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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing
3401.0: Monday, November 05, 2007 - 4:45 PM

Abstract #153055

Environmental Nutrition and Activity Local Policy Database: A tool for health advocates to address disparities in unhealthy eating and activity environments

Leslie Mikkelsen, MPH, RD, Manal Aboelata, MS, Linda M. Shak, MSW, and Carol Chao, BA. Prevention Institute, 221 Oak Street, Oakland, CA 94607, 510-444-7738, Linda@preventioninstitute.org

The 2000 Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Promoting Health: Intervention Strategies from Social and Behavioral Research, states that "It is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior easily when so many forces in the social, cultural and physical environment conspire against such change.” Local-level policy can play an important in shaping food and activity environments in which people live, work and play. Public health professionals have an important role to play as advocates for local-level policies that reduce barriers to healthy behaviors, such as proper nutrition and physical activity.

This presentation will highlight Prevention Institute's Environmental Nutrition and Activity Local Policy Database as an on-line tool designed to support advocates in influencing local policies and regulations. Joint use agreements, land-use ordinances, business incentives, and finance measures are all policy strategies that can improve opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity. This presentation will highlight the most promising policies that have emerged in communities across the nation to reverse environmental barriers to nutrition and activity. The presentation will demonstrate the breadth of nutrition and activity policy options and how advocates can use the database to identify policies to implement in their own communities.

Learning Objectives:

Keywords: Policy/Policy Development, Chronic Diseases

Related Web page: www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/policies/index.php

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No
Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Reducing Disparities: Focus on Obesity

The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA