Translating research to policy through health impact assessment in Clark County, Washington: a commentary to accompany the Active Living Research Supplement to Annals of Behavioral Medicine.

摘要

As elsewhere in the US, Clark County, Washington has experienced an obesity epidemic, with two thirds of adults overweight or obese [1]. Youth are a particular concern, as 25 % of tenth graders are overweight or obese [2]. To address the obesity epidemic, we will need a comprehensive approach, and accumulating scientific evidence regarding environmental influences on physical activity suggests that urban development policies relating to transportation and land use are likely to be part of this approach [3]. Consequently, Clark County Public Health officials and policy makers are focusing on creating opportunities for physical activity through active transportation and parks.One emerging tool health jurisdictions can use to translate research into built environment policy is Health Impact Assessment (HIA) [4,5].