Promoting Physical Activity

by U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service

• ISBN13: 9780736001526
• ISBN10: 0736001522
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-06-01
• Publisher: Human Kinetics

Summary

We now know that moderate amounts of physical activity are essential for good health, and yet only 40% of our population are regularly physically active. What can you do as a professional to help people become physically active, not only for tomorrow, but for a lifetime?It's no easy task to get people out of their cars and onto their bikes; out of the elevators and onto the stairs; out of their offices and onto the walking paths. Changing people's behavior is never easy. But Promoting Physical Activity, the CDC's new guide for community action, will help you do so. It is a practical reference, logically organized, and loaded with useful information.The guide begins by clearly explaining the benefits of physical activity and how to achieve a moderately active lifestyle. Next you'll learn step-by-step strategies for increasing the probability of individuals becoming physically active. You'll also find numerous ideas for specific actions you can take to promote physical activity in your community, worksite, and school. The book's Resources for Action section contains website addresses and contact information for dozens of relevant agencies, organizations, and programs across the country, as well as other resources that will help you offer successful physical activity promotional programs.Promoting Physical Activityequips you to reach out to the physically inactive people in your community and get them excited about physical activity. Drawing on the latest theories for changing behavior, this innovative resource shows you how to find out what matters most to the people you want to help. By learning to focus on their perceptions and by understanding the barriers that keep them from being active, you'll be able to create physical activity programs that your specific audience wants, needs, and is ready for. Then they'll be motivated to make active choices in their daily lives.Whether you've just become interested in promoting physical activity or are an experienced professional looking for ways to improve existing programs, this user-friendly guide has something for you:-Creative, fresh ideas for promoting physical activity in your community, workplace, school, or health care facility-Practical examples of situations similar to those you may face, drawn from a variety of settings-Advice on forming successful partnerships with other community organizations-Helpful hints on how to create a positive environment where physical activity is accessible, safe, affordable, and fun-Extensive information on sources you can turn to for additional helpPromoting Physical Activityis a treasure chest of useful information for all professionals concerned with improving our public's health. Whether you're a full-time health promotion professional, an administrator or practitioner who provides intervention programs, an educator who teaches about active living, or a health care professional, you'll find this terrific new resource indispensable.

Table of Contents

A National Call to Action	vii
Preface	ix
Acknowledgments	xiii
Introduction	xvii
Part I Foundations for Physical Activity Promotion
Understanding the Power of Physical Activity	3	(12)
Leaving Behind America's Physical Activity Myths	4	(2)
Understanding the Specific Health Benefits of Being Regularly Active	6	(2)
Battling the Real American Pastime: Inactivity	8	(4)
Suggested Reading	12	(3)
Achieving a Moderately Active Lifestyle	15	(26)
The Definition of ``Regular, Moderate'' Activity	16	(3)
How to Determine Physical Activity Intensity	19	(13)
Safety Considerations for a Physically Active Lifestyle	32	(4)
Suggested Reading	36	(5)
Part II Strategies for Changing Physical Activity Behavior
Targeting Your Efforts	41	(26)
Keeping Your Eyes on the Goal	43	(1)
Defining Your Target Population	43	(4)
Narrowing Your Focus	47	(11)
Segmenting Populations by Stage of Change	58	(5)
Segmenting Populations by Life Stage	63	(1)
Taking the ``Screen Test''	64	(1)
Tailoring Your Intervention to Suit Your Audience	65	(1)
Suggested Reading	65	(2)
Understanding the Basics of Behavior Change	67	(18)
Overcoming Barriers to Behavior Change	69	(4)
Balancing Individual and Environmental Approaches	73	(5)
Identifying the Essential Components of a Behavior Change Strategy	78	(2)
Piecing Together an Intervention Puzzle	80	(2)
Suggested Reading	82	(3)
Strengthening Individual Intention to Change	85	(32)
Promoting Increased Awareness and Knowledge of Physical Activity	87	(7)
Enhancing Motivation to Change	94	(5)
Teaching the Skills Needed to Establish and Maintain the Behavior	99	(7)
Enhancing Readiness to Change	106	(8)
Suggested Reading	114	(3)
Creating a Supportive Environment	117	(28)
Fostering Supportive Social Networks	118	(4)
Establishing a Supportive Physical Environment	122	(8)
Establishing and Enforcing Supportive Policies	130	(3)
Planning for Special Populations	133	(3)
Key Environmental Resources	136	(4)
Suggested Reading	140	(5)
Part III Strategies for Planning and Implementing Your Intervention
Setting Objectives and Measuring Success	145	(18)
Defining Your Expectations	147	(5)
Deciding What Aspects of Your Program to Evaluate	152	(3)
Selecting Your Evaluation Measures	155	(3)
Collecting and Analyzing Program Data	158	(3)
Reporting Your Results	161	(1)
Suggested Reading	162	(1)
Working With Partners	163	(18)
Understanding How Partnerships Work	164	(3)
Finding a Partner That Complements Your Organization	167	(6)
Maintaining a Successful Partnership	173	(4)
Suggested Reading	177	(4)
Promoting Physical Activity in the Worksite	181	(18)
Understanding Worksite Health Promotion Trends	182	(1)
Establishing an Employee Health Promotion Committee	182	(2)
Overcoming Barriers to Worksite Promotion	184	(4)
Changing the Workplace Environment	188	(5)
Key Resources for Worksite Promotion	193	(3)
Suggested Reading	196	(3)
Promoting Physical Activity in the Schools	199	(160)
How Inactive Are American Youth?	202	(2)
Physical Activity Recommendations and Objectives for Young People	204	(6)
Ideas for Action in the Schools	210	(7)
Key Resources for School-Based Promotion	217	(8)
Suggested Reading	225	(6)
Part IV Resources for Action
Resource A Organizations and Selected Materials for Promoting Physical Activity	231	(26)
Resource B Excerpts from Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General	257	(34)
Resource C Sample Target Audience Profile: The CDC's Target Audience for the ``Ready. Set. It's Everywhere You Go'' Physical Activity Campaign	291	(6)
Resource D Healthy Eating and Physical Activity: Highlights from CDC's Focus Group Research With Adult Contemplators and Preparers, 1995	297	(8)
Resource E Selected Organizations and Agencies Concerned With Persons With Disabilities	305	(2)
Resource F Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA)	307	(2)
Resource G National Days or Months: Opportunities for Physical Activity Promotion	309	(8)
Resource H Healthy Communities 2000: Model Standards	317	(8)
Resource I Excerpts from CDC's ``Ready. Set. It's Everywhere You Go'' Campaign Handbook	325	(30)
Resource J Sample State Promotion Activities	355	(4)
Glossary of Physical Activity Terms	359	(4)
Glossary of Program Planning Terms	363	(4)
References	367	(13)
Index	380