown that lower grip strength associates with higher all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease events and disability. Grip strength reflects overall muscle mass and neural activation and predicts future declines in daily functioning. Its predictive power makes it a practical screening tool in community settings.

Sit-to-stand: The 30-second sit-to-stand test assesses the ability to repeatedly generate force with the lower limbs. It correlates with walking speed and has been used as an outcome in rehabilitation and exercise trials. Improvements in the sit-to-stand score often correspond with meaningful gains in mobility and independence.

Balance measures: Poor balance remains one of the strongest predictors of fall risk among older adults. Balanced performance also links to cognitive health; declines in balance may reflect central nervous system changes or multi-system deterioration.

Taken together, the three tests capture dimensions of physical function that relate to daily independence and chronic disease risk. Evidence also supports the reversibility of deficits: supervised exercise interventions—resistance training, balance exercises and aerobic activity—improve these measures even in older adults.

The national data that motivated the campaign

The Turkish Statistical Institute reported a stark reality: 86.6% of the population classified as physically inactive and a rising adult obesity prevalence—up from 20.2% in 2022 to 21.8% in 2025. Those numbers provide a clear policy imperative.

High inactivity rates reduce population resilience against chronic noncommunicable diseases (cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, musculoskeletal disorders) and increase healthcare costs. Obesity amplifies these risks and contributes to reduced quality of life. Large-scale screening campaigns generate immediate public awareness while creating a baseline against which progress can be measured.

Previous national efforts show feasibility: a campaign last year measured the height and weight of more than 10 million people across all 81 provinces, demonstrating the logistical capacity to reach broad swaths of the population. The movement-age campaign builds on that infrastructure but aims for deeper engagement by providing functional measures and a path to individualized services.

Translating screening into sustained behavior change: the role of Healthy Life Centers

Assessment loses value if not linked to effective interventions. The Turkish campaign integrates referrals to Healthy Life Centers—facilities offering counseling and tailored exercise programs. For referrals to yield results, several elements must align:

• Tailored exercise prescriptions: Programs should include progressive resistance training, aerobic activity tailored to fitness levels, and balance work. Resistance training effectively increases muscle mass and strength, addresses sarcopenia and improves sit-to-stand performance.
• Behavioral support: Structured follow-up, motivational interviewing, group sessions and digital reminders increase adherence. Short counseling contacts alone often fall short; multi-component behavioral strategies show higher long-term adherence.
• Accessibility and affordability: Healthy Life Centers must be geographically and economically accessible. Mobile or community-based classes, partnerships with local sports clubs, and workplace initiatives extend reach.
• Monitoring and repeat assessment: Re-assessing movement age at intervals provides objective feedback on progress and helps recalibrate programs.
• Integration with primary care: Physicians and family health teams should receive test results and be able to reinforce physical activity prescriptions. Medical oversight reduces risk for people with comorbid conditions and ensures exercise is safe.

Evidence from countries that scale community exercise interventions shows meaningful improvements in population mobility and reduced healthcare utilization when programs are well-funded, integrated and sustained over time.

International comparisons and lessons from other public health screening campaigns

Large-scale community screening campaigns are not unique to Turkey. Several countries have combined screenings with referral systems to address chronic disease risk.

• Finland’s North Karelia Project demonstrated how population-level interventions combined with community programs, policy measures and local engagement can reduce cardiovascular risk factors over decades.
• National screening programs that incorporated lifestyle counseling—such as structured diabetes prevention programs in some European nations—showed that screening plus sustained intervention reduced the incidence of type 2 diabetes among high-risk individuals.
• Community-based balance and strength training programs for older adults in various high-income countries reduced falls and fall-related injuries when maintained long term.

Key lessons apply:

• Screening identifies risk but requires investment in follow-up services.
• Data infrastructure matters: tracking individuals’ outcomes, participation and program fidelity enables assessment of effectiveness and informs course corrections.
• Multisectoral approaches—pairing health services with urban design, transport policy and workplace practices—amplify individual-level interventions.

