The launch of the National Physical Activity Plan is set for May 3, 2010.  This date will represent the culmination of a two year long effort to produce the first U.S. National PA Plan.  The goal is to kick off a long-term social movement to have more Americans meet federal PA Guidelines.  We’re highly encouraged by the attention the Plan and its launch are garnering from top public health officials as well as grassroots organizations at local levels.  However, before the some critical steps must be taken, each offering opportunities for individual and organizational involvement. 

Draft 1 of the Plan was disseminated for comment in January.  Did you see it?  If not, please contact us so that you can review and comment on subsequent drafts.  Working Groups representing each of the 8 societal sectors targeted in the Plan are now reviewing those comments in preparation for Draft 2, which will be disseminated for comment in mid March. 

It is important that this second draft be as widely disseminated as possible.  We will engage all those who have been involved in the process to date, as well as those who sign on now in reviewing  Draft 2.   Once the Draft 2 comments are reviewed and integrated, the final version of the plan will be prepared for the May 3rd launch.

The U.S. National Physical Activity Plan will be a web-based document.  This format will allow for ease of use, significant reach, and regular updating as progress is made.  A simple click of the mouse will enable a business owner, school principal, urban planner, or elected official to advance any one recommendation action or series of recommended actions.

How would you like to be involved with the National Physical Activity Plan?  How can the plan best be implemented?

A new year…a new me! I can’t even imagine how many Americans have that thought running through their heads when January 1 roles around and it is time to ponder one’s goals for the new year (I am stopping short of calling the thought a resolution)…in fact, the media reported just this week that the 3rd most popular New year’s Resolution (oops..there it is-THAT word!) is to “get fit”.

The landmark Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans have provided a great goal for people to reach for…and the Nation’s first National Physical Activity Plan is a roadmap to help them get there. Dr. Russ Pate’s 11/17/09 blog post provides an excellent introduction to the Plan. The ultimate success of the plan will produce a marked and progressive increase in the percentage of Americans who meet the guidelines throughout life.

The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA) is spearheading the implementation of the Plan. The sector approach adopted by the plan will allow us to address a variety of themes such as environmental design (office buildings, communities, worksites, and schools) and integration of physical activity fully into our lives-whether it be while working, learning or playing (think physical activity/education in schools; parks and recreation programs and facilities; worksite physical activity programs, and shared use of schools, corporate campuses, etc.). Successful implementation will also involve systematically working towards environment and policy changes in a variety of sectors, at the local, state and national levels that will integrate physical activity into a variety of areas. Of course, public health and education immediately come to mind but it will be important to also focus on unorthodox areas (in terms of physical activity) of government policy such as transportation, economic recovery, climate change, and community development. Policy changes are not however, limited to government-they can reach into corporate culture as well as how physical activity is treated as part of health care and health insurance.

Implementation of something this large would needless to say be a monumental task for one organization; however by many organizations working together it becomes not only manageable but realistic and tangible as well. NCPPA is looking for key organizations that are willing to commit to providing the leadership of the various strategies and objectives contained within the plan. In many cases, there may be a strategy that your organization has already deemed a priority and in other cases, it may be something new but of interest to your organization. The Plan’s ultimate success lies in the partnership of organizations that is being created to “get down and dirty”…to actually take the Plan and put it into action. 

Plans are well underway for a National Plan initial launch in early May, however the groundwork is beginning now. Is your organization willing to commit to leadership on one or more strategies? If that is not possible, is your organization willing to co-lead or work on a strategy? Would your city, county, etc. like to be involved in a local launch? If you would like more information on getting involved in implementation of the National Plan, please contact us.

“Name that Cause!”  What are your ideas for the name brand or tag line for a shared cause to improve physical activity choices in homes, schools, worksites, and communities?  What would attract organizations and individuals to join a shared cause to improve physical activity choices in homes, schools, worksites, and communities? 

As important as the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans are, we know that simply telling people what they should do will not necessarily enable them to act.  So, in 2007 I was excited when colleagues at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encouraged me to coordinate the process of developing a National Physical Activity Plan for the U.S.  To best enable increases in population levels of physical activity, we must create environments that are conducive to being active.  The National Physical Activity Plan will do just that.  A primary goal of the Plan is to encourage policy makers to affect activity-supportive change at local, state and federal levels. Proper execution of the Plan will bring about the changes necessary to allow more Americans to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines.  

Where did the impetus for the National Physical Activity Plan start?  Over the past 15 years physical activity has assumed an increasingly high profile in the public health community…in the U.S. and worldwide.  Key landmarks have included production of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health in 1996 and release of the first Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans in 2008.  I was privileged to serve on the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, and so I believe I understand well the strengths and limitations of the Guidelines.  Strengths include a very solid grounding in the pertinent scientific evidence and comprehensive recommendations for all segments of the American society.  But, by design, the Guidelines do not address the changes that we need to make in our society to enable many more people to meet the Guidelines. 

What changes will you make in your setting to increase the physical activity levels of your family members, friends and neighbors?   How might you or your organization become involved in The Plan?  If you’re not involved already and want to become so, please contact us.