THE IMPACT OF DIGITAL NATIONAL FITNESS ON PUBLIC HEALTH — AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS BASED ON A SPATIAL PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

The promotion of “Healthy China” is predicated on the foundation of public health, which necessitates scientifically guided physical exercise. At present, digital national fitness initiatives have emerged as a potent mechanism for advancing the “Healthy China” strategy. This study selected panel data from 30 provincial regions in China spanning from 2013 to 2023, constructed a system of indicators to evaluate digital national fitness, and employed spatial econometric models to assess the effects of digital national fitness on public health and its spatial impacts. The findings suggest that, overall, digital national fitness contributed more significantly to the enhancement of public health than traditional fitness programs. It not only elevated the health standards of the local region but also positively affected the health levels of adjacent areas. The influence of digital national fitness on public health was notably more pronounced in the eastern regions compared to the western and central regions. The advancement of digital national fitness is not an immediate process; it requires the collaborative efforts of various sectors to develop a workforce skilled in new technologies, dismantle barriers to data and information, conduct extensive public lectures to promote a scientific understanding of fitness, and progressively foster the deep integration of digital technology with the national fitness initiative, thereby injecting robust momentum into the realization of the vision for public health.