The role of state policy in promoting physical activity

The objective of this commentary is to demonstrate the growing interest of state legislatures in adopting policies that promote physical activity in schools and communities through partnerships with school districts and local governments.

Interviews were conducted with state legislators that have sponsored legislation enacted into law. The author and his staff also surveyed proposed and enacted bills during the 2007 and 2008 legislative sessions.

The majority of states have considered or enacted legislation in recent years that addresses physical activity in schools or communities through partnerships with school districts, cities and counties responsible for implementing state policy. These policies may seek to directly impact a targeted audience (children in school by requiring minimum amounts of physical education during the day) or provide broad guidelines for implementation by other entities with direct authority (local governments charged with preparing comprehensive land use plans under other statutes).

As research demonstrates the increasing costs of public health care associated with physically inactive children and adults, and the public health benefits that can be gained through specific policy interventions, state legislatures have been willing to act to promote physical activity. A key is translating research into understandable policy applications.