Project FACT-Faith Groups; Addressing health issues through; Community outreach; Together in the community

Background: Physical inactivity and poor dietary choices are both major risk factors for obesity among youth and families. Project FACT (Faith Groups; Addressing health issues through; Community outreach; Together in the community) was a project developed in collaboration with community residents and church members to increase the number of faith groups working together with public agencies to address health problems. The purpose of Project FACT was to increase physical activity of youth and families through community-based educational and physical activity opportunities such as community gardening, walking programs, youth entrepreneurship, lay health ministry advisors training and other fitness related activities. Method: Implementation methods included educational and training sessions, surveys, and interviews. Several churches, agencies and community residents partnered to sponsor events that promoted healthy active neighborhoods. Results: Project FACT activities included renovation of the church playgrounds, construction of a walking trail including a sidewalk connecting the church to a community park that incorporated physical activity messages along the way, development of a walking program, and promotion of community gardens. Analyses of results focused on determining whether physical activity increased as a result of the FACT intervention. Conclusions: The walking trail and community garden became a destination in the neighborhood for physical activity, increasing connectivity and providing exercise opportunities for residents. The community helped build a foundation for healthy and sustainable habits, by providing an environment where local residents could engage in physical activity and increasing physical activity opportunities for students, youth and families of the participating churches and surrounding residents.