Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative

The Bipartisan Policy Center’s (BPC) Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative is a year-long effort to enhance physical activity and nutritional opportunities for all Americans. Led by a bipartisan group of four former U.S. cabinet secretaries, the initiative brings together key experts, policymakers, and stakeholders to identify opportunities for collaborative action in four priority areas: investing in children’s health; creating healthy schools; improving the health of communities; and developing healthy institutions.

The initiative identifies best practices and highlights local success stories. In addition, it considers opportunities to expand the reach of some of the most promising programs, as well as the barriers to doing so. During 2011, the co-chairs have hosted a variety of events, integrating policy insights from key stakeholders and experts and bringing increased attention to key areas of the national conversation about nutrition and physical activity. At the same time, they are working to develop and promote federal, state, tribal, local and institutional policies across the four priority areas that can attract bipartisan support. Drawing on the information obtained throughout the year, the Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative will release its recommendations in a final policy report in spring 2012.

Download the Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative backgrounder

Priority Issues

Investing in Children’s Health

Studies confirm the importance of the early years of a child’s life for healthy physical, cognitive and neurological development. Early interventions, from encouraging mothers to breastfeed for the first six months of their children’s lives, to making sure child care centers offer physical activity and fruits and vegetables with meals, can help young Americans become healthy and productive adults. BPC is examining and recommending a range of federal, state, tribal, local and institutional policies that hold promise for developing healthier children who are on track to become healthy adults.

Creating Healthy Schools

Research shows that good nutrition and regular physical activity can lead to improved academic performance. Yet many schools have cut both physical and nutrition education. In other schools, innovative programs like school gardens and partnerships with local chefs, farmers and sports teams are changing school culture. BPC is examining current partnerships to identify best practices for schools to replicate.

Improving the Health of Communities

Recent data highlights the fact that where we live is the prime determinant of Americans’ health. Nonprofit organizations and private companies, as well as federal, state, tribal, and local governments, are working to make healthier communities by promoting healthy eating and physical activity and ways to make the healthy choice the easy choice. BPC is examining ways to scale up successful pilot programs, increase participation in public-private partnerships, and overcome physical and economic barriers to active and healthy communities.

Developing Healthy Institutions

Large institutions - universities, hospitals, corporations, national parks, and entertainment venues - influence the health of millions of Americans. BPC is examining four opportunities for change at large institutions: employee and family wellness plans; ways that large food suppliers procure and serve food; opportunities to improve nutrition and physical education in medical schools and other institutes of higher learning; and how institutions can design their facilities to promote physical activity.

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