Active Living Plan for a Healthier San Antonio Katherine Velasquez & John Osten

Brief History on Modern-Day Urban Planning and Public Health

Brief History on Modern-Day Urban Planning and Public Health

"Active living" is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines, such as… What is Active Living? walking to the grocery store riding a bicycle to work and/or exercising

Physical activity is ESSENTIAL for good health!

Asthma Physical inactivity has an astonishing array of harmful health effects. – The association between disease and inactive lifestyle persists in every subgroup of the population. Cancer Chronic Pain Diabetes Premature Death Obesity Exercise and Health

Exercise is a powerful tool to treat and prevent chronic disease and obesity, as well as premature death. – As physical activity increases, health benefits increase, too. More Energy! Better Health! Stronger! Sleep better! Feel Better! Exercise and Health

People who are physically active and fit live longer and healthier lives. The inactivity epidemic is more concerning than the obesity epidemic. It is better to be “fat and fit” than “thin and unfit.” Irrefutable Evidence

Source: Sallis, Robert (2013) “Exercise Is Medicine: Merging Fitness with Healthcare” Death Rates by Fitness & BMI Categories

Adult 150 minutes per week of moderate physical activity, OR 75 minutes per week of vigorous physical activity, OR An equivalent combination Plus muscle-strengthening activities on 2 or more days per week Children & adolescents 60 minutes or more of physical activity each day. – Aerobic activity – Muscle-strengthening, 3 days – Bone-strengthening, 3 days About ¼ of adults meet these guidelines, and about ¼ of adults do not get any activity at all. 30% of adolescents meet these guidelines, while 15% do not get any activity. National Guidelines for Physical Activity

Standardized Share of Mode for Trips to School: National Personal Transportation Survey Car Bus Walk/bike Public Transit McDonald NC. Am J Prev Med 2007;32:509 Transportation Choices

We tell people they should be more active, and then we send them out into communities that do not support active lifestyles.

Individuals must take responsibility for making lifestyle choices to improve their health. Healthy people require healthy environments. Our community must commit to creating an environment that helps residents make healthy choices. THE HEALTHY CHOICE SHOULD BE THE EASY CHOICE.

Supported with Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant funds, SAMH department initiated the launch of the Active Living Council of San Antonio (ALC) in 2009 Multi-sector, volunteer-driven community coalition was directed to develop a 3-5-year plan to promote active living 18-month collaborative process to develop the plan How the ALC Formed

Active Living Council Business & Industry Education, After School & Early Childhood Healthcare Mass Media Parks, Recreation Fitness & Sports Public Health Trans- portation, Land Use & Community Design Volunteer & Non- Profit Every sector has a role to play.

Shares the vision of the National Physical Activity Plan: “One day, all Americans will be physically active and they will live, work, and play in environments that facilitate regular physical activity.”

Provides a set of policies and strategies that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the San Antonio Area population. The plan aims to create a local culture that supports physically active lifestyles. Its ultimate purpose is to improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life. Purpose

The plan recognizes that individuals are impacted not just by their own personal attributes and behavior, but also by political, cultural and environmental influences. Our success is dependent upon engaging leadership and working collaboratively to implement the plan. Guiding Principles

Create ALC Learn about active living Write a plan Get the word out What’s Next for ALC?

Overall purpose of planning & zoning? HEALTH SAFETY WELFARE Health & Planning

How Does Built Environment Impact Our Health? MORE automobile- oriented, low density, single use development pattern w/ low connectivity & auto culture LESS likely to have a physically active lifestyle

Hard To Live Without An Automobile!

Hard To Live With An Automobile!

The way we live, work, and play is dependent largely on our built environment. Environmental and policy decisions regarding transportation, land use, and community design can change the physical activity behaviors of residents on a large scale. Planning at the regional, county, and local levels must plan for people, rather than for cars and parking lots. Traditional, conventional urban design in our community supports sedentary behaviors. A healthy community is one that includes multi-modal transportation choices and promotes equitable, affordable housing and mixed use opportunities. San Antonio’s environment must shift to design that supports active living of all residents, promoting stair climbing, walking, bicycling, skateboarding, using mass transit, and active recreation. The ALC envisions healthier streets, urban spaces, and buildings for a livable and active future. Transportation, Land Use, and Community Design

Strategy #1 Through regional and local community design, prioritize resources and provide incentives to increase active transportation and other physical activity by designing for “people first,” that is to encourage walking and bicycling, through all regional and local community design, infrastructure projects, systems, policies, and initiatives. Strategy #2 Use a comprehensive, strategic, and collaborative approach to increase connectivity and accessibility to essential community destinations, to increase active transportation and physical activity by utilizing the concepts of infill development, transit orientated development, and complete streets, and to revitalize the region’s livable and sustainable communities. Transportation, Land Use, and Community Design

Local government officials and community leaders can enact policies that support healthy community design; i.e. local zoning ordinances & economic incentives affect the built environment: By Creating Genuine Urban Fabric – Parks and open spaces for recreation – Walk/Bike facilities – Mixed use developments – Healthy food retailers & farmers markets Conclusion

What have we become?

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Adaptation of CDC Framework* for Preventing Obesity Energy Intake Energy Expenditure Energy Balance Prevention of Overweight and Obesity Among Children, Adolescents, and Adults Individual Factors Behavioral Settings Social Norms and Values  Home and Family  School  Community  Work Site  Healthcare  Churches  Genetics  Psychosocial Factors  Other Personal Factors  Food and Beverage Industry  Agriculture  Education  Media  Government  Public Health Systems  Healthcare Industry  Business and Workers  Land Use and Transportation  Leisure and Recreation  Faith-based Organizations Food and Beverage Intake Physical Activity Sectors of Influence CDC Draft – last revised, March 24, 2005 *adapted from IOM 2005 Social Structure, Policy, and Systems For example:  Complete Streets  Form-based Development  Joint-Use Agreements

Community Design & the Built Environment Environmental factors beyond the control of individuals contribute to increased obesity and poor health by reducing the likelihood of healthy eating and active living behaviors. Environmental factors that influence physical activity behavior: –Lack of infrastructure supporting active modes of transportation, i.e. sidewalks & bike facilities –Access to safe places to play and be active –Access to public transit –Mixed use & Transit Oriented Developments

Centers for Disease Control Strategies to Create Safe Communities that Support Physical Activity 1.Improve access to outdoor recreational facilities 2.Enhance infrastructure supporting bicycling 3.Enhance infrastructure supporting walking 4.Support locating schools in residential neighborhoods 5.Improve access to transportation 6.Zone for mixed-use development 7.Enhance personal safety where people are or could be physically active 8.Enhance traffic safety in areas where persons are or could be physically active