Physical Activity and Public Health Practice

This book provides the reader, with the practical guidance required to design, deliver, and evaluate physical activity (PA) interventions across a range of settings and populations. The book is divided into four parts. The book reviews the state of the evidence around PA and chronic disease. It explores the different methods for measuring PA along with their strengths and weaknesses, and the important milestones in the field including the evolution of PA guidelines. The book looks at how to increase the value of PA for different stakeholders. It examines what needs to happen before one launches an intervention. The book explores the steps taken to develop policy and environmental interventions. It examines how to build and maintain a coalition. No one is the expert in everything. Coalitions support the bringing together of people with similar goals but different jobs and expertise to create a comprehensive campaign. The book details the process of developing a PA plan. It examines how policies actually move into action. The book examines implementing interventions in specific communities and populations. There are important considerations in developing interventions across diverse areas and varied populations. Settings explored in this part include worksites, faith based organizations, healthcare, schools, out-of-school areas, and parks and recreation. Populations examined include families, older adults, individuals with disabilities, and urban and rural populations. The book has chapters devoted to evaluating interventions. It explores implementation monitoring and describes outcome and impact evaluation as well as cost effectiveness. The book helps to answer questions such as: Did your intervention work? Did it actually change health? How much did it cost relative to how effective it was?