Health Focus Area: Physical Activity

What is Physical Activity?

Physical activity means any bodily activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health. Community strategies focus on environmental and policy changes (e.g., active community environment initiatives, urban planning, safety enforcement, trails and sidewalks) to reach large sections of the population.

 

Why is physical activity included in Healthiest Polk County 2015?  

  • Regular physical activity has been shown to reduce the morbidity and mortality from many chronic diseases. Polk County residents suffer from chronic illnesses that can be prevented or improved through regular physical activity (HHS)
  • About 43% of Polk County adults report levels of activity that do not meet the recommended levels of moderate physical activity (30 minutes per day of moderate physical activity for five or more days per week) or vigorous physical activity (20 minutes per day of vigorous physical activity for three or more days of the week).
  • 18% of Polk County children, ages 3 to 5, who participate in the county’s Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) program watch more than 2 hours of television per day.  The amount of time spent watching television is associated with obesity in both children and adults (Surgeon General Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation)

 

What is our overall physical activity goal?

By December 2015, increase physical activity for all through changes in facilities, community design and policies.

 

How will we know we are making progress?

  •  Indicator 1:  Percentage of Polk County adults (age 18 or older) who are physically inactive or not meeting federal guidelines for physical activity will decrease from 43% to 38%. (Source: UW Population Health Institute, County Health Rankings measured by BRFSS)
  • Indicator 2:  Percentage of Polk County students (9th-12th grade) will increase physical activity to at least 60 minutes/day on 5 or more of the last 7 days from 39.4% to 50%.   (Source: CESA 11 report measured by YRBS)
  • Indicator 3: Number of Polk County cities/villages that have adopted local Complete Street ordinances will increase from 0 to 3.  (Source: Polk County Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition - measured by local audit using 2010 CHANGE data) 

 Who are the key stakeholders?

What can Individuals & Families do?

  • Develop and/or promote physical activity challenges related to increased physical activity and  decreased TV and “other” screen time
  • Use local resources that increase opportunities to be active
  • Encourage families and individuals to take their TVs out of the bedroom
  • Participate in community coalitions or partnerships 

What can Organizations & Institutions do?

  • Implement physical activity in after-school/club programs
  • Develop physical activity programs that provide access to accurate information through physical activity experts:
  • presentations at worksites and schools
  • health fairs/screens at worksites and medical centers
  • Establish on-site physical activity classes at worksites
  • Track physical activity-related data and distribute among partners to better measure and evaluate progress of physical activity programs
  • Encourage worksites and schools to utilize existing community trails as part of their wellness programs
  • Encourage schools and licensed day cares to adopt policies that exceed national/state requirements regarding their physical education programs and promote lifetime physical activity
  • Include youth leadership opportunities within physical activity/ wellness programs
  • Participate in community coalitions or partnerships  

What can Community & Systems do?

  • Provide physical activity education/classes via community TV networks (i.e. Strong Women)
  • Educate the public on advocacy opportunities that impact physical activity
  • Conduct a community-wide campaign to raise physical activity awareness
  • Establish safe biking/walking routes within communities and enhance traffic safety in areas where people are or could be physically active
  • Ensure access to recreational opportunities in underserved areas
  • Participate in community coalitions or partnerships
  • Enact community zoning regulations that require all new subdivisions to include pedestrian/bicycle friendly facilities