Environmental Nutrition and Activity Local Policy Database: A tool for addressing disparities in food and activity environments

Local policies, from zoning to joint use agreements, shape the food and activity environments that local residents encounter on a daily basis. Even with strong motivation, residents may find it difficult to eat nutritious foods if their neighborhood lacks a supermarket that carries fresh produce. Additionally, they may find it hard to avoid eating unhealthy foods if their neighborhood is teeming with fast-food restaurants and advertising that promotes unhealthy products. Likewise, unsafe conditions and poor infrastructure for walking and biking hamper intentions to get active. Disproportionate numbers of Latinos, African-Americans, and Native Americans live in poverty. Low-income communities are most likely to lack the institutions, infrastructure and services essential for healthy living. Further, rates of chronic illnesses like type II diabetes, hypertension and heart disease are disproportionately high among people of color.

This presentation will highlight Prevention Institute's ENACT Local Policy Database, an on-line searchable tool designed to support the work of health professionals, policymakers, and other advocates. This presentation will highlight the most promising policies that have emerged in communities across the nation to reverse environmental barriers to proper 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.

Policy examples such as land-use ordinances, complete streets, business incentives, finance measures can be used by communities to make healthy eating and activity a realistic option for all community residents, especially in neighborhoods experiencing severe health inequities.