ABSTRACT
The concept of wellbeing first appeared in preventive policies on ageing in the second half of the twentieth century. This chapter highlights the importance of physical activities in national and international texts dedicated to preventive ageing. It examines the scientific debates concerning the role of physical activity on wellbeing to show how a usable frame of reference has been established. The need for regular physical exercise to improve the health and wellbeing of senior citizens was also accepted and set up on a national level in France. Several official guidelines on French health promotion policies highlighted the importance of practising physical activity and its beneficial impact on health and wellbeing. Different indicators for measuring wellbeing support these conclusions: depression, hypochondria, feeling of 'purpose in life', anxiety, etc. It is also important to underline that the demonstration of a correlation does not mean there is a direct, univocal causal link.
