Encouraging people to be more active is essential to improving the physical activity levels and therefore the health of Rhode Islanders. However, we also know that we need to do more than encourage people to get more active if we really want to affect the health of Rhode Islanders. It is important that we also address the environmental factors that may keep people from increasing their activity levels.

Increasing physical activity is a national and state priority. The national health objectives, Healthy People 2010, aim to increase physical activity levels of adults and children. Rhode Island’s version of Healthy People 2010, Healthy Rhode Island 2010, has also made increasing physical activity a priority.

At the Rhode Island Department of Health, many programs are addressing physical activity in an effort to get Rhode Islanders active and healthy. The Initiative for a Healthy Weight aims to make physical activity fun, safe, and easily accessible and to find ways to keep people motivated and interested in physical activity. By intervening at the community, institutional, and policy levels, the Initiative for a Healthy Weight and its partners will make it easier for Rhode Island residents to be physically active and healthy!

Interested in getting involved to help make Rhode Islanders more active in safe and active communities?

Did you know?

Walking 1 mile burns about 100 calories. Adding a 1-mile walk daily results in a 10-pound per year weight loss!