MINI REVIEW article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Policy
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1699666
Bridging Health Literacy and Physical Literacy for Sustainable Health
Provisionally accepted
- 1Malardalens universitet, Västerås, Sweden
- 2Region Sormland, Nyköping, Sweden
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In this paper, we propose that physical literacy should be conceptualized in relation to, and as interconnected with, health literacy rather than as a distinct and separate form of literacy, as is often presented. Furthermore, we contend that this approach should be more centrally integrated into health interventions that target health in general, as well as specific aspects aimed at determinants of health, such as physical activity. Rather than focusing on isolated actions or behaviours, a literacy-centeredcentred model empowers individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed for sustained engagement in healthy practices. Integrating these literacies within intervention models bridges the gap between knowing and doing. This offers a holistic pathway to promoting lifelong relationships and responsibility for health and improving population health outcomes. We also want to draw attention to the importance of aiming to increase literacy at higher levels, as it is a variable that influences the relationship between health and poor social and economic conditions (Nutbeam, 2021). However, it is important to engage in the difference between using literacies to displace responsibility on the individual and engaging in literacies as a component in interventions as an approach to sustainable action.
Keywords: Health Literacy, Physical Literacy, Sustainibility, Health, health interventions, Public Health
Received: 05 Sep 2025; Accepted: 21 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Eriksson, Hedlund, Harder, Almqvist and Borglund. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Camilla Eriksson, camilla.eriksson@mdu.se
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