Abstract:

Objective To systematically analyze the cross-sectoral health policy frameworks and strategic priorities of the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), European Union (EU), and China in promoting college students' physical activity, adolescent health and mental health, to explore the ways integrating physical activity-related health policies with the polices of college students health and quality physical education.

Methods Based on WHO's health promotion framework and with reference to the "Health in All Policies" (HiAP) approach, a content analysis was conducted on health-related policies of WHO, UNESCO, EU and China.

Results In the health sector, the international community established a policy system centered on health promotion and the governance concept of HiAP. WHO's Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018-2030 and related strategies on mental health identified physical activity as a core measure to promote both physical and mental health. The EU's recommendations on Health-Enhancing Physical Activity provided a scheme for translating global strategies into monitorable cross-sectoral regional actions. China's national strategies, such as Healthy China 2030 Planning Outline and Integration of Sports and Education demonstrated strong advantages in policy mobilization and resource allocation, with distinct focuses compared to international frameworks in terms of policy systematicity, participatory implementation and evaluation orientation. In the education sector, international policies emphasized the integration of health promotion and education, evolving from ensuring Physical Education Hours to promoting Quality Physical Education and Physical Literacy. Through the frameworks like Kazan Action Plan and Health Promoting Universities represented by Okanagan Charter, campus sports was elevated to a level of serving sustainable development and promoting overall well-being. China's National Fitness Program (2021-2025) and Basic Standards for Physical Education in Higher Education Institutions provided specific implementation plans for such integration.

Conclusion For the cross-sectoral issue of college students physical activity and health, the international community has constructed an integrated policy framework based on health promotion, integrating policies on physical activity, adolescent health and mental health, to establish a more comprehensive, systematic and inclusive path. In higher education, the trend of integrating health and education policies is significant; physical activity is no longer regarded as an isolated issue in physical education, but as a key cross-cutting strategy and policy to address non-communicable diseases, improve mental health, promote the holistic development of youth, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. China should, on the basis of Integration of Sports and Education, further expand HiAP-based cross-sectoral collaboration in accordance with health promotion principles; policy goals should not only focus on physical fitness standards, but also consider intrinsic interest, enjoyable experience and lifelong habit formation; and actively draw on the holistic systems perspective of Health Promoting Universities to build a supportive campus health promotion ecosystem that facilitates the comprehensive physical and mental development of every student.

Key words: college students, physical activity, health promotion, health policy, cross-sectoral integration, physical education