適當的身體活動可提升國民的體適能狀況，並進而減少許多慢性病的罹患機率，對於提升國民健康、降低醫療技出與社會成本都有極大的幫助，因此，歐美各先進國家近年來紛紛訂定提升國民運動習慣的政策，並陸續進行大規模的體適能檢測與身體活動量分析，以追蹤這些政策的成效。本研究透過網站與Medline、SportDiscus、STICNET資料庫，以及國家圖書館館藏系統，收進與分析世界衛生組織首世界各先進國家的體適能檢測方式、體適能政策及相關指標，並與我國現況互相比較，發展適合我國之體適能指標。本研究的結果顯示，當前我國最重要的課題應在於提升運動人口，培養國民運動習慣，最重要的體適能指標應為身體活動量，包括參與運動的時間和強度；增加身體活動量可降低各種慢性病罹患機率，每年的體適能檢測應以調查民眾身體活動量為主，並包含社會經濟地位與參與身體活動的限制因素等資料，以作為制定政策的參考。本研究參考各國體適能政策，並根據我國現狀，提出以身體活動量為主的2015年中程體適能指標，以及降低慢性病死亡率為主的2025年長程體適能指標。

Physical activity can promote health and decrease the risk for many chronic diseases. It could reduce medical and social expenses due to the health problems. Therefore, many countries around the world have established the policy for promotion of physical activity. These countries also conducted large-scale physical fitness tests and policy information and research results were collected from websites, Medline, Sport Discus, STICNET databases, and National Library in Taiwan. The data in Taiwan was compared to these from countries around the world, in order to establish the appropriate physical fitness indicators for Taiwan. This study showed that the most important fitness indicator for Taiwan is the amount of physical activity, including time and intensity of participation. The first concern of government should be the increase in number of people participating in physical activity and to make exercise as part of life style. Increased amount of physical activity could reduce the risk for many chronic diseases. The yearly fitness test should focus on the amount of physical activity conducted, the socioeconomic information, and the barrier of engaging physical activity. The information could be used as the basis for policy making. This study proposed the moderate-term goals to be reached in 2015, focused on amount of physical activity. The long-term goals to be reached in2025, focused on reducing death rate of chronic diseases were also proposed.