|
People who are regularly active enjoy a number of health benefits, including reduced risks of obesity and overweight, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and some cancers. However, less than 48 percent of the U.S. adult population meets recommendations for moderate physical activity. Poor diet and inactivity are second only to tobacco as the leading cause of death in the United States. Decisions about whether or not to be physically active depend in part on personal choices, but the built environment also influences opportunities for activity. Research has found that the amount of time individuals spend walking, bicycling, and otherwise engaged in routine physical activity is influenced by the distance between homes, work, and retail, as well as by the safety and appeal of the walking environment. This Issue Brief examines state-level ''active community policies''--that is, development, land use, and transportation policies that help ensure the built environment supports physical activity. Every state can adopt a number of strategies to modify the built environment in ways that make it easier for residents to be physically active. Many state policies that are traditionally seen as economic development or land use strategies already affect whether or not the built environment supports physical activity. This Issue Brief examines Michigan's active community policies as a case study of the many tools states have at their disposal to help create communities that support and even encourage regular physical activity. Michigan's policies fall into four general categories: development, revitalization, transportation, and open space conservation policies. An important complement to Michigan's active community policies are its health education and promotion programs. Active community policies help create the places to be physically active, and health policies help motivate state residents to be active. To read the full Issue Brief, click here. Quick Links to Key Strategies Summaries from this Issue Brief: Related Links: Active Living Leadership Partner Organizations Federal Resources
|
printable version