Physical Activity / Obesity / Nutrition Links

Model Programs and Practices


The Community Guide
www.thecommunityguide.org/

Description: The Community Guide, developed by a non-Federal Task Force on Community Preventive Services, offers leadership in the evaluation of community, population and health care system strategies to address a variety of public health and health promotion topics.

Information Available:
www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/index.html  

A systematic review of the effectiveness of 1) school-based nutrition programs, 2) food and beverage advertising to children, 3) community approaches to increase fruit and vegetable intake and 4) food and beverage availability, price, portion size and labeling in restaurants. www.thecommunityguide.org/nutrition/index.html


The Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool (ENACT)
www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/enact/members/index.php

Description: The Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool (ENACT), developed by the Strategic Alliance for Healthy Food and Activity Environments, is an interactive concrete menu of realistic strategies designed to help improve nutrition and activity environments on a local level. ENACT was designed to complement current education and community efforts and to empower local action to address priority issues. The ENACT strategies have been organized into seven environments.

Information Available: Model policies and programs, hands-on tools, articles and other publications, and resources.

National Governor's Association (NGA) Center for Best Practices
http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.b14a675ba7f89cf9e8ebb856a11010a0

Description: The NGA Center for Best Practices tracks state efforts, and provides research and analysis for states on emerging issues and state best practices.
Information Available: Issue brief outlining basic information concerning the prevention of obesity in youth through school-based efforts, as well as state-based, best practice prevention efforts.


Food Research and Action Center (FRAC)
www.frac.org

Description: FRAC, a nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center, serves as the core of an anti-hunger network of individuals and agencies across the U.S. FRAC attempts to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and undernutrition.

Information Available: Model programs, current news and analyses, federal food programs, state profiles and FRAC publications.


National Organizations


National Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership (HEAL)http://www.convergencepartnership.org/site/c.fhLOK6PELmF/b.3917533/k.BDC8/Home.htm

Description: In 2006, a collaboration of funders came together to create the Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership, with the shared goal of changing policies and environments to better achieve the vision of healthy people living in healthy places. The steering committee includes representatives from The California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente, Kresge Foundation, Nemours, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention serve as critical technical advisors on the committee. PolicyLink, a national research and action institute devoted to advancing economic and social equity, serves as program directors for the partnership.Prevention Institute, a national non-profit organization dedicated to improving community health and equity through effective primary prevention, provides policy research and analysis along with strategic support.

Information Available: Promising strategy documents and resources; tools kits; policy and advocacy supports; news and resources.


Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/


Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA): Physical Activity
Description: The CDC's DNPA takes a public health approach to address the role of nutrition and physical activity in improving the public's health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. The scope of DNPA activities includes epidemiological and behavioral research, surveillance, training and education, intervention development, health promotion and leadership, policy and environmental change, communication and social marketing and partnership development.

Information Available: 

Basic physical activity recommendations, guide to physical activity, data and statistics, community and environmental approaches, economic impact, overweight/obesity information, CDC programs, specific populations and physical activity terms.
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/index.htm

Basic nutrition recommendations, data and statistics, nutrition programs, studies, nutrition surveillance systems, specific populations and CDC trainings.
www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition.htm

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)  
http://www.cdc.gov/BRFSS/

Description: The BRFSS is a standard core questionnaire to monitor state-level prevalence of the major behavioral risks among adults associated with premature morbidity and mortality. It is used to provide data that could be compared across states. The BRFSS, administered and supported by the Division of Adult and Community Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, CDC, is an ongoing data collection program.

Information Available: Data, reports, and interactive databases to determine prevalence, trends, incidence, and additional data reports as selected.


Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS)

www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm

Description: The YRBSS results identify the percent of high school students who are overweight, engage in unhealthy dietary behaviors, or are physically inactive.

Information Available: Data, reports, and interactive databases to determine prevalence, trends, incidence, and additional data reports as selected.


MEDLINEplus-Health Information
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/

Description: MEDLINEplus, sponsored by the National Library of Medicine, includes a vast amount of health information on over 600 diseases and conditions. The site offers authoritative, up-to-date and appropriate health information for both health professionals and consumers.

Information Available:
Nutrition: Latest news concerning nutrition, publications from the National Institutes of Health, general overviews, research, associated conditions/aspects, statistics and specific populations. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nutrition.html

Exercise/Physical Fitness: Latest news concerning physical activity/exercise, general information, alternative therapies, diabetes journals and newsletters, clinical trials, symptoms, research, statistics, associated conditions/aspects and specific populations. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/exercisephysicalfitness.html

Obesity: Latest news concerning obesity, publications from the National Institutes of Health, general overviews, research, associated conditions/aspects, treatment, genetics, law and policy, statistics and specific populations.
www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/obesity.html


National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):
Weight Loss and Control
www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm

Description: The NIDDK Diseases conducts and supports research on many of the most serious diseases affecting public health. The Institute's Division of Intramural Research encompasses the broad spectrum of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, endocrine disorders, digestive diseases, nutrition, renal disease and hematology.

Information Available: Weight loss and control topics and tips, specific populations, newsletters, Weight-control Information Network (WIN), research, statistics, publications and videos.


Nutrition.Gov
www.nutrition.gov
Description: Nutrition.Gov provides access to all online federal government information on nutrition. This national resource on nutrition, healthy eating, physical activity and food safety makes obtaining information easy while at the same time supplying accurate scientific information to health professionals and the general public.

Information Available: Dietary guidelines, education programs, food labels, food pyramid, nutrients, nutrition issues for specific population, research centers, grant opportunities, latest news, research projects, data and statistics, fact sheets, funding agencies, newsletters, publications and nutrition reports.


