PROVIDENCE – Newly released results from a poll of 400 Providence residents shows strong support for state and local policies centered on healthy food access and physical activity. The American Heart Association’s Providence ANCHOR (Accelerating National Community Health Outcomes through Reinforcing Partnerships) Project conducted the poll in September 2015. The ANCHOR Project is a federally funded collaboration between the American Heart Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
More than 90 percent of poll participants indicated that healthy food options are important to have at local childcare programs, hospitals, city properties and workplaces. More than four in five participants supported policies ensuring that food options in those same locations meet certain nutritional standards.
“A healthy diet is a critical step in reducing the incidence and death rates from diet-related diseases like heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and others,” Dr. Karen Aspry, a cardiologist and president-elect of the American Heart Association Rhode Island board, said in a release. “Establishing strong nutrition standards in public places throughout the state will make the healthy choice the easy choice for residents and visitors.”
Participants also recognized the importance of instilling lifelong healthy habits by increasing physical activity for children and adults. Seventy percent called a lack of physical activity and exercise a major issue for children, teens and families in Providence and 91 percent favor having schools incorporate physical activity throughout the school day.
The American Heart Association recommends 30 minutes of daily physical education for elementary students and 45 minutes each day for middle and high school students.
Getting regular exercise requires easy access to safe recreational space; poll respondents support increased access to such spaces. Eighty-eight percent of respondents supported using local resources to provide staff and other assistance that would allow more members of the community to use school recreation facilities after school hours.
Efforts to increase healthy food options and provide more physical activity for children are ongoing. To lean more or get involved, contact RI ANCHOR Project Lead Candace Pierce at candace.pierce@heart.org.
