Oral

The built environment refers to physical or human-made aspects of the environment such as buildings, streets, sidewalks, bicycle trails, parks, and features such as signs and streetlights that promote and facilitate physical activity. The Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program is driving cutting edge, community-wide environmental and policy change efforts in cities and states across the country, for the purpose of obesity prevention through healthy eating and physical activity. This panel will showcase CPPW-funded communities who are implementing innovative approaches to change policies and the built environment, such as increasing connectivity (streets, sidewalks, and trails), improving pedestrian infrastructure, improving safety, and increasing the availability and access to no-cost spaces and programs for physical activity for underserved populations. Presenters will describe their interventions to modify the built environment to promote physical activity, and findings from initial scientific assessments. Presenters will also discuss the lessons learned, barriers and challenges encountered, and opportunities and successes associated with these interventions.

Session Objectives: Describe policy and environmental strategies at the community level to increase the availability and access to no-cost places for physical activity in health disparity areas. Describe the process, barriers, and lessons learned in passing and implementing a Complete Streets policy in a major city, for the purpose of increasing physical activity at the community level. Describe how to conduct an analysis of community comprehensive master plans and transportation plans for healthy eating and active living content. Describe how communities can implement alternative transportation modalities, such as trails, to improve physical activity in rural areas.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)