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The Bipartisan Policy Centers (BPC) Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative isa year-long effort to enhance physical activity and nutritional opportunities forall Americans. Led by a bipartisan group of four former U.S. cabinet secretaries,the initiative brings together key experts, policymakers, and stakeholders toidentify opportunities for collaborative action in four priority areas: investingin childrens health; creating healthy schools; improving the health ofcommunities; and developing healthy institutions.

The initiative identies best practices and highlights local success stories. Inaddition, it considers opportunities to expand the reach of some of the mostpromising programs, as well as the barriers to doing so. During 2011, theco-chairs have hosted a variety of events, integrating policy insights from keystakeholders and experts and bringing increased attention to key areas ofthe national conversation about nutrition and physical activity. At the sametime, they are working to develop and promote federal, state, tribal, local andinstitutional policies across the four priority areas that can attract bipartisansupport. Drawing on the information obtained throughout the year, theNutrition and Physical Activity Initiative will release its recommendations in anal policy report in spring 2012.

Health ProgramNutrition and Physical Activity Initiative

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PRIORITY ISSUES

Investing in Childrens HealthStudies conrm the importance of the early years of a childs life for healthyphysical, cognitive and neurological development. Early interventions,from encouraging mothers to breastfeed for the rst six months of theirchildrens lives, to making sure child care centers offer physical activityand fruits and vegetables with meals, can help young Americans becomehealthy and productive adults. BPC is examining and recommendinga range of federal, state, tribal, local and institutional policies that holdpromise for developing healthier children who are on track to becomehealthy adults.

Creating Healthy SchoolsResearch shows that good nutrition and regular physical activity canlead to improved academic performance. Yet many schools have cutboth physical and nutrition education. In other schools, innovativeprograms like school gardens and partnerships with local chefs, farmersand sports teams are changing school culture. BPC is examining currentpartnerships to identify best practices for schools to replicate.

Improving the Health of CommunitiesRecent data highlights the fact that where we live is the primedeterminant of Americans health. Nonprot organizations and privatecompanies, as well as federal, state, tribal, and local governments, areworking to make healthier communities by promoting healthy eating andphysical activity and ways to make the healthy choice the easy choice.BPC is examining ways to scale up successful pilot programs, increaseparticipation in public-private partnerships, and overcome physical andeconomic barriers to active and healthy communities.

Developing Healthy InstitutionsLarge institutions - universities, hospitals, corporations, nationalparks, and entertainment venues - inuence the health of millions ofAmericans. BPC is examining four opportunities for change at large

institutions: employee and family wellness plans; ways that large foodsuppliers procure and serve food; opportunities to improve nutritionand physical education in medical schools and other institutes of higherlearning; and how institutions can design their facilities to promotephysical activity.

1225 Eye Street NW, Suite 1000Washington, DC 20005(202) 204-2400

About Bipartisan Policy CenterFounded in 2007 by former Senate MajorityLeaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole andGeorge Mitchell, the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC)is a non-prot organization that drives principledsolutions through rigorous analysis, reasonednegotiation and respectful dialogue. With projectsin multiple issue areas, BPC combines politicallybalanced policymaking with strong, proactiveadvocacy and outreach.

Dan Glickman

BPC Senior Fellow and formerSecretary of Agriculture and U.S.Representative from Kansas

Mike Leavitt

Former Governor of Utahand Secretary of Health andHuman Services

Donna E. Shalala

President of the Universityof Miami and former Secretary

of Health and Human Services

Ann M. Veneman

Former Executive Directorof UNICEF and Secretaryof Agriculture

PROJECT LEADERSHIP

CO-CHAIRS

Health ProgramNutrition and Physical Activity Initiative