Spotlight: National Physical Activity Plan and NCSL Resources

The first National Physical Activity Plan made its debut as part of "Moving America Day" on May 3, 2010. It's the nation’s first comprehensive effort to increase physical activity. Initiated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and developed by numerous public and private organizations across the country, the plan provides a framework for policy leaders and organizational decision makers to support changes that will improve physical activity and health for all ages and abilities. May is also National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. Across the country, policymakers are helping Americans be active through policies that:

• Provide opportunities for physical activity and education in schools;
• Develop walking trails, bike paths, sidewalks and green space; and 
• Support community designs that make being physically active an easy choice.

NCSL has a wide range of resources that address physical activity and healthy communities.

• LegisBrief: Tapping School Facilities for Community Health: Joint-Use Agreements
• LegisBrief: Physical Activity Guidelines
• LegisBrief: Complete Streets
• Promoting Healthy Communities and Preventing Childhood Obesity: Trends in Recent Legislation
• Encouraging Bicycling and Walking; The State Legislative Role 
• “P.E. Makes a Comeback” - State Legislatures magazine
• Healthy communities: food systems, healthy eating and physical activity
• Healthy community design legislation database
• 2010 childhood obesity state legislation - physical education and physical activity in schools
• 2009 childhood obesity state legislation – physical education and physical activity in schools
• 2008 childhood obesity state legislation – physical education and physical activity in schools
• 2007 childhood obesity state legislation – physical education and physical activity in schools
• 2006 childhood obesity state legislation – physical education and physical activity in schools
• 2005 childhood obesity state legislation – physical education and physical activity in schools
• Promoting Healthy Communities and Reducing Childhood Obesity: Legislative Options

Other resources:

National Physical Activity Plan
The Association Between School-Based Physical Activity, Including Physical Education, and Academic Performance – CDC research