Statewide physical activity plan gets another look

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The comprehensive plan designed to get more West Virginians moving is being reworked with new goals for 2020.

“In order to turn this health culture around in West Virginia, physical activity is a big part of that,” said Eloise Elliott, chair of the West Virginia Physical Activity Plan Coordinating Committee.

“We see this as, kind of, a blueprint for everyone in the state.”

The plan, which was started in 2010 before being launched in 2012, was revised during the 2nd West Virginia Physical Activity Plan Symposium this week in Charleston.

The aim of the plan is to provide a strategic direction for physical activity promotion within the Mountain State.

It includes input from eight sectors: business & industry; education; health care; mass media; nonprofit & volunteer; parks, recreation, fitness & sport; public health along with transportation, land use and community design. Each sector has different priorities.

“It’s not only an education thing, but it’s actually, let’s do it, let’s make those opportunities available. Let’s make people aware of the opportunities that are available and then let’s get moving, participating,” Elliott said. “That’s really the goal.”

Elliott said West Virginia is only one of two states to have a statewide plan for getting residents moving, one modeled after the 2010 National Physical Activity Plan.

“We have many opportunities in our state to be physically active in our own environment here, but we have to make a culture shift to get people to realize that it’s important,” Elliott said.





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