Policy Resources

There is growing interest among public health professionals in the broader societal trends and environments that support health and well-being and advance effective strategies to prevent obesity and related chronic diseases. Factors that affect individuals’ physical activity and nutrition behaviors may be influenced by environmental and societal conditions. Public health practice and programs directed towards creating healthy environments can support individuals in making and sustaining healthy choices, thereby having a direct effect on their behaviors and health outcomes. The following links provide resources for professionals working to increase physical activity, promote dietary quality, and prevent obesity.

• Nutrition Policy Resources
• Physical Activity Policy Resources
• Overweight and Obesity Policy Resources
• Other Policy Resources
  Resources covering multiple topics.
• Chronic Disease State Policy Tracking System
  

  The Chronic Disease State Policy Tracking System is a state-based searchable database that provides policy information for preventing and controlling chronic diseases. Currently this database contains nutrition, physical activity, and obesity data. This system provides a single data source for identifying and tracking selected policies in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The database can be used to conduct policy research and help educate public health professionals, researchers, and decision makers about state-level policies and programs to address chronic diseases. The types of policies collected include state legislation and agency regulations. Information includes bill number, bill history, year, and legislative sponsor. An abstract of the policy and its current status also is provided.

   State Legislative and Regulatory Action to Prevent Obesity and Improve Nutrition and Physical Activity [PDF-522 Kb] describes the methodology for updating the State Legislative and Regulatory Action database, now called the Chronic Disease State Policy Tracking System, and presents one type of legislative analysis that can be conducted using its enhanced search features.

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