What’s Health Got To Do With It?

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• Chronic Disease Prevention– Nutrition– Physical Activity

• Sedentary– Weight Management– Equity– Access– Education– Etc, etc…

WalkingPhysical ActivitySedentary

Chronic disease prevention and physical activity

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Cardiovascular disease Diabetes (Type 2) Metabolic Syndrome Obesity Dementia Mental Health Osteoporosis Certain Cancers (eg. breast, colon)

(Blair & Morris, 2009; Siddiqui et al., 2010; Liu et al., 2011; Vogel et al., 2009.)

Healthy Active Living

Chronic disease prevention and physical activity

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Chronic disease prevention and physical activity

• Why walking?

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Walking is:

• Popular (Alberta Government, 2008)

• Accessible– Low cost and low skill level

required (Lee and Buchner, 2008 )

• Low risk to injury (Hootman et al. 2002)

• The most common activity of those who report being active (Simpson et al 2003)

Image curtsy of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity

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• Walking is more popular as we get older (Lee and Buchner, 2008 )

• Those who walk tend to be more active. (Lee and Buchner, 2008 )

• Walking is linked to reduced incidences of cardiovascular disease. (Lee and Buchner,

2008 )

• Link between walkable neighborhoods, improved cardiovascular fitness and lower BMI (Hoehner et al, 2011)

Walking is:

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Health Care

• Understanding the system:– Public Health– Health Promotion– Chronic Disease

Prevention• Healthy Living

• Who to engage with:– Physical Activity– Injury Prevention– Public Safety– Built Environment

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Health Of Albertans

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Health Of Albertans

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What is WalkABle?

• Created by Walk21• Green Communities Canada• Canada Walks

Alberta

• Alberta Health Services:• Alberta Walkability Roadshow•WalkABle Alberta

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The International Charter for WalkingCreating healthy, efficient and sustainable communities where people choose to walk

1. Increased inclusive mobility

2. Well designed and managed spaces and places for people

3. Improved integration of networks

4. Supportive land-use and spatial planning

5. Reduced road danger

6. Less crime and fear of crime

7. More supportive authorities

8. A culture of walking

WalkABle in an Alberta community

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Collaboration• Provincial Experts• Provincial organizations• Regional Representatives• Municipal Representation• Local Organizations• Local Representatives (stakeholders)

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Communities contacted as possible participants - Communities went through application process

Benchmark questions: summary and analysis

Workshops varied depending on community need

Action Plan for improving walkability

WalkABle in an Alberta community

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WalkABle in an Alberta community

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WalkABle in an Alberta community

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WalkABle in an Alberta community

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WalkABle in an Alberta community

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Next steps

• Community reports• Support community

action• Recommendations for

future implementation

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WalkABle Community Action

• Recommendations in implementation of community action plan

• Ongoing support• Community action:

– Shift of priorities– Stakeholder discussion– Partnership formation

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WalkABle Conclusions

• Multiple approaches to similar problems• Started with bringing people together• Follow through on actions resulted in relationships

formed• Culture of Walking• Communities embraced the idea of a walkable

community

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Questions?Graham Matsalla

Health Promotion Facilitator

Chronic Disease Prevention – Healthy Living

Population and Public Health

10101 Southport Road SW, Calgary, AB T2W 3N2

Phone: (403)943-6781

Email: graham.matsalla@albertahealthservices.ca 

Alberta Health Services: www.albertahealthservices.ca