About Healthy Eating and Active Living
What is Healthy Eating?
Healthy eating means eating the right amount of food to support a healthy weight and eating the right types of food to support overall health. Healthy eating is supported by healthy food environments that ensure access to healthy foods. Research is underway to identify the best ways to change policies and environments to make healthy eating the easier, more accessible and more appealing option.
What promotes Healthy Eating?
Healthy eating is promoted by:
- Improved access to and affordability of fruits and vegetables for low-income populations
- Increased availability and affordability of healthful foods and beverages at supermarkets, grocery stores, and farmers markets located within walking distance of the communities they serve
- For children, changes in school food environments
What is Active Living?
Active living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. The goal for adults is to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five days each week. They may do this in a variety of ways, such as walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreational facilities.
Children and adolescents should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more days per week. Swimming, brisk walking, jumping rope and playing tag are just some of the activities they can pursue.
What is an Active Living Community?
An active living community is designed to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage in routine daily physical activity. Government leadership in such a community embraces diverse policies and programs that support active living, such as:
- Bicycle- and pedestrian-oriented design
- Mixed-use development
- Ample recreational facilities
- Locating schools in walkable neighborhoods
- Funding and promoting active living programs
Why is Active Living an Important Issue?
Active living communities encourage individuals to be more physically active, thus improving health by lowering citizens' risk for health conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease. American communities are facing a chronic disease epidemic. Sixty percent of U.S. adults do not achieve the 30-minute daily physical activity recommendation, and 30 percent are completely sedentary. Sixty-four percent of youth do not meet the 60-minute, five-days per week recommendation. Health care costs associated with overweight and obesity were estimated at $92.6 billion in 2002 dollars, based on 1998 data. Active Living communities enhance citizen quality of life, attract business and knowledge workers, and contribute to economic development.
