Healthy People Consortium Meeting
"Implementing Healthy People 2010"
November 11, 2000

Summary of Breakout Group Discussion Concerning:
Physical Activity and Fitness

1. How do you suggest we work with local community groups in implementing the Healthy People 2010 objectives?

• Seek investment/resources from partners.
• Identify current activity related to Healthy People 2010 (e.g., State Health Department).
• Identify gaps in objectives and current activities.
• Increase awareness of community guidelines and other resources (e.g., CDC).
• Educate community groups on how to work with media.
• Ensure representation of all groups in local and State Healthy People 2010 efforts.
• Link with practitioners.

2. What are the challenges and barriers to meeting the Healthy People 2010 objectives? How do you suggest we work to overcome them?

• Challenges/barriers:
  • Some agencies focus on certain ages.
  • Reduced Physical Education requirements in public schools.
  • Lack of State and local data.
  • Start-up cost of fitness program by employers.
  • Environmental barriers (e.g., attractive, accessible, and safe stairs, sidewalks, walking/biking trails).
  • Employers/government say it's up to the individual to find time and ways to be active.
  • Schools sometimes not open to assistance from health agencies, or to open facilities for nonschool hours programs.
  • Lack of awareness of report of Surgeon General with recommendation for daily moderate-intensity physical activity.
  • Too little emphasis on prevention (including physical activity) from health care community.
  • If targets are too lofty, may discourage attempts to improve.

   

• Suggestions to overcome challenges/barriers:
  • Agencies should be concerned for all ages.
  • Awareness that physical activity is a high priority.
  • Support for comprehensive school health (including physical education).
  • Support for PEP act and other ways to provide financial incentives for physical education and other physical activity programs.
  • Awareness of economic benefits for employers (including government).
  • Schools should reach out to health agencies for assistance.
  • Schools can become center of community with a variety of programs, including physical activity for all.
  • Resources are needed to assist schools in these efforts.
  • Reorient health care community to importance of prevention (including physical activity).
  • Partner with TV/Internet to spread physical activity message.

3. What can we do to support the elimination of health disparities among racial and ethnic population groups?

• Address SES gaps.
• Short-term: listen to community; meet immediate needs.
• Long-term: close income gaps; redistribute wealth.
• Safe environment for activity.
• Support needed facilities.
• Find the message that resonates with each segment of the population.
• Disseminate success stories.
• Counter unhealthy advertising in minority communities.

4. How do we measure progress of Healthy People 2010 in the future? What is progress?

• States and communities need to set their own targets 
• Need State/local data sources. 
• Apply successful models (e.g., tobacco).
• Measure cost/benefit.

5. How can we work more effectively with the media in implementing the Healthy People 2010 objectives?

• Unify message. 
• Build partnerships with groups that have PR/advertising resources. 
• Make the food/beverage industry part of the solution. 
• Partner with computer industry. 
• Highlight strategies that work. 
• Build positive messages about physical activity into entertainment programming. 
• Find spokespeople from sports/entertainment.

6. Priority recommendations

• First priority: Reduce environmental barriers.
• Second priority: Increase investment/resources.
• Address SES disparities.
• Third priority: Ensure representation of all groups in implementation plans.
• Listen to all segments of community.
• Support comprehensive school health (including physical education).
• Fourth priority: Identify current activity and gaps related to Healthy People 2010.
• Fifth priority: Increase awareness that employers and government have responsibility (not just individual responsibility).
  • State and local targets
  • State and local data sources
  • Positive physical activity messages in entertainment

Underlying themes:

• Build partnerships.
• Emphasize role of physical activity in chronic disease prevention and management.
• Increase advocacy for physical activity at all levels.

Participants

Facilitator: B. Don Franks 
Recorder: Ashley Coffield 
Date Submitted: 11/17/00

Aberle-Grasse, John
Bates, Nicole
Cumerford, Beth
Elderkin, Ann
Emans, S. Jean
Haberstro, Phil
Hinman, Johanna
Kines, Kathy
Lindsay, Garry
Tebo, Geri
Werheim, Kathy

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