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Breakout Session VI—Influences
of the Community Food and Activity Environment on Obesity
Discussion Group A: Influences of Community
Physical Activity Environments on Obesity
Moderators: Mark Fenton,
Kathy Spangler
Recorders: Kathy Cullinen,
Shannon Hughes
Purpose: Community infrastructure
and networks can promote health. This discussion group considered
those networks that impact physical activity and recommended ways
that communities and neighborhoods could promote healthy weight
and prevent obesity in priority populations.
Process: The group opened
with brief presentations from the moderators and selected four areas
as actionable priorities through a consensus-making process. A brief
discussion of the specific recommendations contained within each
priority is included in the discussion that follows each recommendation.
Introduction
The introduction by Mark Fenton and Kathy Spangler shared their
viewpoint with the session participants regarding the influence
of community physical activity environments on obesity. The key
principles discussed by the group were to eliminate inequities in
the opportunities for regular physical activity and to reduce barriers
across all groups. Eliminating disparities, one of the goals of
Healthy People 2010, requires surveillance and programming
appropriate for diverse communities and needs. The least active
persons in high-risk environments need to be reached by targeted
programs and approaches. Opportunities and barriers must be inventoried
in various communities to consider eliminating and hurdling barriers
facing these communities. In addition, there is still a need for
reliable and valid indicators of physical activity.
Actionable Priority: Social
Marketing Agenda
A social marketing agenda would work to improve the acceptance of
physical activity, increase incentives for participation, and enhance
the attractiveness of physical activity (i.e., make it attractive
to walk or ride a bike routinely). Early targets include State government
and public health agencies.
Ideas and Considerations
- The social marketing agenda should address widely
diverse target audiences from across the lifespan and in different
geographic locations, looking especially at high-risk populations.
Messages need to be culturally relevant and build on social norms
and infrastructure.
- Funding could come from the healthcare sector or
from the taxation of unhealthy foods. In addition, who will develop
and deliver the message and how active community environments
will be promoted to diverse groups must be resolved.
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Actionable Priority: Infiltrate
and Recruit Communities Through Schools
One way to reach communities would be through schools, by universally
applying a redesigned physical education program that focuses on
inclusion, activity, and lifelong activity skills.
Ideas and Considerations
- Parent-teacher organizations and community groups
can involve senior citizens and other community members through
school-based facilities and programs. State and local leaders
need to be informed of such opportunities.
- Schools can support the nationwide initiative Safe
Routes to School.
- Schools can create more active environments for
faculty and staff and offer the opportunity for cross-curricular
efforts. They also can offer facilities for physical activity.
- Schools can act as community activity centers,
providing lifelong education not only to children but also to
other community members, such as senior citizens.
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Actionable Priority: Improve
Community Infrastructure
Community infrastructure could be improved through intersectoral
cooperation (e.g., health, transportation, planning, and public
service sectors). Public health groups need to work with and through
these entities to promote change.
Ideas and Considerations
- To begin this strategy, advocacy and support are
needed. Intersectoral cooperation could be initiated by convening
community-level discussions, perhaps facilitated by public health
agencies or prevention research centers.
- Communities with high densities and communities
with mixed use of land (e.g., residential and commercial) should
consider bike/pedestrian facilities and traffic-calming strategies
to improve infrastructure and increase opportunities for physical
activity.
- Transportation initiatives need to continue working
with "smart growth" initiatives. Zoning and infrastructure can
help make smart growth, which equals healthy growth.
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Actionable Priority: Develop
Commitment and Leadership of Elected Officials and Public Servants
Commitment from elected officials and public servants is needed
to overcome barriers within the community. Policymakers need to
be educated and provided with economic data and effective solutions,
such as opportunities for community-planning grants. Governmental
commitment to change needs to be developed at Federal, State, and
local levels. At the Federal level, the White House, Cabinet, and
Congress need the will to make change and the desire to take initiative.
Ideas and Considerations
- Interagency dialog at regular intervals (e.g.,
between the Departments of Health and Human Services, Transportation,
Commerce, Interior, and Justice) could help redesign political
infrastructure and lay out clear benchmarks and goals, measurable
outcomes, and specific responsibilities.
- Targeted funding for research and surveillance
needs to be established.
- A national network and clearinghouse could help
facilitate interagency dialog and commitment among elected officials
and public servants.
- Educational facilities are interested in economic
(and academic) benefits. We must be able to demonstrate that good
nutrition and physical activity are economically and academically
beneficial.
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