Assignment:
Discussion 1:
What is the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan? Discuss the 2018 report card for physical activity for children and adolescents.
Discussion 2:
Successful anti-smoking campaigns show that advocacy should be prioritized to make changes in scientific, evidence-based studies on how physical activity has an impact on physical health. The lessons learned can be summarized as:
• Even a small, dedicated group that understands politics and leaders that impact change in policy can have an impact.
• Support that has a large network footprint is essential.
• The plan needs to be comprehensive and the team implementing should be fully committed to it.
• Issues such as individual action and environmental action should be covered early on.
• It is not enough to make evidence of the damage from smoking be the center for policy change.
• Effort may take decades.
The book really highlighted how vital advocacy was and describing its true intended purpose of not just focused on the behavioral changes of individuals but policy, political commitment and funding and the changing of systems (Kohl et al.., 2020 pgs. 546-548).
Although all these avenues are necessary for change, the use of mass media was a strong motivator on the health behavior of the mass population. Using billboards, television, internet, print, and outdoor media impact people both directly and indirectly. Directly by seeking to evoke a strong response to the campaign, and indirectly by offering new behaviors the consumers can take with them. For example, providing a support line, or reducing other barriers like promoting social norms that have positive views of antismoking or emphasizing the risks (Wakefield et al.., 2010).