Policy and Environmental Supports in Promoting Physical Activity and Active Living

2013 ◽  
pp. 1539-1544
Author(s):  
Gregory Heath ◽  
Paul Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Environmental Supports

Abstract P267: New Urbanism and Its Impact on Active Living among Inner City Children/Youth

Circulation ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory W Heath ◽  
Sarah White-Woerner
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Inner City ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Vigorous Physical Activity ◽  
Active Living ◽  
The South ◽  
City Community ◽  
New Urbanist ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Urban Trail

Introduction: Although it is known that urban design and land use at the community level contributes to active living, there remains a paucity of such information among low income and diverse populations affected by such infrastructure. Reconstruction of an inner city community in Chattanooga, Tennessee afforded the opportunity to assess the impact of new urbanist construction on active living among African-American children/youth living in the inner city. Hypothesis: Transportation and recreational physical activity levels among children/youth residing in a new urbanist community was hypothesized to be higher compared to demographically similar children/youth who reside in a more traditional inner city community. Methods: Using the System for Observing Physical Activity and Recreation in Communities (SOPARC) we examined an urban trail and recreational park areas of two distinct communities to assess physical activity, sports, and recreational of children/youth. SOPARC data were collected in each of 4 settings in each community (East, a traditional and South, a new urbanist) during four 1-h observation periods during 7 days of clement weather. Observations were made during each day of the week in each setting (i.e., Sunday through Saturday). Results: The SOPARC assessments of the urban trail and pedestrian/bicycle routes in the South and East yielded a total of 672 and 436 children/youth observations, respectively. South children/youth were over three times more likely to engage in vigorous physical activity compared to their East counterparts (Mantel-Haenszel Chi Square = 19.67; P< 0.00001). Conclusions: The present findings support the hypothesis that enhanced environmental supports, such as those found within the South community, increase the likelihood of greater levels of activity among children/youth compared to children/youth that were not exposed to these environmental enhancements. This comparative difference was most remarkable when examining the SOPARC assessment differences along the transport path/sidewalk routes, with South children/youth being significantly more likely than the East children/youth to engage in more vigorous forms of physical activity along this transport/recreational corridor, providing evidence that access to these types of ‘urban’ trails appears to translate into increased opportunities for physical activity among children/youth.

scholarly journals Web-Based Dissemination of a Civic Engagement Curriculum to Promote Healthy Eating and Active Living in Rural Towns: The eHEART Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (7) ◽  
pp. 2571
Author(s):  
Rebecca Seguin-Fowler ◽  
Meredith Graham ◽  
Urshila Sriram ◽  
Galen Eldridge ◽  
Jimin Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Civic Engagement ◽  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Health Educators ◽  
Rural Environments ◽  
Engagement Interventions ◽  
Physical Activity Environments

Civic engagement interventions aimed at improving food and physical activity environments hold promise in addressing rural health disparities, but ensuring feasible and sustained dissemination remains a challenge. The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of a civic engagement curriculum adapted for online dissemination (Healthy Eating and Activity in Rural Towns (eHEART)). The eHEART curriculum and website were developed based on feedback from local health educators and community members. eHEART groups were facilitated by local Extension educators across three rural towns in three U.S. states (Montana, Wisconsin, and Alaska). Implementation feasibility was assessed through monthly project reports and interviews with educators. All eHEART groups successfully completed curriculum activities and met their project goals after nine months (November 2018 to July 2019). Groups ranged in size from 4 to 8 community residents and implemented varied strategies to improve aspects of their local food and/or physical activity environments. Facilitators of implementation included clear guidance on facilitating curriculum activities and the flexible and community-driven nature of eHEART projects. Recommended changes included more guidance on evaluating projects and contacting stakeholders as well as providing online tools and support for project management. Findings from this work have important implications for creating healthier rural environments. Local health educators and other community groups can feasibly use the eHEART curriculum to foster environmental changes that support healthy eating and active living.

