An environmental change agenda to promote healthy eating and active living

Over the next decade, chronic diseases will eclipse all other medical problems as the leading cause of poor health. Yet research has shown that most chronic diseases are preventable and environments where people live, work, learn and play are key opportunities for prevention. Environmental change strategies are an emerging set of approaches that focus on community determinants of health such as transportation and food retail patterns, to prevent the onset of medical conditions.

The framework, Promising Strategies for Creating Healthy Eating and Active Living Environments, compiled on behalf of the National Convergence Partnership (CP), shares a range of determinants oriented strategies to promote healthier choices through community level change. The CP is a national group of funders committed to multisector collaboration to foster and sustain healthy environments through policy and organizational practice change.

Developing a comprehensive environmental change agenda requires a new framework for how to improve health that goes beyond individual education and medical treatment. To build capacity for environmental change, this session will explore: 1) Diverse strategies for environmental change; 2) Non-traditional partners outside health and within different health fields that must be engaged and the strategies that can leverage such broad partnerships; and 3) Case studies of best practices from around the country. The session will emphasize the importance of environmental change in promoting health equity. By the end of the session, participants will be equipped with a range of determinants oriented strategies from Promising Strategies that can be adapted to fit their respective local needs.