Oral

This symposium will showcase work of three leaders in the area of public health and the built environment. Arthur Nelson will describe how America will see more construction during the next generation than any other in the nation’s history. Combined with key demographic tends and changing preferences an opportunity exists for America to be rebuilt consistent with new urbanism principles. These principles are good both for human health and the health of our environment. James Sallis, will discuss addressing the most visible health problem in the industrialized world, obesity, and the lack of physical activity, which is the second leading cause of preventable death. The built environment has substantial impacts on the health of a community’s residents. Andy Dannenberg will describe a new tool, the health impact assessment that can be used to detail the health consequences of proposed major building and construction projects. These health assessments can also assist decision-makers mitigate adverse design aspects of a project in favor of a healthier design. These presentations represent a systems approach communities can undertake to create healthy communities for health aging and in the process create healthy communities for persons of all ages.

Session Objectives: Discuss 3-5 strengths and/or weaknesses in the way we domestically design, build, finance and maintain our neighborhoods and communities that does and/or does not promote physical activity in daily lives of baby boomers or older adults.