All communities need access to healthy foods and safe places to play and be active—but not all communities enjoy equal access to these vital means of health. We take a systems approach to improving access to healthy foods and opportunities for physical activity—working across a spectrum of issues, from agriculture, education, land use and transportation, to economic development, industry regulation, and safety. We believe health equity should be the core goal in our national efforts to reduce diet- and activity-related chronic disease, and our work strives to understand how communities experiencing inequities can be best supported in the creation of neighborhoods, cities, and regions that foster health. Through a focus on federal policy, along with state and local research, consultation, and capacity building, we promote cross-sector, equity-focused solutions to promote healthy food and activity environments.
The report serves as a launching pad for action for practitioners and advocates who are interested in engaging in systems and environmental change approaches in four key arenas: schools, early childcare and education settings, out-of-school-time programs, and communities.
Prevention Institute coordinates a pilot effort to explore policy and environmental approaches to prevent violence and improve healthy eating and active living.
Breastfeeding undeniably has tremendous health benefits for both babies and mothers. Effective breastfeeding messages, however, must go beyond health to highlight the social and cultural context.
Across the country, healthy food and activity leaders have identified violence and the fear of violence as major roadblocks to the success of chronic disease prevention strategies. This PI report provides an explanation of the inter-relationship between violence and healthy eating and activity.
The paper outlines organizational practices and public policies to expand access to healthy foods in support of healthy eating and better overall health.
In anticipation of Governor Schwarzenegger's Action Summit on Health, Nutrition and Obesity, the Strategic Alliance released a list of recommendations to urge the improvement of healthy food and activity environments in California.
Prevention Institute collected data for this report prepared by the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity. The report finds that upgrading to larger serving sizes often increases price only modestly, but substantially increases calorie and fat content.
These papers are part of a series of nutrition policy profiles prepared by Prevention Institute for the Center for Health Improvement.
This report - initiated by the Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section (CPNS) of the State of California Department of Health Services - describes the results of a planning process to integrate physical activity promotion into existing efforts to improve eating habits among California families with low incomes. The Spectrum of Prevention was utilized as a tool to assist with the planning process of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Integration Committee.
Presents environmental and policy approaches to supporting healthy food and active living environments, with a presentation by Prevention Institute's Larry Cohen that also focuses on preventing violence while reducing chronic disease risk factors. Hosted by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with the assistance of the National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), this webinar aired in October 2009 to provide information to potential ARRA applicants.
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