James F. Sallis
Active Living Research and San Diego State University
Which of the 8 Sectors
are you involved in and why did you choose that particular
sector?
I am most involved in the Transportation and Land Use sector. Though I have interest in several of the sectors I chose this one because it has the potential to reshape the American landscape in a profound and permanent way. I am concerned that we are spending many billions of dollars every year to build severe and long-lasting barriers to active living. We need to change transportation and land use policies so investments are made with the explicit purpose of supporting and encouraging physical activity for transportation and recreation purposes.
What's most
exciting to you about the U.S. having a National Physical
Activity Plan?
Developing consensus on the most promising strategies to promote physical activity in each sector simplifies our messages and goals. If all the individuals and organizations interested in a sector work toward the same 2 or 3 goals, it will be like using a magnifying glass. The energy of diverse voices can be focused to have an irresistibly powerful effect.
What will success
of the NPAP look like to you in 3 years, 5 years? 10 years?
In 3 years, physical activity promotion will be one of the highest public health priorities, as indicated by all the NPAP strategies having a committed leadership group and adequate funding, all the relevant health organizations tripling the amount of resources devoted to physical activity, exercise and sports industries becoming major sponsors of NPAP strategies, state and local health departments supporting physical activity promotion similarly to other chronic disease risk factors, and the federal government tripling its investment in physical activity research and practice.
In 5 years, each state will have a Physical Activity Plan, consistent with the NPAP, along with sufficient resources and interagency working groups; zoning laws will be reformed in 75% of cities and towns; complete streets will be required in 75% of all states and territories; physical education requirements will be consistent with Healthy People 2020 in all states; physical activity curriculum requirements will be adopted for medical and nursing schools; physical activity breaks during TV programs, work days, and school days will be common; funding for public park facilities and activity programs will be tripled; each department of the federal government will have a funded plan to contribute to physical activity promotion, and objectively measured physical activity prevalence rates will be rising in all population groups.
In 10 years, policies that support physical activity are in place at every level of government, in every school district, in every health care organization, and in every industry; neighborhood, transportation, school, and work environments are being built or retrofitted to support physical activity; industries that promote sedentary behavior pay into a physical activity promotion fund; physical activity is considered a core function of public health and the health care system; evidence-based interventions to promote physical activity and reduce sitting time are routinely disseminated and monitored; each state and major city conducts routine surveillance of physical activity behaviors, environments, and policies; and all population subgroups meet Healthy People 2020 goals for physical activity.