Reintegrating Physical Activity and Healthy Eating into Organizational Routine: Opportunities for Intervening
PubH 7200, Section 126
Class Number 90820, Credits
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Academic Credit(s): 1
June 4: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
June 5: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
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Handout 1
Handout 1 model
Handout 2
Much more observational research has been conducted in investigating obesity and physical activity disparities in children and adults than intervention research. Yet increased understanding of the determinants of these disparities does not readily translate into effective policy, practice and programmatic solutions, particularly in low-resource communities. Re-integrating physical activity and healthy food choices into organizational routine, especially the workday and school day, represents a major opportunity to address the epidemics of obesity and sedentariness. "Push" approaches that make the healthy choice easy (the "path of least resistance") and the unhealthy choice more difficult may deliver the greatest return on investment in this early phase of public health efforts to prevent and control obesity and chronic disease.
Evidence for the feasibility and efficacy of several of these approaches will be presented:
(1) brief bouts of physical activity incorporated into work and school routine, as well as that of other settings in which people regularly spend time (e.g., churches, spectator sports venues, civic groups, professional association), as a part of the regular "conduct of business";
(2) activity-focused physical education (PE) and recess; and
(3) active commuting to and from school and work.
Examples will be provided of current efforts in each of these areas. Implications for future research that may advance these approaches to increase physical activity and healthy eating will be discussed, along with leverage points for driving change at the local level.
Instructors: Antronette (Toni) Yancey & Jamie Stang
