Getting America Active! Tom Richards Explains.
We know that America needs help in addressing the struggles being faced by the nation’s obesity crisis. We know that exercise is medicine with its ability to reduce the risk of illness and disease among active individuals. Well, it’s exciting to learn that there are several national efforts in place to get America moving and active.
Tom Richards is Senior Manager of Public Policy with the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), www.ihrsa.org. Tom coordinates IHRSA’s outreach to leading organizations and government agencies – such as the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, and the Campaign to End Obesity – to highlight the importance of physical activity to America’s health.
Tom highlighted how such initiatives are going much further than encouraging individuals to exercise more, it involves a recognition that communities and the worksites are important partners and change agents if a national culture of physical activity is going to be achieved. Our discussion with Mr. Richards revealed such key initiatives as the WHIP Act (legislation for Workplace Health Improvement Programs); IHRSA’s Get Active America campaign to involve community health & fitness facilities; and the National Physical Activity Plan that represents a national strategy to integrate the eight sectors of business, education, health care, mass media, parks & recreation, transportation, public health, and non-profits into its mission to support physically active lifestyles. To hear all of Tom’s insights, click on this link, Tom Richards Interview.
The hosts also asked Tom what he felt was the most successful engagement strategy to get individuals to participate in health and wellness programs. Here’s the link to hear his informative response, T. Richard’s Engagement Strategy.
Finally, Steve Cherniak shared his weekly health tip which revealed the five barriers that limit the success worksite health promotion programs. To hear Steve’s tip, click on this link, Weekly Health Tip.
