Implementing Physical Activity Strategies: Put the National Physical Activity Plan Into Action with 42 Proven Programs

Developed through a partnership with the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance and the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA), Implementing Physical Activity Strategies profiles 42 physical activity programs that are helping people adopt more active and healthy lifestyles based on the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP). This resource combines the expertise of editors Russell Pate and David Buchner as well as a host of respected researchers and practitioners well known for their long-term advocacy for a more physically active society.

Implementing Physical Activity Strategies highlights innovative and proven physical activity programs under way in eight sectors: education; mass media; health care; parks, recreation, fitness, and sports; business and industry; public health; transportation, land use, and community design; and volunteer and nonprofit organizations. For each, readers will find an explanation of how the physical activity program was executed, how it aligns with the NPAP, the target population of the program, cross-sector collaborations and their benefits, and assessments of program effectiveness.

A consistent presentation of information on each program makes this comprehensive reference easy to use. The text maintains a focus on topics such as cross-sector collaboration, tactics and troubleshooting tips, and how each program aligns with the NPAP. This ensures readers will find tools and information to bring success to their own initiatives. Many of the program profiles include sample press releases, ads, screen shots, photos, surveys, follow-up forms, and other hands-on materials to help readers more readily translate the ideas and materials of these programs into new physical activity initiatives. By sharing examples and case studies of proven programs, Implementing Physical Activity Strategies supports those seeking ways to bring the benefits of increased physical activity to their constituents:

• Officials and managers in public health and health care

• Volunteer and nonprofit organizations

• Recreation, fitness, and sport leaders

• Physical education teachers

• Worksite health promotion advocates

• Transportation, urban policy, and design workers

Implementing Physical Activity Strategies offers a detailed look into exemplary programs that have brought about an increase in regular physical activity for individuals where they live, work, and play. Stimulate new ideas, inspire creativity and innovation, and set in motion new results-oriented physical activity initiatives with Implementing Physical Activity Strategies.

The National Physical Activity Plan Alliance is a not-for-profit organization committed to ensuring the long-term success of the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP). The alliance is governed by a board of directors composed of representatives of organizational partners and at-large experts on physical activity and public health. The key objectives of the alliance are to support implementation of the NPAP’s strategies and tactics, expand awareness of the NPAP among policy makers and key stakeholders, evaluate the NPAP on an ongoing basis, and periodically revise the NPAP to ensure its effective linkage to the current evidence base.

The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (NCPPA) is a blend of associations, health organizations, and private corporations advocating for policies that encourage Americans of all ages to become more physically active. NCPPA spearheads federal policy and advocacy work in support of the National Physical Activity Plan’s recommendations, and the organization maintains a strong voice for physical activity in Washington, DC, where NCPPA members and staff work together to encourage federal legislators to make policy changes that promote regular physical activity in all facets of life.

Russell Pate, PhD, is a professor in the department of exercise science at the University of South Carolina at Columbia. Pate led the development of the 2010 U.S. National Physical Activity Plan and served on the 2008 U.S. Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance and chairman of the coordinating committee of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance.

Pate is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and served as lead author of the 1995 CDC-ACSM Statement on Physical Activity and Public Health. He is also past president of the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity. In 2012, Pate received the Honor Award from the ACSM. He received the Honor Award from the Science Board of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports in 2007.

He resides with his wife in Columbia, where he enjoys running, attending theater performances, and watching collegiate athletics.

David Buchner, MD, MPH, is a Shahid and Ann Carlson Khan professor in applied health sciences in the department of kinesiology and community health at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. From 2008 to 2013, he directed the master of public health program in his department. He is a board member for the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance. From 1999 to 2008, he was chief of the Physical Activity and Health Branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In this role, Buchner chaired the writing group for the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans and participated in numerous public health initiatives to promote physical activity. Buchner’s research has focused on physical activity and aging. He has studied the role of physical activity in preventing functional limitations, disability, and falls. His favorite recreational activity is backpacking and hiking with his family.