Environmental Change is Critical to Promoting Healthy Eating and Active
Living
HEALTHHEALTH
ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT
Toxins in the Environment Affect Health
HEALTHHEALTH
BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR
ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT
Environments Shape Behavior by Shaping Norms that Impact Health
The prevalence of fast food in this urban The prevalence of fast food in this urban environment reinforces unhealthy eatingenvironment reinforces unhealthy eating normsnorms..
The media environment is an often missed but
powerful determinant of norms and behavior.
Roads that are only built for cars do not support active behaviors and may lead to
unintentional injuries.
Low-income
communities and
communities of color
are not afflicted with
different medical
conditions but rather,
experience the same
injuries and illnesses,
only more so.
Importance of Health Equity
ENVIRONMEENVIRONMENTNT
A Key A Key Opportunity Opportunity
for for PreventionPrevention
Changing Environments to Encourage Health-Promoting Behaviors is a Key
Opportunity for Prevention
Access to fresh fruits and vegetables
Safe and accessible open spaces
Smoking prevention
Child restraint and safety belt use
Motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws
Lead poisoning prevention
The California state tobacco prevention program saved $3.62 in direct medical costs for every $1 invested over 8 years.
An analysis of employer supported breastfeeding programs in the US has shown a savings of $3 for every $1 invested in reduced absenteeism and health care costs for mothers and babies.
A cost benefit analysis of bike/pedestrian trails in Nebraska concluded that for every $1 investment in trails there was a $2.94 savings in medical costs due to increased physical activity levels of trail users.
Quality Prevention Makes Economic Sense
Communities around the country have engaged in policy and
organizational practice change to reduce health disparities and
promote healthy eating and active living
Increasing Access to Healthy Food
Upper Falls Community: Rochester, New York
Reducing Violence and Crime through Liquor Store Closures
South Los Angeles, California
Importance of Multi-Sectoral Partnerships
Pedestrian/Pedestrian/
BikeBike
OrganizationsOrganizations
Elected
Elected
Officials
Officials
Public Public
HealthHealth
PlannersPlanners
Sustainable Sustainable
Food SystemsFood Systems
Health Care Health Care ProvidersProviders
Businesses
Businesses
Youth Youth DevelopmentDevelopment
Environmental
EnvironmentalGroupsGroups
Building a movement around healthy eating and active living requires engaging in multidisciplinary collaborations to change
environments and norms.
Keys to Success
Implement environmental change approaches to improve health
Focus on health equity
Engage in cross-sectoral collaboration
Have a comprehensive and strategic agenda
Resources
Available at www.convergencepartnership.com