Making the Case and Getting Underway: A Funder Toolkit to Support Healthy People in Healthy Places

This toolkit was created as part of the Health Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership (www.convergencepartnership.org) to help funders create multi-field environmental change strategies to enhance healthy eating and active living

The Practitioner\u27s Corner: An exploration of municipal active living charter development and advocacy

Background: Numerous municipal active living-­‐related charters have been adopted to promote physical activity in Canada throughout the past decade. Despite this trend, there are few published critical examinations of the process through which charters are developed and used. Purpose: Thus, the purpose of this study was to establish greater understanding of active living charter development and advocacy. Methods: Semi-­‐structured interviews were conducted with eight primary contributors to different active living-­‐related charters across Ontario, Canada. Interview questions explored participants’ experiences developing and advocating for an active living charter. Interviews were analyzed using open, axial, and selective coding. Results and Conclusions: Participants consistently described a process whereby an impetus triggered the development of a charter, which was subsequently adopted by regional or municipal council. Continued advocacy to develop awareness of the charter and to promote desired outcomes in the community was valued and the capacity of the working group as well as the local political context played pivotal roles in determining how the charter was implemented. Outcomes were, however, only objectively evaluated in one case that was described – evaluation being a process that many participants thought was omitted in regard to their own charter. This work provides practical guidance for health professionals developing regional active living charters as a component of broader advocacy efforts

Increasing Active Living: A Guide for Policy-Makers

Outlines how street layout, zoning, recreation facilities, and public building locations shape residents' physical activity. Suggests state and local policies on planning, land use, transportation, and space design to create activity-friendly communities

Project ViTAL ViTAL (Vitality Through Active Living) Fijian project

Physical inactivity, along with other lifestyle-related health risk factors such as an unhealthy diet, is becoming increasingly prevalent in developing countries which face rapid economic and social development, urbanization and industrialization. The importance of physical activity as a means of NCD prevention and control is recognized in developing countries, as well as the need for suitable programmes, policies and guidelines. However, the evidence on implementing physical activity interventions in a developing country context is sparse. It is evident from research findings that encouraging participation in health-enhancing physical activity is a public health issue of urgent concern. A healthy revitalised community is one that is concerned about the well-being of the community, protection of the environment and investing into future generations. Research stresses that physical activity interventions carried out in developing countries include strategies to: • raise awareness of the importance and benefits of physical activity among the community, • educate the whole population and/or specific community groups, • conduct local physical activity programmes and initiatives; • build capacity among individuals implementing local physical activity programmes through training of potential programme coordinators; and • create supportive environments that facilitate participation in physical activity

Summary Progress Report: Active Living by Design Grant Program

Evaluates the outcomes of RWJF's five-year initiative designed to enhance built environments and facilitate physical activity. Examines community partnerships' impact on fundraising, media coverage, programs, policy and planning, and physical projects

Planning for active living

Encouraging  physical  activity  is  considered  as  an  urgent  public  health  priority. The influences of built environments on physical activity have gained a  growing  interest  over  the  last  years.  Walking  in  particular  as  a  form  of  physical activity, has received an increased attention when it comes to health promotion  approaches,  but  also  due  to  its  benefits  for  the  environment,  economy, physical and mental health, and potential of integration into people’s  everyday  life.  Environments  that  encourage  walking  are  furthermore considered to possess many of the urban qualities that are integral to people’s healthy lifestyles and well‐being, as well as contributing to  sustainability.  This  thesis  is  an  exploration  into  how  active  living  can  be  promoted by creating more walkable environments. More specifically it investigates  conceptually  and  theoretically  how  outdoor  environments  can  influence walking activity and encourage physical activity in general at a population level. It gives insights into the different tools, methods and other knowledge  sources  available  that  are  useful  and  can  support  planners  and  designers in making outdoor built environments more walkable

Active Living Diversity Project

Identifies barriers to and opportunities for developing effective programs to increase physical activity and healthy eating. Describes successful programs in African American, Latino, and Native American communities

They're not doing bad for their age: ageing, leisure and active living.

The article focuses on the life of elderly people. The majority of older people are fit and well, live independently and are actively engaged in their community. However, the time has come to view ageing in a more constructive way and in so doing liberate people in their last 10, 20 or 30 years of life from the negative effects of the labels--ageing, aged and old. In addition to personal characteristics, the positive ageing experience is also influenced by the way older people themselves interact with and negotiate the many forces in relationships, stereotypes and prejudices, economic conditions, social and cultural expectations, living arrangements and job opportunities. The evidence suggests that these forces take on greater significance with age because related inequalities experienced in earlier life tend to be accentuated in the later years , particularly for women