1. Tools You Can Use: Reducing the Cost of Inactivity
Natalie Clifton, M.Ed., CHES
Physical Activity Coordinator
Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program
Texas Department of State Health Services

2. The Active Choice Should Be The
Tools To Make The Case
The Active Choice Should Be The
Easy Choice At Work!
Bikeability
Walkability
Cost of Inactivity
ROI
Cost of Obesity
Employee Tools

3. What is Primary Prevention?
What is Prevention?
A systematic process that promotes healthy behaviors and environments and reduces the likelihood or frequency of an incident, condition, or illness occurring.
What is Primary Prevention?
taking action before the onset of symptoms

5. The Spectrum of Prevention
Public Health Responsibility
Influencing Policy & Legislation
Changing Organizational Practices
Fostering Coalitions & Networks
Educating Providers
Promoting Community Education
Strengthening Individual Knowledge & Skills

6. Definitions
Policy – laws, regulations, formal and informal rules and understandings that are adopted on a collective basis to guide individual and collective behavior
Environmental change – something that alters or controls the legal, social, economic, and physical environment affecting health

7. Population versus Individual
Patient
Community
Individual
Intervention
Assessment
Policy Development
Environmental Change
Medicine
Surgical treatment
Health education
Process
System management
Patient management
Outcome
Healthy community
Healthy Patient
Healing
Advantage
Radical
Large potential for population
Appropriate for individual who already has a problem
Disadvantages
Only a small benefit to each individual
Cost of screening
Interventions are palliative and temporary

8. Influences on population health

10. What P&E Change is Not… Health fairs Education Events Brochures
Classes
Other

11. I was able to get in one last lecture about diet and exercise.

12. The Four P’s Programs: Projects can be quick starting,
low overhead, locally driven.
require money and impact individuals
Point of Decision Prompts:
reminders for health
can be easy to install
Are sometimes ignored
Projects
the built environment
strongly shapes behavior
cost money
Policies:
create permanent change
change the social norm
require careful consideration

13. Physical Activity: What Works?
Create or enhance access to places to be physically active:
Building walking trails
Providing public access to school gymnasiums, playgrounds, or community centers.
Interventions to improve access should also include outreach that increases awareness of the opportunity to be active.
Worksite activity programs that provide access to onsite or offsite fitness rooms, walking breaks, or other opportunities to engage in physical activity.

14. Alternative Transportation
"Alternative transportation" modes are telecommuting, carpools, vanpools, public transportation, bicycling, walking, and running.
These commute methods are relevant to employee health in two ways:
A reduction in the use of single-occupancy vehicles helps reduce environmental fuel emissions.
Employees who use "active transport" (public transportation, bicycling, and walking) to commute to work may increase their daily physical activity.

15. Economic benefits of Active Transportation :
Increased productivity and a reduction of sick days and injuries at the workplace
Reduction in road construction, repair and maintenance costs
Reduction in costs due to greenhouse gas emissions
Reduction in health care costs due to increased physical activity
and reduced respiratory and cardiac disease
Reduction in fuel, repair and maintenance costs to users
Reduction of costs due to increased road safety
Reduction in external costs of traffic congestion
Reduction in parking subsidies
Reduction of costs of air pollution
Reduction of costs of water pollution
Positive impact of bicycle tourism
Positive impact of bicycle sales and manufacturing
Increased property value along trails
Economic Values Fact Sheet:

16. The Benefit-Cost analysis of Bicycle Facilities

17. Commuting Expense Calculator
Calculates commuting costs

18. CycleFriendly Employer
Cycle-friendly Employer Case Studies
Employer Guide, Resources, Checklist

19. Active Living Research
Multi-use trails are associated with increases in walking and bicycling, especially in urban areas and among lower income populations.
Sidewalks and bicycle lanes promote physical activity.
Public transit use is linked with higher levels of
physical activity and lower rates of obesity.
Walking or biking to school can help kids be more
active overall.

20. A Walkable Community
Environment: Cars may be a leading cause of climate change. Your feet are zero-pollution transportation machines.
Health: The average resident of a walkable neighborhood weighs 6-10 pounds less than someone who lives in a sprawling neighborhood.
Communities: Studies show that for every 10 minutes a person spends in a daily car commute, time spent in community activities falls by 10%.

21. WalkScore.com What's your Walk Score? Get a Commute Report
Explore Your Neighborhood
90–100 Walker's Paradise — Daily errands do not require a car.
70–89 Very Walkable — Most errands can be accomplished on foot.
50–69 Somewhat Walkable — Some amenities within walking distance.
25–49 Car-Dependent — A few amenities within walking distance.
0–24 Car-Dependent — Almost all errands require a car.

22. Worksite Walkability Audit Tool

23. Quantifying the Cost of Physical Inactivity
Developed by East Carolina University’s Department of Health Education and Promotion
Provides an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business.

24. Return on Investment Calculator
Three ROI calculators that look at:
Changes in health care costs
Absenteeism
Presenteeism

25. Obesity Cost Calculator
Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
An application for the workplace

26. RealAge.com Sixty five Health Tests and Tools
Health Assessment and Personalized Plan

27. Activity Zone
Please list walking “destinations” within
0-2 miles of your residence or work place
Name Distance
􀂆 School __________________________________
􀂆 Grocery store _____________________________
􀂆 Convenience store __________________________
􀂆 Retail shops ______________________________
􀂆 Recreation facility __________________________
􀂆 Dining __________________________________
􀂆 Parks ___________________________________
􀂆 Library __________________________________
􀂆 Church __________________________________
􀂆 Other ___________________________________
Please list biking “destinations” within
0-4 miles of your residence or work place
Name Distance
􀂆 School____________________________
􀂆 Grocery store _______________________
􀂆 Convenience store ____________________
􀂆 Retail shops ________________________
􀂆 Recreation facility ____________________
􀂆 Dining ____________________________
􀂆 Parks _____________________________
􀂆 Library ___________________________
􀂆 Church ___________________________
􀂆 Other ____________________________
􀂆 Other ________________________ ____

28. Making the Case Benefits of Active Living to Employers: Next Steps:
Share reports and data with leadership.
Engage stakeholders & start the conversation.
Prioritize needs and wants.
A more productive workforce & cost savings
Lower major medical & disability costs
Reduced Absenteeism
More Engaged Workers

29. More Resources
Active Living Research:
National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health (NSPAPPH):
CDC Healthier Worksite Initiative:

30. Questions?
Thank you!

31. Natalie Clifton, M.Ed., CHES
Texas Department of State Health Services
Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity Prevention 
Tower Building 406 / Mail Code 1944
PO Box  
Austin, Texas 78714 P F