Awareness of Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living in a Large Community Sample

2011 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 294-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald C. Plotnikoff ◽  
Sonia Lippke ◽  
Steven T. Johnson ◽  
Kylie Hugo ◽  
Wendy Rodgers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Community Sample ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Large Community

scholarly journals Laboratory-Assessed Markers of Cardiometabolic Health and Associations with GIS-Based Measures of Active-Living Environments

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 2079 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samantha Hajna ◽  
Kaberi Dasgupta ◽  
Nancy Ross
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Sociodemographic Factors ◽  
Living Environment ◽  
Cardiometabolic Health ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Daily Step ◽  
Step Counts ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Intensity Physical Activity ◽  
Living Environments

Active-living-friendly environments have been linked to physical activity, but their relationships with specific markers of cardiometabolic health remain unclear. We estimated the associations between active-living environments and markers of cardiometabolic health, and explored the potential mediating role of physical activity in these associations. We used data collected on 2809 middle-aged adults who participated in the Canadian Health Measures Survey (2007–2009; 41.5 years, SD = 15.1). Environments were assessed using an index that combined GIS-derived measures of street connectivity, land use mix, and population density. Body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), hemoglobin A1c, and cholesterol were assessed in a laboratory setting. Daily step counts and moderate-to-vigorous intensity physical activity (MVPA) were assessed for seven days using accelerometers. Associations were estimated using robust multivariable linear regressions adjusted for sociodemographic factors that were assessed via questionnaire. BMI was 0.79 kg/m2 lower (95% confidence interval (CI) −1.31, −0.27) and SBP was 1.65 mmHg lower (95% CI −3.10, −0.20) in participants living in the most active-living-friendly environments compared to the least, independent of daily step counts or MVPA. A 35.4 min/week difference in MPVA (95% CI 24.2, 46.6) was observed between residents of neighborhoods in the highest compared to the lowest active-living-environment quartiles. Cycling to work rates were also the highest in participants living in the highest living-environment quartiles (e.g., Q4 vs. Q1: 10.4% vs. 4.9%). Although active-living environments are associated with lower BMI and SBP, and higher MVPA and cycling rates, neither daily step counts nor MVPA appear to account for environment–BMI/SBP relationships. This suggests that other factors not assessed in this study (e.g., food environment or unmeasured features of the social environment) may explain this relationship.

Linking Active Living and Nutrition Counselling: Dietitians’ Perceptions

2004 ◽  
Vol 65 (4) ◽  
pp. 154-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. Spidel ◽  
Marie-Claude Paquette ◽  
J. Dru Marshall ◽  
Rhonda C. Bell ◽  
Linda J. McCargar
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Strong Support ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Registered Dietitians ◽  
Focus Group Interviews ◽  
Perceived Needs ◽  
Nutrition Counselling ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Professional Perceptions ◽  
And Training

Healthy eating and active living have become key concepts in health promotion, and, increasingly, the two messages are being combined. Dietitians are in an ideal position to promote physical activity as an adjunct to nutrition counselling. Focus group interviews were used to identify dietitians’ perceptions and needs related to incorporating active living messages into their practices. Six focus groups, involving 42 participants (40 registered dietitians and two dietetic interns), were conducted in cities throughout Alberta. Issues explored during the interviews included the dietitian's role in promoting active living, barriers to promoting physical activity, opportunities for collaboration between dietitians and exercise professionals, and dietitians’ perceived needs for integrating active living messages into their practices effectively. Findings indicate strong support for incorporating active living messages into nutrition counselling. However, lack of knowledge was identified as a barrier to dietitians’ proactive role, and concerns were raised about public and professional perceptions if dietitians counselled on this issue. Participants felt that they required additional knowledge and training in physical activity in order to promote it effectively. Development and implementation of programs designed to meet these needs would help dietitians integrate active living messages into their practices.

Physical Activity for Everyone: What Every Physical Educator Should Know about Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity

2002 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 128-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles B. Corbin
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
High School ◽  
Physical Education ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Active Living ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Physical Educator ◽  
Common Misconceptions

In recent years evidence has accumulated to document the importance of physical activity to lifelong health and fitness. This paper is based on the assumption that a primary goal of physical education is to promote lifetime physical activity. Common misconceptions are described and alternatives for change are proposed: (a) recognizing the unique physical activity needs of youth; (b) promoting opportunities for girls; (c) changing our focus from fitness to physical activity; (d) promoting self-esteem and feelings of competence among youth; (e) narrowing the scope of our objectives; and (f) emphasizing self-management skills in high school to help youth adopt active living as adults. The suggestions are based on scientific evidence and the author’s own experience.

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