Changing Policies and Environmental Conditions to Promote Physical Activity

University of South Carolina: Prevention Research Center

Topics:
Community Health | Nutrition & Physical Activity for Adults |
Nutrition & Physical Activity for Youth

Researchers are working with the Sumter County Active Lifestyles coalition and other community partners on strategies to increase residents’ physical activity by improving the community environments and policies to support an active lifestyle. Guided by objectives that community members and researchers created together, the project uses strategies such as community education, policy and media advocacy, community improvement projects, and partnership development to achieve project goals.

Examples of changing the community environment include increasing the number and quality of walking trails; maintaining and promoting the use of parks; and improving the accessibility, lighting, and safety of outdoor recreation areas. The coalition encourages community members to influence decision-makers to support or modify local polices that create an active community environment. The center and the Sumter County Active Lifestyles coalition also partner with faith and community groups in rural, underserved areas to assess and address disparities in community resources for physical activity and recreation by offering community mini grants, technical assistance, and training.

An evaluation team will compare 1,000 county residents’ physical activity levels—as well as the community and environmental supports put in place to promote activity—with the physical activity levels of residents of a non-intervention community. They will also analyze comparisons over time. By mentoring the coalition in how to obtain grants and achieve nonprofit status, the center is also enhancing the community’s ability to maintain physical activity improvements after the project ends.

 

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