Physical Activity Policy Research Network — Exploring How Local Policies Promote and Increase Physical Activity

Harvard University: Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Saint Louis University: Prevention Research Center (coordinating center)

San Diego State University & University of California at San Diego: San Diego Prevention Research Center

University of Washington: Health Promotion Research Center

Topics:
Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth

Being physically active benefits health, but more than half of U.S. adults are not physically active on a regular basis. A community's environment — such as unsafe neighborhoods, traffic congestion, poor air quality, and lack of sidewalks — can impede activity. In 2004, CDC's Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity created a Physical Activity Policy Research Network (PAPRN) to determine the effectiveness of policies related to promoting and increasing physical activity in communities, work sites, and schools, and to examine the characteristics of the policies and policymaking processes that are effective.

Members of the PAPRN include Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) at the five universities listed above and affiliate PRCs at four universities: University of Colorado, University of South Carolina, University of South Florida, and West Virginia University. Additional members include consultants, CDC scientific collaborators, another research center (at the University of Hawaii), and other partners, organizations, and agencies with interest and expertise in promoting physical activity. The network also exchanges information with other researchers, leaders in the field, and practitioner organizations.

The PAPRN identifies gaps in physical activity policy research, such as determining the effectiveness of programs that encourage students to walk or bike to and from school; identifying elements essential to successfully developing community walking and bicycling trails; and analyzing the features of community master plans (developed by transportation planners, urban planners, and legislators) that promote physical activity. Member PRCs then conduct community-based projects within each PRCs' geographic area, and analyze and compare results within and among their states. The network disseminates findings to public health agencies and practitioners, urban planners, legislators, school officials, community members, and other physical activity advocates. In addition, the PAPRN maintains a Web site* that contains information about the network's members, projects, and research agenda.

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* Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. This link does not constitute an endorsement of this organization by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. The CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at this link.