Land use as a tool to improve nutrition in low-income communities

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Marice Ashe, JD, MPH, Land Use and Health Program, Public Health Law Program, Public Health Institute, 180 Grand Ave., Suite 750, Oakland, CA 94612, 510-302-3308, hkinsman@phi.org

The built environment has direct impacts on all aspects of public health, both infectious disease and chronic disease control. The goals and visions that land use planners and public health professionals hold for communities are often quite similar, though they may be described in different language. Public health departments can partner with local land use planning officials to design community infrastructures that support public health goals. To be most effective, public health advocates must learn the language and political processes that define land use planning practice. This workshop will decribe new programs & resources that give public health advocates entré to the building blocks of urban design and that initiate working partnerships between local health departments and land use planning agencies.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this session, the participant in this session will be able to

1. Articulate how land use planning decisions influence chronic disease by enhancing or limiting access to good nutrition and opportunities for physical activity.
2. Understand how land use decisions are made, as well as some of the theory and language of planning.
3. Recognize the importance of their expertise as public health professionals to the planning process.
4. Acquire resources that will allow them to learn more, identify like communities doing similar work, and find best practices.

Keywords: Low-Income, Food and Nutrition

Related Web page: www.healthyplanning.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Joint Environment & Nutrition Track: Implications of the Food, Agriculture and Economic Policy for Human Rights

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA