State-based Physical Activity Program Directory
Background

Promoting Physical Activity States' Role in Promoting Physical Activity DNPA's Role in Providing Physical Activity Program Information Developing the Directory Inclusion Criteria References

Promoting Physical Activity

Promoting physical activity is a public health priority for many reasons.   Physical activity is a key lifestyle risk factor in reducing chronic disease morbidity and mortality. In the United States, for example, only tobacco use kills more people than sedentary behavior and poor nutrition (McGinnis & Foege, 1993). Physical activity

Helps prevent diabetes in both youth and adults (USDHHS, 2000). Reduces the risk of obesity. Reduces the risk of coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and colon cancer. Physical activity also promotes health. On average, physically active people outlive those who are inactive (USDHHS, 2000). For example, physical activity

Contributes to the development and maintenance of healthy bones, muscles, and joints. Helps to relieve arthritis pain and maintain joint mobility. Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression. Helps to maintain the functional independence of older adults. Enhances the quality of life for people of all ages.

Despite the many benefits of physical activity, 27% of adults do not participate in any physical activity (CDC, 2000). Researchers estimate that an increase in moderate physical activity among sedentary Americans might reduce annual national medical costs by $76.6 billion (in 2000 dollars), illustrating the impact of physical activity on morbidity and mortality (Pratt & Macera, 2000).   To highlight its public health importance, physical activity is one of ten Healthy People 2010 leading health indicators. Fifteen Healthy People 2010 objectives target a range of physical activity-related goals (USDHHS, 2000), including

Increasing individual levels of physical activity among adults and children Decreasing television viewing Increasing access to physical activity opportunities through programs in schools, work sites and communities

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States' Role in Promoting Physical Activity

States play an important role in promoting and supporting physical activity as a public health priority, by developing the following components of physical activity promotion:

Infrastructure within the government Physical activity surveillance systems Training and professional development for staff Partnerships State plans for improving physical activity A range of targeted interventions, including individual, environmental and policy efforts Ongoing program evaluation Reducing health disparities, a primary goal of Healthy People 2010, should underlie all activities.

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DNPA's Role in Providing Physical Activity Program Information

Despite the importance of physical activity as a public health priority and the key role of state departments of health in promoting physical activity, little information about state-based physical activity promotion programs has been readily available. Furthermore, many states do not have a full-time staff position specifically devoted to promoting physical activity. These factors complicate networking and sharing information among states.   To fill this gap in publicly accessible information, the Physical Activity and Health Branch in the Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, with input from state departments of health, has developed this directory to describe and systematically track programs involving state departments of health.   This directory is available as an online searchable database. We hope it will promote communication and the exchange of information among state, federal, and local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and other private and public partners who promote physical activity.

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Developing the Directory

Several steps of information-gathering initiated development of the directory.   First, a draft outline of the inventory was created and circulated among internal CDC and external state reviewers for feedback on the proposed content.   Next, drafts of a profile and program inventory were compiled for each state, using information from Web sites and other available sources.   Physical activity contacts, identified in each state, reviewed and edited the drafts. We expect that the inventory will grow and evolve over time as new information becomes available.

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Inclusion Criteria

In an effort to standardize the types of activities listed in the program inventory, a few basic inclusion criteria were developed.

The state department of health must be involved in some aspect of the program, such as a lead organization, funding source, or partner. The program must be a structured, ongoing intervention or strategic effort to promote physical activity through individual behavior change, physical environmental change, social environmental change and/or policy change. One-time events are not included. Recently concluded programs that otherwise meet the criteria are included. Broad entities such as statewide coalitions, task forces, governor’s councils and overarching state department of health physical activity programs are not listed in the program inventory, but are described in the state profile. However, physical activity programs sponsored by such collaborative groups are included in the inventory, with the governor's council, workgroup, or coalition listed as a partner.

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References

The following sources are referenced in this background section:

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Trend Data: Nationwide No Leisure Time Physical Activity. Available at http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss/Trends/ trendchart.asp?qkey=10020&state;=US. Accessed for this site: November 2, 2001. Last updated: August 28, 2000.   McGinnis JM, Foege WH. Actual causes of death in the United States. JAMA 1993; 270 (18):2207-2212.   Pratt M, Macera CA. Higher direct medical costs associated with physical inactivity. Physician & Sports Medicine. 2000;28:63–71.   U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. Understanding and Improving Health: Objectives for Improving Health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000.

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This page last updated April 4, 2002.

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