Health Promotion Settings One of the Most

Health Promotion Settings

One of the most important topics listed on the New Healthy People 2020 website is "Physical Activity." The goal intended with this topic is for daily physical activity to be practiced widely by the general population in order to achieve improvements in health, fitness, and quality of life. It is indicated by HP2020 that over 80% of adults in the United States do not get enough exercise, and the numbers are similar for youth as well. This certainly contributes to the rising rates of obesity within the Unites States alone with chronic conditions associated with obesity. The objectives set out by HP2020 with regard to physical activity include increasing public awareness about how structural environments contribute to physical activity. Examples of structural environments include the availability of parks, bike lanes, and sidewalks that facilitate exercise and promote active lifestyles. Another objective is the implementation of public policies that place access to facilities supporting physical activity as a priority. In regards to physical activity among children, HP2020 aim to reform policy concerning levels of physical activity within childcare settings, the amount of times spent by children in front of televisions and computers, as well as the importance of recess and physical education in schools.

There are several reasons why physical activity should be considered to be an important public health concern requiring directed initiatives. Physical activity is effective as a preventive measure to lower risks for several health conditions, including heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, certain types of cancer, depression, and early death. Specifically among children, physical activity is important for the maintenance and improvement of the health of bones, improves cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength, lowers fat levels, and decreases symptoms associated with depression.

There are several specific health promotion objectives outlined by HP2020 pertaining to physical activity. One of the most important and prominent objectives is to "reduce the proportion of adults who engage in no leisure-time physical activity. (HP2020, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx)." It was indicated by HP2020 that in 2008, 36.2% of adults did not partake in any leisure-time physical activity. The initiative aims at reducing this figure to 32.6% by 2020. This objective has great importance considering the growing rate of obesity among the general population as well as all of the medical conditions related to obesity.

A second health promotion objective established by HP2020 is to "require children to engage in vigorous or moderate physical activity (HP2020, http://www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/default.aspx)." In 2006, only three states required that children participate in physical activities considered to promote vigorous exercise. The HP2020 initiative aims for this number of states to increase to 13 states by the year 2020. This would have many physical and psychological health benefits for children.