United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)
Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP)
www.usda.gov/cnpp/

Description: The CNPP defines and coordinates nutrition education policy within the USDA, and translates nutrition research into information and materials for consumers, policymakers and professionals in health, education, industry and media. The CNPP improves the health and well-being of Americans by developing and promoting dietary guidance that links scientific research to the nutrition needs of consumers.

Information Available: Food pyramid guide for adults and young children, healthy eating index, nutrient content, dietary guidelines, brochures, periodicals, reports, latest nutrition news and USDA press releases.


American Obesity Association (AOA)
www.obesity.org

Description: The American Obesity Association functions as an agent of change to move society to re-conceptualize obesity as a disease and to fashion appropriate strategies to deal with the epidemic. This organization advocates before Congress, The White House and Executive Branch agencies and departments for policies in accord with the AOA mission and goals.

Information Available: Latest news, advocacy updates, research advances, clinical trials, educational materials, prevention and treatment programs, costs of obesity, fact sheet, discrimination policies, legislative efforts and health effects of obesity.


American Dietetic Association (ADA)
www.eatright.org

Description: As the nation's largest organization of food and nutrition professionals, the ADA's areas of interest include: 1) obesity, 2) aging, 3) complimentary care and dietary supplements, 4) safe and nutritious food supplies and 5) human genome and genetics.

Information Available: Basic food and nutrition information, conferences and events, position papers, ADA Journal, dietetic practice groups, affiliates, center for professional development, fact sheets, reading lists, state affairs and nutrition legislation priority areas.


Bright Futures at Georgetown University: Physical Activity
www.brightfutures.org

Description: Bright Futures is a national initiative to promote and improve the health and well being of children from birth through adolescence. The program believes that every child deserves to be healthy and that optimal health involves a trusting relationship between the health professional, the child, the family and the community.

Information Available:
Physical Activity: Bright Futures in Practice: Physical Activity-provides developmental guidelines on physical activity for the periods of infancy through adolescence.
www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/about.htm

Nutrition: Bright Futures in Practice: Nutrition emphasizes prevention and early recognition of nutrition concerns and provides developmental guidelines on nutrition for the periods of infancy through adolescence. It also includes additional resources to customize Bright Futures materials for specific audiences.
www.brightfutures.org/nutrition/index.html


Shape Up America
www.shapeup.org

Description: Shape Up America involves a broad-based coalition of industry, medical, nutrition and physical fitness organizations and experts who promote a new understanding by Americans of the health importance of achieving and maintaining a healthy weight and increasing physical activity. The organization informs Americans of the logical, proven ways to achieve a healthy body weight.

Information Available: Press releases, newsletters, surveys, the Parent's Guide for the Assessment and Treatment of the Overweight Child, assessment and treatment tools for health professionals, link to the Body Fat Lab (BFL), fitness and weight loss programs and 99 Tips for Family Fitness Fun.


Missouri Resources


Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS)
www.dhss.mo.gov/

Description: The Section for Nutritional Health and Services works to decrease preventable nutrition-related morbidity and mortality throughout the lifecycle. This division coordinates all nutrition-related activities and provides leadership to other state agencies and the private sector regarding nutrition.

Information Available:
Health: Physical Activity and Obesity: The Missouri Overweight and Obesity Observer (newsletter); information on the Missouri Council on the Prevention and Management of Overweight and Obesity; Missouri Obesity Resource Data Bank (divided into four areas: 1) Researchers, educators and policymakers; 2) healthcare professionals and facilities; 3) schools; and 4) general public)
www.dhss.mo.gov./Obesity/Data.html#Missouri
A guide for schools, families and communities to promote healthy weight; Missouri data for overweight and obese children and The Healthy Missourians Initiative.
www.dhss.mo.gov/Obesity/ or www.dhss.mo.gov/PhysicalActivity/

Nutritional Health and Services: Missouri resources, news releases, trainings, data and statistics, nutrition issues for specific populations, the Missouri Diet Manual and Missouri programs (e.g. 5-a-Day, Missouri Nutrition Network, Summer Food Service Program, etc).
www.dhss.mo.gov/Health/ (scroll down to Nutrition & Food section)

County level data: Community data profiles are available on various subject areas such as cause of death, chronic diseases, unintentional injuries, prenatal and others. Each community data profile table provides data on 15-30 indicators for each county/city selected. Information provided includes the number of events, county/city rate, statistical significance, quintile ranking and the state rate. For obesity data, select the "2003 Health and Preventive Practice Status Report from Missouri County-level Study" profile.
www.dhss.mo.gov/GLRequest/CountyProfile.html

Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MOCAN): Formally developed in 2005, this council was created to implement the statewide Preventing Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases—Missouri’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan. The council is made up of representatives from groups interested in implementing the plan. Three major beliefs guide Missouri’s plan: 1) A balance between nutrition and physical activity efforts is required to prevent and control obesity; 2) Science-based approaches must be used to improve nutrition and increase physical activity, and 3) For approaches to be effective, many levels of influence must support the changes being implemented.  http://www.dhss.mo.gov/Obesity/Council.htmlhttp://www.dhss.mo.gov/Obesity/ObesityBurdenWebversion.pdf


International Organizations


World Health Organization,
Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Health Promotion,
Physical Activity
www.who.int/moveforhealth/en

Description: The United Nations specialized agency for health, the World Health Organization's objective, as set in its Constitution, is the attainment by all peoples of the highest possible level of health. Health being defined in WHO's Constitution as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.

Information Available: Direct, indirect and economic benefits of physical activity; policy related education and issues; Move For Health initiative; guidelines for promoting physical activity within specific population groups; country strategies and actions; environmental issues; press releases; publications and news articles.

MFH provides the Health Resource Directory as a resource for the community. The appearance of hyperlinks does not constitute endorsement by MFH of the linked websites, or the information, products or services contained therein.