Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Program

Active Community Environments

Defining the Issue

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have alerted Americans that the obesity epidemic is on the rise due, in part, to declining levels of physical activity and reduced consumption of healthful foods. America's move from a predominately industrial and physical workforce to a more sedentary office workforce has resulted in a lack of regular physical activity. Sedentary lifestyles are exacerbated when combined with the overarching elements of community design, technology, and demanding lifestyles. Currently, the average American driver spends 443 hours per year (equivalent to 55 eight hour work days) behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. Building transportation systems around automobiles hinders pedestrian and bicycle travel. The related design of low-density, single-use land development patterns increase distances between start and end points.

• Colorado Active Community Environments Task Force Strategies

• Activity Community Environments Workplan Activities

• Activity Community Environments Fact Sheet