Take Action to Make Your Community Healthier - Seven Tips that Work

Our health is determined by our personal behaviors, our genetic make- up, the clinical care we receive, the actions of our public health system and the environment of our community.   While we can not control our genetic make-up, we have a good deal of control over our personal behaviors and can make healthy decisions to not smoke, eat healthy food, use our seat belts and exercise regularly.  But, what control does an individual have on policies that influence the health of a community?  What can an individual do to make our environment healthier? 

More than you’d first think!

Individuals and community groups first can understand the problems that influence a community’s health and then get involved to call for and support effective efforts and actions that address those problems.   Use these seven tips that work to get involved and make your community a healthier place for everyone.

Physical Activity – Only 45% of adults and 27% of high school students exercise 30 minutes a day even though this level of activity is proven to reduce many health risks.   To improve health, communities can:

• Enhance In-School Physical Education by adding new PE classes, lengthening existing classes and increasing physical activity levels.

• Increase Access to Places for Physical Activity by creating safe walking and biking paths and providing convenient and affordable access to exercise equipment.

Healthy Eating – Four out of the ten leading causes of death have been linked to nutrition, yet only 25% of adults eat the right number of fruits and vegetables.  To improve health, communities can: 

• Promote Healthy Foods in Schools by placing healthy foods and beverages in school vending machines.

• Increase Access to Healthy Foods in Communities by creating accessible farmers markets, establishing food-buying cooperatives and community gardens.

Tobacco Use – Tobacco use is the biggest cause of premature death and illness in the United States, and tobacco use is reduced by limiting places to smoke and raising prices.  To improve health, communities can:

• Make Public Places and Workplaces Smoke-free by limiting the places and spaces people can smoke. 

• Increase the Price of Tobacco Products by raising taxes and fees on tobacco products. 

Clinical Preventive Services – Clinical services to prevent death and disability due to chronic diseases fall far short of their potential because not enough people are able to use them.   To improve health, communities can: 

• Ensure Access to Clinical Preventive Services by working with businesses, health care providers, insurers, public health clinics and communities to increase routine access to these services. Evaluate health systems by collecting performance data about effective preventive services from health insurance plans, hospitals, physicians and delivery organizations and then reward those who demonstrate positive results for patients.

Want more information about how you can take action? Visit the Partnership for Prevention Web site at http://www.prevent.org/content/view/21/21/#policy.