Healthy Places, Healthy People: Building Partnerships to Promote

Good Health

Lisa A. Cirill, M.S., Acting Chief California Center for Physical Activity California Department of Public Health

Physical Inactivity in Youths

and Adolescents •  1 in 7 youth ages 6–19 is overweight

•  Children spend more time watching television in a year

than they do attending school

•  35% of children watch 5+ hours of TV a day

78% of children fall short of the recommended minimum dose of active play

Physical Inactivity

Children don’t walk anymore:

Our Kids Are in Trouble!

•  In the 1970s, 70% of youngsters walked or rode bikes to school

•  Today, only 14% walk or bike

Do Obese Children Become Obese Adults?

•  About a third (26-41%) of obese preschool children are obese as adults

•  About half (42-63%) of obese school-aged children are obese as adults

•  25% of all adults are sedentary

•  Most are low-income and people of color

•  > 20% get 30 minutes of PA at least 5 days/wk

Physical Inactivity in Adults

If the current trend continues, of those children born in 2000:

•  32.8% of boys and 38.5% of girls will develop diabetes

•  Close to 50% of African American and Latino children will develop diabetes

Diabetes Link to Obesity

Impact of Our Legacy?

•  1/3 of all children will be diabetics

•  Life span shortened by 15 years

•  1st generation in history who may not live as long as their parents

•  All adults should perform 30 or more minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, and preferably all days (either in a single session or accumulated in multiple bouts, each lasting at least 10 minutes)

•  Children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical activity/active play per day

CDC-ACSM, 2007

Physical Activity Guidelines

Benefits of Physical Activity

•  Increases life span by 2 years •  Reduces risk of CVD by 40% •  Prevents/manages high BP and Diabetes •  Decreases risk of breast and colon cancers •  Improves mood and mental health •  Contributes to weight control •  Health care costs for active adults are $300-

$400 less per year

U.S. Surgeon General’s Report, 1996

Promoting exercise has not worked

Trend in Recommended Physical Activity

Contributing Factors

•  VERY complex!

•  Variety of factors play a role:   behavior   environment   genetic   culture   socioeconomic status

Environmental Factors

Changes are taking place in a variety of settings that negatively impact our choices:

  home (e.g. too much screen time)   school (e.g. lack of physical activity options)   work (e.g. poor access to stairs, no locker rooms)   community (e.g. parents reluctant to let kids roam

free to play, unsafe streets, urban sprawl)

Walking for transport and overweight in children

Walking for transport and overweight in adults

Traditional Vs. Suburban Designs

Illustration: Frank, LD “Health & Community Design”

Greenwald, M.J. Transportation Research Record 2001

The Built Environment = More Risks Than Just Obesity

•  Diabetes •  Cancers •  Heart disease •  Injury •  Asthma •  Bone health •  Impotence •  Depression, stress

•  Air quality •  Noise •  Climate change •  Sense of community •  Crime/violence •  Economic vitality •  Children’s development

Americans Keep Driving More

Shift people from cars to walking and biking

What is an Activity-Friendly

Environment?

A place that makes it easy to choose to be physically active, through planned exercise

or routine daily activity

Activity-Friendly Communities

Need to design for:

•  Active recreation •  Active transport

Activity-Friendly Communities

Physical activity is:

•  Incidental •  Functional •  Safe •  Accessible •  Pleasing •  Normal

Principles of �Healthy Streets

Streets designed for people - not just cars

Principles of �Healthy Streets

Streets designed so drivers feel comfortable at slow speeds:

–  15-25 mph on neighborhood streets

–  25-35 mph on avenues and boulevards

Healthy Streets Need Good Sidewalks

•  Detached from curb

•  At least 5 feet wide

•  Planting strip helps shade streets and sidewalk

Does Design Make �a Difference for Kids?

More children walk to school where there are sidewalks

Marin County SR2S – safety, encouragement and street improvements – 64% increase in kids walking

CA SR2S – 15% of kids walked or biked more after physical improvements (vs. 4% w/ no improvements)

Walkable neighborhoods encourage trips by bike and foot

People in traditional neighborhoods are

more likely to walk to nearby shops.

Handy, S.L. Transportation Research Record 1996

Building Physical Activity Back Into Our Daily Lives

Key Partners • Local Elected Officials • Architects and Urban Designers • Parks and Recreation • Land Use Planners • Transportation Engineers • Public Health • School Officials • Advocacy Groups • Businesses • Non-Profit Organizations • Law Enforcement • Emergency Services

Walkability Audits

More Trees

Complete Streets �Movement

Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transit users of all ages and abilities are able to safely

move along and across a complete street

Safe Routes to �School Movement

•  Infrastructure •  Non-infrastructure

School Siting and �Joint-Use Facilities

Then…

and now…

Shared space

Get Healthier Outdoors

“Healing the broken bond between our young and nature is in our self-interest.”

Children in Nature Movement

No Child Left Inside!

Yikes…

Governor Endorsed

Every Kid’s �Life List

•  Encourage kids to go outdoors… – Make it memorable – Make it fun –  Involve the family –  Involve all recreation providers – Make it adaptable

Unstructured Play Areas = Active Play

My First Friend

Tree Stewardship

Greenways and Trails

Community Trees

Great Places Bring People Together

Tree Placement� Reduces Criminal Activity

•  Crime Prevention through Environmental Design Institutes for planners, architects and law enforcement professionals

•  Out of four principles, two focus on improving safety through placement of greenery - maximizes visibility by proper placement and spacing * street trees for shade and protection * low shrubs along buildings or pathways to control access points

Infill Projects

Trees: Camouflage and Protection

Trees Are Our Friends

Every city and unincorporated area should have a tree ordinance establishing the following:

•  Existing trees in cities and unincorporated areas be maintained and preserved

•  New developments and revitalization projects include a designated number of trees

•  Perimeter of school sites and other public facilities are tree-lined and grounds contain sufficient amount of shade trees and edible trees

•  Streetscapes include shade trees every 30’ to 50’ •  Parks, greenways and open spaces serve as community

urban forests

Lisa A. Cirill, M.S. Acting Chief California Center for Physical Activity California Department of Public Health Tel: (916) 552-9943 Fax: (916) 552-9912 Email: Lisa.Cirill@cdph.ca.gov

www.caphysicalactivity.org