How can communities offer physical activity programs to\u00a0best benefit the public\u2019s health?<\/p>\n
Dr. Greg Heath, professor and head of health and human\u00a0performance, has examined interventions representing\u00a0several strategies, including: community-wide campaigns,\u00a0individually adapted health behavior change, community\u00a0social-support, and the creation of enhanced access to\u00a0physical activity information and opportunities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe tend to be more inactive and less active than Western\u00a0Europe and the rest of the world, except Eastern Europe\u00a0(former Soviet satellite countries). Less of our youth\u00a0and adult population are meeting recommended levels\u00a0of physical activity compared with Western Europe,\u00a0Scandinavia, and other countries,\u201d said Heath. \u201cWe tend\u00a0to have higher levels of overweight and obesity compared\u00a0with other economically developed nations. Our overall\u00a0health ranking is 28th. We\u2019re the fattest and least active\u00a0nation on earth.\u201d<\/p>\n