The initiative, promoted by the ministries of Health and Education, has transformed the prescription of physical exercise into an operational health tool in the Canary Islands. The initial seven Active Physical Exercise Units (ACTIVÍDATE Units) have benefited over seven hundred individuals, with sports and physical activity educators designing tailored programs for users referred from Primary Care centers of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS).
The program initially targets sedentary individuals over 55 years old in the Canary Islands, establishing a prevention model based on collaboration between health and sports systems, advanced technology, and institutional commitment. The Canary Islands is the first autonomous community with a provincial and inter-island preventive exercise program, reinforcing its commitment to active aging and social inclusion.
The value of 'ActivÍdate' lies in transforming a health recommendation into structured and sustained support. The high continuity rate of participants confirms the effectiveness of coordination between Primary Care, the ACTIVÍDATE Units, and local administrations in reducing sedentarism and fostering active lifestyle habits.
The user profile primarily consists of individuals over 55 years old with physical inactivity or sedentarism, with or without cardiometabolic risk factors. They have reported a high perception of usefulness, improvements in functional capacities such as longer walks and increased autonomy, and a reduction in social isolation due to group activities.
The program began on September 1, 2025, in seven basic health zones. Currently, 741 users have been referred to the seven available Active Physical Exercise Units (UAEF). These are implemented in Gran Tarajal (Fuerteventura), Teror (Gran Canaria), Tinajo (Lanzarote), La Frontera (El Hierro), San Sebastián (La Gomera), Villa de Mazo (La Palma), and Añaza (Tenerife).
The Government of the Canary Islands will expand territorial coverage with new Active Physical Exercise Units in the next two months. On July 20, the La Laguna-San Benito Health Center will be incorporated, and on August 3, the Ofra-Delicias Health Center in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In August, the Agüimes Health Center (Gran Canaria) and the Puerto del Rosario Health Center (Fuerteventura) will also join the project.
Municipalities and island councils play a fundamental role, providing spaces and personnel, coordinating with primary care centers, and facilitating sports promotion programs. The UAEFs are located in public spaces and equipped for personalized programs, staffed by sports and physical activity educators certified by the COLEF Canarias.
Staff training is crucial. Four training courses have been held for 905 Primary Care professionals in physical exercise prescription. Additionally, 307 sports and physical activity educators have obtained official certification to work in the units, joining the two hundred certified in 2023. The training, funded by Next Generation EU funds, qualifies professionals for the health activity and exercise prescription system and provides access to the employment pool.
