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National Physical Activity Plan<\/p>\nNational Physical Activity Plan<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, D.C.<\/strong> – The new U.S. National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) was unveiled at the National Press Club, building upon the initial plan that the NPAP Alliance released in 2010 as a roadmap for actions supporting and encouraging physical activity among all Americans.<\/p>\n In presenting the 2016 plan, Russell Pate, Ph.D., chairman of the nonprofit NPAP Alliance, said that \u201cbecause of this public-private initiative, we are multiple steps closer to our initial vision: one day, all Americans will be physically active, and they will live, work and play in environments that encourage and support regular physical activity.\u201d<\/p>\n Jim Whitehead, CEO of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), concurred with Pate by saying \u201cThe National Physical Activity Plan has led to and stimulated considerable and historic progress” and citing recent advances, including:<\/p>\n Pate said two new societal sectors \u2013 faith-based settings and sport \u2013 were added in the 2016 National Plan update. \u201cThe plan is a living document that will be updated periodically to reflect specific evidence-informed approaches designed to promote physical activity through actions taken in each of nine societal sectors. Strategies are broad approaches to be achieved through implementation of specific tactics that our experts highly recommend,\u201d Pate said.<\/p>\n The nine societal sectors (* new in the updated plan) include:<\/p>\n \u201cThe plan was informed by new knowledge, some of which was the product of evolving professional practice,\u201d said Pate. \u201cBut future enhancements to the plan will require a growing body of knowledge, fed by an expanding physical activity-public health research enterprise. Accordingly, the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance calls on public, nonprofit and private research funding agencies to make greater investments in research that will generate the knowledge needed to increase physical activity in communities across the U.S.\u201d<\/p>\n Eduardo Sanchez, chief medical officer for prevention, American Heart Association, spoke about the efforts of the Alliance to reflect diversity in the 2016 plan update. \u201cI am proud that the Alliance included a Diversity Committee that worked to insure that the plan addresses the needs of persons of all religious, cultural, ideological, sexual orientation, and gender identity groups to become more physically active.\u201d<\/p>\n Tennessee\u2019s Commissioner of Health John Dreyzehner stated that \u201cstates look to the National Physical Activity Plan and the CDC for guidance in promoting physical activity, a priority that we in Tennessee view as a major focus of our future public health goals.\u201d According to the plan, \u201cno single, central organization is responsible for implementing the plan or providing the funding that will be needed. Instead, it will be the American people \u2013 working as individuals or through their organizations or government entities \u2013 who put the plan\u2019s strategies and tactics to work in ways that benefit everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n Shellie Pfohl, Executive Director of the President\u2019s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, indicated \u201cthe ball is being advanced forward every day in promoting healthier lifestyles\u201d and the Council is working with all interested parties to maintain that positive momentum.<\/p>\n Jack Groppel, Cofounder of the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute, shared private sector support for the National Plan through the CEO Pledge for Physical Activity and announced a new Congressional Commitment that was created by the Global Alliance for Health & Performance.<\/p>\n Joan Benoit Samuelson, an American marathon runner who won a gold medal at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, the year that the women\u2019s marathon was introduced, was on hand to challenge more Americans to get active and to reap the lifelong benefits.<\/p>\n Reflecting the multi- and cross-generational thrust of the National Plan, Paul Roetert of SHAPE America welcomed Anthony Olumba, a health and physical education teacher and students from Whittier Education Campus, a public school in Washington, D.C., who led adults in easy exercises to get people moving and demonstrate the benefits of physical activity.<\/p>\n At 1 p.m., the Congressional Fitness and Bicycle Caucuses will jointly host a briefing in Senate Room 209 of the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on the updated National Plan and the Congressional Commitment that was created by the Global Alliance for Health & Performance. Bipartisan members of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have agreed to promote it.<\/p>\n\n
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