Environmental Change is Critical to Promoting Healthy Eating and Active

Living

HEALTHHEALTH

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Toxins in the Environment Affect Health

HEALTHHEALTH

BEHAVIORBEHAVIOR

ENVIRONMENTENVIRONMENT

Environments Shape Behavior by Shaping Norms that Impact Health

The prevalence of fast food in this urban The prevalence of fast food in this urban environment reinforces unhealthy eatingenvironment reinforces unhealthy eating normsnorms..

The media environment is an often missed but

powerful determinant of norms and behavior.

Roads that are only built for cars do not support active behaviors and may lead to

unintentional injuries.

Low-income

communities and

communities of color

are not afflicted with

different medical

conditions but rather,

experience the same

injuries and illnesses,

only more so.

Importance of Health Equity

ENVIRONMEENVIRONMENTNT

A Key A Key Opportunity Opportunity

for for PreventionPrevention

Changing Environments to Encourage Health-Promoting Behaviors is a Key

Opportunity for Prevention

Access to fresh fruits and vegetables

Safe and accessible open spaces

Smoking prevention

Child restraint and safety belt use

Motorcycle and bicycle helmet laws

Lead poisoning prevention

The California state tobacco prevention program saved $3.62 in direct medical costs for every $1 invested over 8 years.

An analysis of employer supported breastfeeding programs in the US has shown a savings of $3 for every $1 invested in reduced absenteeism and health care costs for mothers and babies.

A cost benefit analysis of bike/pedestrian trails in Nebraska concluded that for every $1 investment in trails there was a $2.94 savings in medical costs due to increased physical activity levels of trail users.

Quality Prevention Makes Economic Sense

Communities around the country have engaged in policy and

organizational practice change to reduce health disparities and

promote healthy eating and active living

Increasing Access to Healthy Food

Upper Falls Community: Rochester, New York

Reducing Violence and Crime through Liquor Store Closures

South Los Angeles, California

Importance of Multi-Sectoral Partnerships

Pedestrian/Pedestrian/

BikeBike

OrganizationsOrganizations

Elected

Elected

Officials

Officials

Public Public

HealthHealth

PlannersPlanners

Sustainable Sustainable

Food SystemsFood Systems

Health Care Health Care ProvidersProviders

Businesses

Businesses

Youth Youth DevelopmentDevelopment

Environmental

EnvironmentalGroupsGroups

Building a movement around healthy eating and active living requires engaging in multidisciplinary collaborations to change

environments and norms.

Keys to Success

Implement environmental change approaches to improve health

Focus on health equity

Engage in cross-sectoral collaboration

Have a comprehensive and strategic agenda

Resources

Available at www.convergencepartnership.com