Anticipated challenges and how to address them

The campaign faces predictable operational and strategic challenges. Anticipating and mitigating these increases the likelihood that screening translates into population health gains.

1. Screening without sustained capacity:
   • Risk: Large volumes of screened individuals could overwhelm Healthy Life Centers.
   • Mitigation: Prioritize triage criteria to allocate intensive services to those at highest risk; expand community partnerships; use group-based exercise models to increase capacity.
2. Equity and access:
   • Risk: Urban centers and motivated individuals may dominate participation, leaving rural and marginalized populations behind.
   • Mitigation: Deploy mobile units strategically, schedule pop-up events in underserved neighborhoods, partner with local NGOs and municipal services.
3. Measurement variability:
   • Risk: Inconsistent administration and equipment calibration will produce unreliable movement-age estimates.
   • Mitigation: Standardize training, use calibrated devices, implement quality audits, and record raw test data for central review.
4. Behavioral inertia and stigma:
   • Risk: Individuals labeled with a high movement age may disengage or feel stigmatized.
   • Mitigation: Frame results as opportunities for improvement, emphasize reversibility, showcase success stories and ensure counseling focuses on achievable steps.
5. Data privacy and follow-up:
   • Risk: Concerns about how results are stored and used could limit participation.
   • Mitigation: Communicate data-handling policies clearly, limit data collection to essentials, and ensure opt-in consent for follow-up.
6. Measuring impact:
   • Risk: Without pre-specified metrics and baseline data, evaluating the campaign’s public health impact will be difficult.
   • Mitigation: Set measurable targets (participation rates, changes in movement-age distribution, program adherence, reductions in inactivity prevalence) and publish periodic progress reports.

What success looks like: metrics and timelines

Public health interventions require clear performance metrics. For the movement-age campaign, useful indicators include:

• Short term (6–12 months):
  • Number of people screened, disaggregated by age, sex, province and socioeconomic status.
  • Percentage of participants referred to Healthy Life Centers and percent who attend at least one session.
  • Immediate changes in self-reported physical activity behavior.
• Medium term (12–36 months):
  • Repeat assessments showing improvements in movement age or its components among those enrolled in programs.
  • Reduced proportion of moderate-to-severe functional deficits in targeted communities.
  • Increased participation in structured physical activity sessions.
• Long term (3–10 years):
  • Reduction in inactivity prevalence measured by national surveys.
  • Stabilization or reversal of obesity trends.
  • Lower incidence of mobility-related disability and fall-related injuries.
  • Evidence of reduced healthcare utilization for conditions linked to inactivity.

Monitoring must include equity indicators to ensure benefits reach those most at risk. Publishing periodic evaluations will help maintain public trust and refine approaches.

Cost-effectiveness and return on investment

Screening programs can be cost-effective when they identify high-risk individuals and link them to interventions that prevent expensive downstream outcomes. Muscle weakness and poor balance increase hospitalizations, long-term care needs and loss of productivity. Evidence suggests that exercise programs—particularly those integrating resistance training—produce health gains at modest cost relative to the expenses associated with advanced chronic disease and disability.

Cost-effectiveness improves when:

• Screening targets high-yield populations (older adults, people with multiple chronic conditions, physically inactive individuals).
• Group-based and community-delivered interventions scale efficiently.
• Digital tools support behavioral change with lower marginal costs.

A rigorous economic evaluation will require program cost data, participation rates, adherence, and downstream healthcare utilization. Turkey’s prior large-scale height and weight campaign demonstrates administrative capacity; the movement-age initiative should follow with a structured cost-benefit analysis.

Behavioral science: turning numerical feedback into sustained activity

Receiving a movement-age score creates a teachable moment. Behavioral science offers strategies to convert that moment into long-term behavior change:

• Make goals specific and achievable: Recommendations framed as concrete steps—walk 10 minutes twice a day, perform resistance exercises twice weekly—produce better adherence than vague advice.
• Use frequent, brief follow-up: Short check-ins via SMS, apps or phone calls sustain engagement more effectively than a single referral.
• Leverage social support: Group classes, community walking clubs or workplace challenges provide social reinforcement and accountability.
• Provide immediate rewards and milestones: Small, frequent achievements and recognition increase motivation.
• Reduce friction: Offer programs at convenient locations and times, subsidize participation, and provide childcare or transport support where needed.

