In Arizona, over one third of adults report that they have not gotten any physical activity or exercise during the past month. Physical inactivity is among the top two preventable causes of death because of its role as a primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). 

PROGRAM GOAL:  To reduce the prevalence of chronic disease such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and some types of cancer by increasing the number of Arizonans who get 30-60 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity physical activity on most days of the week.

Coalitions and Community Work Groups

• State level
  Active AZ 2010 (A Healthy AZ 2010 work group) – is a statewide multidisciplinary team of nearly 40 participants from many agencies that meets semiannually to address the risk factor of physical inactivity. 
  
  Action for Healthy Kids, committee on physical activity, Active AZ 2010, committee on physical activity  for youth, have joined together (approximately 50 members) to address the risk factor of physical inactivity for children. Their focus is on the following goals:

Goal #1: Provide supervised physical activity breaks for elementary school students.

Goal #2: Encourage the use of school facilities for physical activity programs offered by the school and/or  community-based organizations outside of school hours.

• County level 
  Every funded county program either has organized one or more physical activity coalitions or they participate in ongoing coalitions that address the promotion of physical activity. (More information on these coalitions is available.)

Statewide Intervention Programs

• Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth is a classroom-based program targeting grades 4th- 8th that is offered to schools statewide. It is a three step, teacher-directed program designed to promote 60 minutes of daily, independent physical activity in youth. 
  
  Implementation of the Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth program began in 1996 in twelve counties. Since then, each year, Promoting Lifetime Activity for Youth has been implemented in approximately 160 schools, reaching 24,000 students and 900 teachers yearly. 
   

• W.E.L.L. (Walk Everyday & Live Longer) Arizona Program is a 4-week community-based intervention aimed at increasing the physical activity levels of sedentary Arizona residents. Pedometers (small devices that measure steps taken) are tools used in the program for monitoring and motivating people to increase physical activity.)
  
  In 2003, we implemented a W.E.L.L Arizona pilot program in twelve counties. Eighteen pilot programs were conducted, reaching 220 adults in the 50-64 years of age population.
  
  The evaluation results indicate that, on average, participants increase their step counts by 1,000 steps daily. 
  
  In 2004, the program has been expanded to include participants from high school on up to seniors.

Funding

The CDC Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funds physical activity coordinators in 12 of the 15 Arizona county health departments to promote physical activity in children, adolescents and adults through the state-wide interventions, coalition activity, community events and community programs.