Research
Department of Health Science
Vision: “Moving towards better health”
Mission: a) Innovative sport-related health research, b) Training the next generation of sport and health professionals, c) Advising public-health professionals
Research focus
- Motivation and maintenance of physical activity
- Health promotion across the lifespan
- Multiple health behavior change
- Digital health promotion
- Affect and physical activity
- Workplace health promotion
- Health physiology
Health behaviors at the MUV Festival 2025: Activity, sitting, sleep, and nutrition
The MUV Festival 2025 in Berne (13th-15th June) is a new Swiss event celebrating sport, health, and the outdoors. With themed areas on alpine sports, fitness, wellness, technology, and nutrition—plus workshops, expert talks, and a vibrant food market—the festival offers an innovative platform for promoting health.
To learn more about visitors’ health habits, a short online survey was conducted. 127 participants (average age 36 years, 48% women, BMI 22.4) reported on their physical activity, sitting time, sleep, and diet. On average, they were very active, engaging in 379 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week, but also spent 316 minutes a day sitting. They rated their sleep quality at 6.2 out of 10 points, suggesting moderate to good rest. They ate about four portions of fruit and vegetables per day, below the usual health recommendation of five or more.
There were no differences between men and women in activity or sitting time. However, women tended to sleep better and eat more fruits and vegetables. Overall, festival visitors appeared health-conscious and active, though their long sitting times and limited fruit and vegetable intake—especially among men—highlight room for improvement.
The results show that festivals such as MUV are a promising platform for bringing health issues to life, demonstrate optimization in health behaviour and motivating people to lead a more active, balanced lifestyle.
Claudio R. Nigg