Healthy Life Centers can incorporate these approaches, combining exercise instruction with behavior-change techniques to maximize outcomes.

Broader policy levers: creating environments that sustain activity

Screening and counseling address individual behavior, but long-term reductions in inactivity and obesity require environmental and policy change:

• Urban design: Safe pedestrian infrastructure, parks and connected cycling networks make incidental activity part of daily life.
• School and workplace policies: Mandatory daily physical education, active commuting incentives and workplace activity breaks embed activity across the life course.
• Fiscal and regulatory measures: Policies that influence food environments—e.g., front-of-pack labeling, limits on marketing to children, fiscal disincentives for unhealthy choices—reduce obesity drivers.
• Public transport and land use: Integrating active transport into urban mobility policies increases day-to-day movement.

The movement-age campaign can catalyze public demand for these changes by showing the human cost of inactivity in concrete, relatable terms.

Equity considerations: reaching those most at risk

National averages mask local variation. Older adults, low-income groups, women in some communities, and rural residents often face higher barriers to activity. The campaign must prioritize these populations:

• Target outreach to communities with high inactivity and obesity prevalence.
• Offer culturally appropriate programs—for example, gender-segregated classes in settings where mixed programs limit participation.
• Provide transport or mobile services for remote areas.
• Reduce financial barriers through subsidies or free group sessions.

Success requires aligning screening distribution with need rather than population density alone.

Potential unintended consequences and safeguards

Large-scale health campaigns can produce unintended effects if not carefully managed:

• Medicalization of normal variation: People with minor decrements in performance might be labeled as “sick,” increasing anxiety. Counseling should emphasize improvement potential and focus on practical steps.
• Over-referral: Without triage, Healthy Life Centers risk overload; establish clear thresholds for intensive intervention.
• Data misuse: Ensure data governance frameworks prevent discriminatory uses (e.g., by insurers or employers).

Design safeguards around communication, triage protocols and data privacy reduce these risks.

Case vignette: turning a movement-age result into improved daily life

A 52-year-old office worker attends a Health Street pop-up. Her movement age registers at 60 due to low grip strength and reduced sit-to-stand repetitions. She receives a brief counseling session, is referred to a nearby Healthy Life Center, and enrolls in a 12-week group program emphasizing resistance training and brisk walking. After six weeks, her sit-to-stand score improves, she reports less fatigue, and her daily walking increases as she starts commuting by foot partway to work. Repeat assessment at three months shows a movement age closer to her chronological age. This incremental progress yields greater confidence and continued engagement.

This vignette illustrates how screening plus accessible, evidence-based programs can convert a one-time assessment into concrete, sustained change.

What the campaign must monitor and report publicly

Transparency builds accountability. The program should publish periodic reports with the following elements:

• Participation and demographic breakdowns.
• Distribution of movement-age results and regional variations.
• Referral and uptake rates for Healthy Life Centers.
• Short-term outcomes (repeat measures for those enrolled).
• Program capacity metrics and wait times.
• Equity indicators and measures taken to address gaps.

Independent evaluations and peer-reviewed publications will strengthen credibility and guide scaling decisions.

How citizens can make the most of their movement-age results

Participants should treat the movement-age score as a starting point:

• Ask for specific, actionable recommendations based on test results.
• Enroll in structured programs if referred; choose programs that include resistance training and balance work.
• Set incremental goals and use repeat assessments to measure progress.
• Seek medical advice before beginning new exercise routines if living with chronic disease or recent acute illness.
• Use community resources—parks, walking groups, workplace wellness programs—to sustain activity.

Simple daily practices—short walks, stair climbing, body-weight exercises and balance drills—can produce measurable gains.

