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The U.S. National Physical Activity Plan has a vision: One
day, all Americans will be physically active and they will live,
work, and play in environments that facilitate regular physical
activity.
The Plan is a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and
initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all
segments of the American population. The Plan is the product of
a private-public sector collaborative. Hundreds of organizations
are working together to change our communities in ways that will
enable every American to be sufficiently physically active.
The Plan aims to create a national culture that supports
physically active lifestyles. Its ultimate purpose is to improve
health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of
life.
The U.S. National Physical Activity Plan is comprised of
recommendations that are organized in eight societal sectors:
Each sector presents strategies aimed at promoting physical
activity. Each strategy also outlines specific tactics that
communities, organizations and agencies, and individuals can use to
address the strategy. Recognizing that some strategies encompass
multiple sectors, the Plan also has several
overarching strategies.
The Plan is focused on initiatives that aim to increase physical
activity. Reducing sedentary behavior is recognized to be an
important public health goal, but is not the Plan’s specific
objective.
A coordinating committee comprised of representatives from
numerous organizational partners provided overall direction and
guidance for the Plan. Working with the Coordinating Committee,
Working Groups for each of the eight sectors developed the Plan’s
strategies and tactics. An open public comment period garnered
extensive comments and suggestions that were incorporated into the
Plan.
In developing the Plan, the Coordinating Committee and Working
Groups relied on several guiding principles:
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Use evidence to inform the Plan’s
actions to promote physical activity.
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Include initiatives for all
socio-demographic groups.
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Aim actions at local, state,
federal, and institutional levels.
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Encourage the involvement of
diverse stakeholders to guide the content of the Plan.
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Ground the Plan in the ecological
model of health behavior.
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Ensure that the Plan’s
initiatives reduce health disparities across socio-demographic
groups.
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Present the Plan as a “living
document” that is updated on a regular basis.
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