State and National Strategies to Promote Physical Activity

Jacqueline N. EppingU.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Division of Nutrition and Physical ActivityPhysical Activity and Health Branch

Why is it important to do anything?

LOTS of reasons…

Health benefits

Physical

Mental• Cognitive function

Disease prevention

Disease management

Overall morbidity and mortality

Health cost savings

Other Reasons

• More than half of adults don’t get enough physical activity

• 24% don’t get any in their leisure time

• More than 1/3 of young people (grades 9-12) don’t get regular vigorous activity and ¾ don’t get enough moderate activity

Additional Considerations

• For everyone, some activity is better than none

• Health benefits outweigh the risks

• People without chronic conditions or symptoms do not need to consult with a healthcare provider

2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

• First Federal Guidelines for Physical Activity

• Appointment of Task Force of Leading Scientists

• Large, systematic review of the scientific literature

• Report to DHHS• Guidelines

What is CDC Doing

• State programs that specify physical activity as primary component

• Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health

www.nspapph.org

What CDC is Doing (cont)

• The Community Guide for Preventive Services Intervention Recommendation

• National Plan for Physical Activity

Intervention Categories

• Informational Approaches

• Behavioral and Social Approaches

• Environmental and Policy Approaches

Community-wide Campaigns

Recommended, Strong Evidence

Point-of-decision Prompts to Encourage Stair Use

Recommended, sufficient evidence

School-based PECurricula and Policy

Recommended, Strong evidence

Environmental and Policy Approaches

• Creation of/enhanced access to places for PA combined with informational outreach

• Community-scale urban design and land use

• Street-scale urban design and land use

• Transportation policies and practices

Creation of/Enhanced Access to Places for Physical Activity

Combined with Informational Outreach

Recommended, strong evidence

Community-scale Urban Design and Land Use

Recommended, Sufficient Evidence

Community-level changes

Decrease motor vehicle traffic Increase mixed land use

Zoning regulations and building codes

Street-scale Urban Design and Land Use

Street-level changesTraffic calming structures

Improved lighting

Aesthetic enhancements

Transportation Policies and Practices

• Policy measures, e.g., roadway design standards

• Expanding public transportation• Subsidizing public transportation• Providing bicycle lanes and racks• Increasing parking costs

too few studies

Latin American Review

o Delivery of short physical activity messages

o Physical activity classes in community settings

o Community-wide policies and planning

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Update of Recommendations

• 8 years since the last review

• Considerable evidence since

• Evidence may change/increase

What can State Legislators Do?

Require daily, quality PE and recess

Require community access to school facilities

Develop a multi-sectoral State PlanRequire Health, Planning and Transportation to work together at regional/city levels

What Else?Provide funding at city/county level contingent upon:

Use of evidence-based strategies

Multi-sectoral collaboration

Include HIAs in city/regional development decisions

What Else?

Support initiatives such as SRTS

Support building of community schools

Increase gasoline tax

Provide/increase access to public transportation

Adopt SmartGrowth principles

Require Complete Streets legislation

What Else?

Connect with National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health

Connect with National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity

Get involved in National Plan for Physical Activity

Thank You