Effective Population-Level Strategies to Promote Physical Activity
from the Guide to Community Preventive Services

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The Guide to Community Preventive Services reports evidence-based recommendations on effective population-level interventions to promote physical activity.

An in-depth review of the evidence and recommendations, including information about how the reviews were conducted and commentaries from leading subject matter experts, has been published in the May 2002 supplement to the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. A summary report of the recommendations was published in CDC's MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report-Recommendations and Reports Series, October 26, 2001.

Both reports are available online by visiting the "Publications" section of the Guide to Community Preventive Services' website at www.thecommunityguide.org.*

	What is the Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide)? What is the Task Force on Community Preventive Services?

According to scientific literature, what works in getting people physically active?

The Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide) is a federally-sponsored initiative documenting the effectiveness of various population-based interventions. For each health topic selected, an independent Task Force on Community Preventive Services systematically reviews published scientific studies, weighs the evidence, and determines the effectiveness of each intervention strategy by assigning it to one of three categories:

• "Strongly Recommended"
• "Recommended," or
• "Insufficient Evidence." Note, however, that insufficient evidence should not be interpreted as ineffective, but rather as requiring additional research in order to strengthen the evidence.

• Communitywide campaigns* (PDF - 153K)
  These large-scale, highly visible, multicomponent campaigns direct their messages to large audiences using a variety of approaches, including television, radio, newspapers, movie theaters, billboards, and mailings.
  
  
• Individually-adapted health behavior change programs*(PDF - 159K)
  These programs are tailored to a person's specific interests or readiness to make a change in physical activity habits. Teaching behavioral skills such as goal setting, building social support, self-rewards, problem solving, and relapse prevention all assist individuals in learning to incorporate physical activity into their daily routines.
  
  
• School-based physical education (PE)*(PDF - 152K)
  This approach seeks to modify school curricula and policies, and to increase the amount of time students spend in moderate to vigorous activity while in physical education class. Schools can accomplish this either by increasing the amount of time spent in PE class, or by increasing students' activity levels during PE classes.
  
  
• Social support interventions in community contexts*(PDF - 152K)
  The goal of this approach is to increase physical activity by creating or strengthening social networks. Examples include exercise buddies, exercise contracts, and walking groups.
  
  
• Creating or improving access to places for physical activity combined with informational outreach*(PDF - 158K)
  This approach ensures that the physical environment is conducive to physical activity, such that places where people can be physically active are readily available, accessible, and acceptable. Examples would include attractive sidewalks, stairwells, walking or biking trails, and exercise facilities in communities or in the workplace. Informational outreach strives to make people aware of available resources, encourages them to take local action, or provides training, seminars, counseling, or risk screening so that resources are well used. The goal is to improve quality of life and achieve livable communities.
  
  

The Task Force on Community Preventive Services recommended the following:

• Point-of-decision prompts*(PDF - 158K)
  Motivational information is provided at the place where an individual is likely to be making a choice of action. For example, by locating signs close to elevators and escalators, people are encouraged to use safe and accessible stairs as a physically active alternative to passive transport.

The Task Force categorized the following as having insufficient evidence available in the scientific literature to determine effectiveness. More research is needed before a clear determination can be made.

• Classroom-based health education that focuses on information sharing and behavioral change,
• Mass media campaigns,
• Classroom-based health education that encourages young people to reduce television viewing and video game playing time,
• College-level physical education and health education,
• Family-based social support.

Intervention reviews are still in progress for the following (expected spring 2002):

• Transportation policy and infrastructure changes to promote nonmotorized transit, and
• Urban planning approaches, such as zoning and land use.

What is the Guide to Community Preventive Services (Community Guide)?
The Community Guide provides recommendations on population-based interventions appropriate for use by communities and health care systems to promote health and prevent disease, injury, disability, and premature death. The 15-member independent Task Force on Community Preventive Services makes its recommendations based on systematic reviews of topics in three general areas:

• Changing risk behaviors,
• Reducing diseases, injuries, and impairments, and
• Addressing environmental and ecosystem challenges.

The Community Guide is a federally-sponsored initiative and is part of a family of federal initiatives which include Healthy People 2010 and the Guide to Clinical Preventive Services.

For a listing of published recommendations on all subject areas, visit http://www.thecommunityguide.org/overview/recs-to-date.pdf*(PDF - 261K). In addition to the published chapters listed, the Task Force will review interventions for obesity and overweight prevention, promotion of healthful eating habits, improved pregnancy outcomes, and substance use.

Additional information on the Community Guide such as background, scope and methods can be found by visiting http://www.thecommunityguide.org/methods/.*

What is the Task Force on Community Preventive Services?
The Task Force on Community Preventive Services is an independent, non-federal task force consisting of 15 members, including a chair, appointed by the director of CDC. The Task Force's membership is multidisciplinary, and includes representatives from state and local health departments, managed care, academia, behavioral and social sciences, communications sciences, mental health, epidemiology, quantitative policy analysis, decision and cost-effectiveness analysis, information systems, primary care, and management and policy.

The Task Force is complemented by an array of active participants, including

• CDC Community Guide full-time staff
• Consultants to the Task Force
• Federal agency liaison members
• CDC Liaison Members
• Professional organization liaison representatives

The Task Force determines the scope of the Community Guide, topics to be addressed by the Community Guide, and the most appropriate means to assess evidence regarding population-based interventions. The Task Force will review and assess the quality of available evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of essential community preventive health services and develop recommendations.

For more information about the Task Force and its members, visit http://www.thecommunityguide.org/about/task-force-members.htm.*

Additional Resources

Promoting Physical Activity: A Guide for Community Action

DNPA Physical Activity Links

*Links to non-Federal organizations are provided solely as a service to our users. Links do not constitute an endorsement of any 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.

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This page last updated March 20, 2003

United States Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity