We take the side of organizations and people working to help end childhood obesity. We asked Sarah Strunk, Director of Active Living by Design, five questions about creating healthy behavior change and her ideas for ending this epidemic in a generation. Here is what she said:
1) Tell us about the work of Active Living By Design. What do you view as your most significant accomplishments to date?
Our mission is simple: to create community-led change by working with local and national partners to build a culture of active living and healthy eating. We started as a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in early 2002, and our focus was on supporting 25 community partnerships across the United States in their efforts to increase routine physical activity. To date, we’ve worked with more than 150 community partnerships throughout the nation in collaboration with a number of local and national funders.
I think one of our most significant accomplishments is our contribution to the healthy communities movement. We’ve helped launch a cadre of exceptional local leaders, and have given them national exposure by demonstrating that changes in policies, systems and environments can improve people’s health. In the last few years, there’s been a slow but steady shift. People have always recognized that individual responsibility is important. However, we now understand that unless our communities support healthy behaviors, it can be difficult for individuals to make healthy choices. Just imagine trying to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if your only source of food is a small convenience store that only sells chips and soda. Or trying to be active if your neighborhood has gangs, no sidewalks, busy traffic and no place to play.
2) There are numerous campaigns today to encourage children to make healthy life choices. But childhood obesity rates continue to climb. What do you think could make these campaigns effective?
I believe that campaigns need to be about more than just education or raising awareness. For instance, if a community, organization, family or individual wants to have an effective campaign, then awareness of healthy choices must be aligned with shifts in cultural norms, supportive programs and, most importantly, changes in policies and the built environment that make the healthy choice the easy choice. And for us, easy means accessible, affordable, appealing and fun.
3) Will educating Americans about being physically active be enough to spur a revolution of health conscious communities? What do you think can motivate people to be healthy?
No. We have provided health education about what to eat and the importance of exercise for over 30 years, yet rates of obesity and other chronic diseases continue to increase. I think motivation will occur when opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity are embedded in our daily routines – for example, when grocery stores, farmers markets, community gardens, sidewalks, parks, schools and community centers are in close proximity to where people live, work and play.
Our society’s current definition of progress is more about convenience – like saving time and money, providing food all the time and offering entertainment on every device – than health and well being. Behavior will change when our social norms begin to change. That starts with people recognizing that they can make a difference in small but important ways: cooking and eating at home as a family, taking a walk or bike ride after dinner instead of watching TV, advocating for healthier options and daily recess or PE in schools, and being aware of the obstacles in communities that may make it difficult to eat healthily or be active.
4) What can the average person do to be healthy if they don’t have opportunities to be physically active?
It’s hard to generalize about an average person or why they don’t have opportunities for physical activity. That said, we recognize there are many barriers to physical activity: concerns about crime and safety, busy schedules and time constraints, very hot or very cold weather, cost and lack of facilities such as parks, sidewalks, bike lanes and recreation centers… these are just a few. It takes individual initiative, peer support and healthy communities to make physical activity part of one’s daily routine. People can explore opportunities that might be available through community centers, YMCAs, worksites, school facilities and church programs. If none of these things exist, people can look for opportunities to be active during their daily routines. For instance, park a little farther from the store. Take the stairs rather than an elevator. Walk a dog. Finally, find like-minded people and work with elected officials to advocate for changes that would make the community more conducive to physical activity.
5) If you could create one solution to change the current trend of childhood obesity, what would it be and why?
I’d like to see health be a primary consideration when we’re making decisions that affect children and their families. A few examples include being more mindful of where we locate schools and what children eat and do once they get there; offering economic incentives that promote the creation of community gardens, parks and open space; and addressing what and how companies are allowed to market to kids. Once our societal priorities include health, our families, communities and culture will become more vibrant. Health and quality of life can’t help but improve.
To learn more about the work of Active Living By Design, visit www.activelivingbydesign.org.
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Sarah Strunk
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