Active Living and Healthy Eating: The Local Government Role in Fighting Obesity

Active Living Integrates physical activity into daily routines Active Living Environment: o Supports safe, pedestrian- oriented transportation o Supports recreation facilities, parks and trails o Encourages healthy school sites, facilities, and policies

Obesity Epidemic Physical inactivity + poor diet = obesity 2nd leading cause of preventable death – “The New Tobacco” Increased risk of chronic diseases, including diabetes and heart disease $117 billion spent on direct and indirect costs of obesity (2000)

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1985 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1990 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1995 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2000 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% ≥20% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2005 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30% Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2008 (*BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs overweight for 5’ 4” person) Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

Obesity Trends in YOUR STATEYOUR STATE National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Source: Diabetes: An American Epidemic Nearly 8% of U.S. population has diabetes Direct and indirect costs amount to $174 billion per year (2007) If current trends continue, 1 in 3 Americans will become diabetic

Youth Obesity Youth obesity rates growing faster than that of adults In 30 states, at least 30% of children are overweight or obese Overweight and obese children at increased risk of becoming overweight and obese adults –Impacts on self-esteem, long- term health-care costs, and shorter-life expectancy

Percent of 10- to 17-year-olds who are overweight or obese Source: KIDS COUNT analysis of the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health.

The Built Environment and Health Built environment influences physical activity levels and access to healthy foods Local government policy shapes built environment Build on existing efforts Photo courtesy of Dan Burden, Walkable Communities

Photo courtesy of Howard Frumkin

Images from Google Maps, scale: 100ft. Types of Development Patterns Single-use subdivisions are designed for cars, with little pedestrian infrastructure. It can be difficult for pedestrians to walk even short distances. Grid-patterns provide more options for pedestrian movement and mixed-use developments.

Compact, walkable development centered around transit stations Mix of uses (housing, shopping, employment, recreational facilities) Puts priority on serving transit and pedestrians Transit-Oriented Development Photo courtesy of Dan Burden

Retrofit existing roads to accommodate pedestrians. Plan, design and construct all new roads to accommodate pedestrians. Maintain streets and highways to ensure pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Provide access for the disabled wherever pedestrians are permitted. Transportation Photo Courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Parks and trails offer opportunities for more recreation and physical activity Parks and green space have a number of public health benefits Local governments play a role in supporting parks systems Parks & Trails Photo Courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

People in activity-friendly environments are more likely to be physically active Improving places to be active can result in a 25 percent increase in the percentage of people who exercise Residents living in mixed-use or walkable communities have a lower risk of obesity Does a walkable neighborhood make a real difference? Photo Courtesy of Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Schools – Getting There Children don’t walk or bicycle to school anymore o 1969: 48% walked or biked o 2001: 16% walked or biked 21% of morning rush hour traffic is school-related School transportation costs have doubled in last 25 years Federal Safe Routes to School program has funds to make it safer for children to walk and bike to school Photos courtesy of Dan Burden

Siting Schools Siting of schools influences whether or not students can walk or bike Safe Routes to School cannot work if schools are not located in the neighborhoods they serve “Some students live 45 minutes from school; by the time they get home, it is too dark and cold to play outside.” - New York Times, January 8, 2007 Timber Ridge School, in Albany, Oregon, was sited so that students would be able to walk and bike to school. Photos courtesy of the Greater Albany Public School District

Ensure that drivers are careful and responsible. Restrict motor vehicle speeds in neighborhood, school, and shopping areas. Plan and design neighborhoods to reduce threat of crime (e.g. good lighting.) Safety & Crime Prevention

Casper, Wyoming City identifies schools as key to smart growth, efforts to improve quality of life. City officials work with school administrators to locate new and rehabbed schools within community core School district invites city officials to sit on site selection panel Goal is to increase ability for students to walk or bicycle to school

The Built Environment and Food Access Access to healthy food a major factor in the obesity epidemic Local governments play a role in determining location and mix of food retailers Food choices for children are problematic, with junk food, sodas available in schools

Healthy eating has many benefits For many people, healthy food is out of reach

Barriers to Healthy Food Many barriers to accessing healthy food: o Food Deserts – Areas lacking places to buy fresh and healthy food o Transportation – It can be difficult to get to grocery stores o Budget – Healthy food can be expensive Photo Courtesy of Emily Salomon

Local Government Strategies to Increase Access to Healthy Foods Farmers Markets Community Gardens Supermarket Development Food Policy Councils After-School Programs Photo Courtesy of Nadejda Mishkovsky Photo Courtesy of Emily Salomon

Public/Private Partnership in Lynchburg, Virginia City departments collaborate with nonprofit urban farm, Lynchburg Grows Parks and Recreation o Operates youth programs o Manages downtown farmers market o Developed joint business plan Public Works Administration o Redirects water from holding pond o Collects and donates leaves and mulch Photos courtesy of Lynchburg Grows

Public Health and Planning Local governments integrate public health and planning: o Place-based approaches o Coordinating land use and transportation plans o Green/Open space planning o Climate change planning o Health impact assessments Photo courtesy of NACCHO

Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) HIAs can be used to determine the possible health impacts of a policy, program, or plan Similar to Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) HIAs can be used to bring health considerations to land use and transportation plans Photo courtesy of the City of Decatur

Conclusion The built environment can help or hinder active living and access to nutritious foods Local governments influence the built environment through land use, zoning, and other policies Addressing built environment requires integrated, cross- departmental and community-wide solutions Photos courtesy of pedbikeimages.org/ Paul Halicki/Dan Burden/Dan Burden