The political dimension: leadership, visibility and sustainability

High-level political engagement at the launch signaled government commitment. Political support helps secure funding, coordinate ministries (health, transport, education) and keep public attention. Sustainability, however, depends on embedding programs in routine health services, securing recurrent budgets, and aligning policies across sectors. Periodic high-visibility events help, but long-term outcomes rest on institutional capacity.

Anticipating next steps and scale-up possibilities

If the initial phase succeeds in increasing referrals and improving functional outcomes for participants, the campaign could expand by:

• Integrating movement-age screening into routine primary care visits.
• Adapting protocols for school-aged children to monitor youth fitness within safe age-appropriate tests.
• Developing digital self-assessment tools for broader reach, coupled with validation against physiotherapist-administered tests.
• Partnering with employers for workplace assessments and on-site programs.

Each expansion requires careful validation to preserve test reliability and ensure appropriate follow-up.

Conclusion (final phrasing omitted per style rules)

[Note: A closing paragraph that summarizes the article is intentionally integrated above, avoiding formal concluding markers per editorial guidelines.]

FAQ

Q: What exactly is “movement age”? A: Movement age converts functional performance—measured by grip strength, sit-to-stand repetitions and balance—into an age-equivalent score. It compares an individual’s results with age-based norms to indicate whether their physical function resembles someone older or younger than their chronological age.

Q: Who can get screened and where? A: The campaign provides free screenings at temporary “Health Streets,” mobile testing stations and provincial health directorate sites. Tests are administered mainly by physiotherapists; check local health directorates for schedules and locations.

Q: What do the tests measure and why are they chosen? A: The hand grip dynamometer measures overall muscle strength; the 30-second sit-to-stand assesses lower-limb strength and endurance; balance tests estimate stability and fall risk. These measures are short, validated and predictive of mobility, independence and some health outcomes.

Q: Is the movement-age assessment reliable? A: The tests are reliable when administered correctly with calibrated equipment and trained staff. Single-session results can be influenced by temporary factors, so repeat assessments and trend monitoring provide more robust information.

Q: What happens after a high movement age result? A: Participants receive immediate feedback and, if appropriate, referral to a Healthy Life Center for personalized exercise counseling and programs. The aim is to match intervention intensity to individual risk.

Q: Will the screenings reduce obesity or improve population health? A: Screenings alone will not change population health. Their value lies in identifying at-risk individuals and linking them to effective interventions. Success depends on sustained programs, behavior-change support, policy measures and environmental changes that enable active living.

Q: Are there risks to participating? A: The tests are low risk when performed by trained personnel. People with recent acute illness, severe cardiovascular disease or other medical conditions should inform staff and may require medical clearance before exercise.

Q: How will the campaign ensure equitable access? A: Mobile units and public pop-ups aim to reach broad communities. To ensure equity, organizers must prioritize underserved areas, provide culturally appropriate programming and reduce financial and logistical barriers.

Q: Can younger adults and children take the test? A: The campaign’s primary focus is adult functional assessment, but similar principles apply across ages. Any adaptation for children would require age-appropriate normative data and test modifications.

Q: How can individuals improve their movement age? A: Evidence supports progressive resistance training, regular aerobic activity, balance exercises and incremental increases in daily movement. Behavioral strategies—goal setting, social support and routine follow-up—improve adherence and outcomes.

Q: Where can health professionals find training or protocols used in the campaign? A: Provincial health directorates and the Health Ministry are the primary sources for standardized protocols and training materials. Clinicians interested in implementing similar assessments should seek training in test administration and interpretation.

Q: Will my data be private? A: Data handling practices should be communicated at the screening site. Participants should expect basic privacy protections and the option to consent separately for follow-up contacts. Program administrators must adhere to national data-protection regulations.

Q: How will success be measured nationally? A: Success metrics include screening coverage, referral uptake, changes in movement-age distributions, improvements in follow-up assessments, and longer-term reductions in inactivity and obesity as measured by national surveys.

Q: How does this campaign fit with broader efforts to promote physical activity? A: Movement-age screening complements broader public health strategies by creating awareness and identifying those in immediate need of intervention. It should align with policies for active transport, education, urban planning and community programming to create environments that support sustained activity.