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Community Leaders
In the last decade, an important relationship has emerged between overweight/obesity
and community design and layout. Although the strength of this relationship has
not been firmly established, community design does appear to influence health and
health behaviors. Communities across North Carolina are finding ways to become more
active friendly in an effort to help people live healthier lives. "Changes in the
community environment to promote physical activity may offer the most practical
approach to prevent obesity or reduce its co-morbidities."
- Dr. William Dietz, MD, PhD, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention
For more information on how to improve your community's health, click on the links
below:
Key Information
People need
to work together to make the kinds of changes needed to prevent obesity.
Access to
sidewalks and walkways is critical if you want to help people be more active
Trails can
be developed along streams and other types of greenways, and be components of a
community-wide trail system.
In many
rural areas of NC, sidewalks are not feasible. However, an extended shoulder may
provide the neccessary room for walking, jogging or biking.
City planners
and engineers acorss NC are finding ways to make their communities more walkable.
Use this
checklist to learn what your neighborhood does well and what could be improved.
Active Community
Environments (ACEs) are defined as any places whereby people of all ages and abilities
can easily enjoy walking, bicycling, or using a wheelchair for both pleasure and
purpose.
Tips to Make a Change
This is a great way to be active with other people
in your neighborhood.
Build a YMCA
YMCAs are community organizations that have programs
and facilities such as gyms, pools, weight rooms, aerobics, etc...that can help
you and your family stay active and eat healthier
How to request sidewalks to be built in your neighborhood,
and general information about sidewalks.
How to request sidewalks to be fixed and cleared
from snow, branches or bushes, and other obstructions
Use these helpful tips when talking to your community
leaders about building more sidewalks
How to make your neighborhood or downtown area
walkable if it's already developed.
Downloads & Links
This program establishes and evaluates innovative approaches to increase physical
activity through community design, public policies and communications strategies.
A community guide to promote walking to school.
A collection of web pages with ideas and steps for conducting a successful walk-to-school
event.
The School Health Index helps schools identify the strengths and weaknesses of their
physical activity and nutrition policies.
This policy guide is designed to help state and local decision makers establish
effective policies to help students achieve their academic potential and adopt lifelong
healthy habits.
A database including sample school district policies and information on physical
activity
This dynamic database website is a resource for communities (their professional
planners, pubic agencies, and concerned citizens) to identify tools and processes
for better community design.
This site provides current news on and best practices in urban
parks across the country.
This innovative and useful toolbox contains numerous techniques
for public participation that communities can use to get organized, to turn their
vision into a reality, and to work together to improve
Walkable Places Survey produces site-specific data evaluations
with a collaborative and community-based approach. Participants generate numerical
evaluations during their walk and more qualitative eva
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