Physical Activity Resources for Health Professionals

Despite the clear health benefits of regular physical activity, over half of US adults do not engage in physical activity at levels consistent with public health recommendations.1 In the Healthy People 2010 national health objectives,2 physical activity is listed as a leading health indicator. Goals have been developed to improve levels of physical activity among adults, adolescents, and children.
Affecting physical activity behaviors requires understanding and approaching it not only from the individual level but also from a broader social ecological perspective. That is, understanding the individual’s relationship to his or her family, community, culture, and life stage. Understanding the determinants of physical activity becomes the cornerstone in setting policies, recommendations, and guidelines that better enable individuals and communities to engage in physical activity as part of a healthier lifestyle and helps to guide the development, implementation, and evaluation of interventions.
The Physical Activity Resources for Health Professionals section offers information and tools for personnel in state and local health departments, education agencies, universities, community coalitions, organizations that fund public health programs, health care systems, and others who have an interest in or responsibility for increasing physical activity. It provides key reference documents, data and surveillance resources, information to assist you with program planning and evaluation, and ideas for physical activity promotion.
1Prevalence of Physical Activity, Including Lifestyle Activities Among Adults — United States, 2000–2001, MMWR August 15, 2003, 52(32):764–769.
2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy People 2010. 2nd ed. With Understanding and Improving Health and Objectives for Improving Health. 2 vols. Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, November 2000./.../