Physical Activity

Healthy levels of physical activity have not only been linked to behavioral and social influences, but also to physical and social environmental influences. The role of communities has thus become critical in promoting and sustaining active lifestyles. Some ways that communities can support the value of being physically active include: P.E. in schools, the planning and development of how land is used, enhancing access to outdoor recreational facilities, and enhancing personal safety around recreational areas.

Several resources that can help us have physically active communities can be found in tools and resources.

An example of planning our environmnets to support physical activity includes cities implementing their own bicycle and pedestrian master plans. Students from Brigham Young University demonstrate in this short video how planning for street bicycle lanes can make living a physically active life easier and safer.