Hearts N' Parks - United States

The central strategy of Hearts N' Parks is to provide information and build skill as part of already-existing community-based programmes. Specifically, science-based information about lifestyle choices that can reduce heart disease risk and skills for incorporating heart-healthy behaviours into one's life are taught as part of the regular activities offered by park and recreation departments and other community-based agencies. The latter organisations were chosen as part of a purposeful delivery strategy: According to NRPA, 75% of Americans live within a 2-mile walking distance of a public park. These facilities, organisers claim, are widely accessible to individuals from culturally and socioeconomically diverse populations, as well as to individuals with disabilities.

Hearts N' Parks is designed so that each community agency can adapt the programme material to its own design, abilities, and needs. Participants can be young or old, active or non-active. The activities are designed to be incorporated into a variety of programmes - nutrition and fitness activities, stress reduction or family life programmes, and the like. Consumer-oriented materials communicate heart-healthy messages related to weight management, physical activity, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and heart disease. Some of these materials address the needs and interests of specific populations, such as African Americans and Hispanics.

To guide this effort, recreation and park departments and other community organisations receive staff training and resources to integrate heart-healthy activities into existing activities or to develop new activities. A 240-page community mobilisation guide, which is available in printed or electronic format, includes background information and materials; techniques for creating and delivering heart-healthy activities to participants; tools and strategies for reaching specific groups, forming partnerships, and working with the media; and assessment tools. The guide also includes many handouts on heart-healthy eating and physical activity that may be reproduced for use with different audiences. An 8-minute video of Heart N' Parks activities and leaders, designed to share lessons learned, is also available. Part of the strategy here is to encourage community organisations to develop partnerships to further enrich their activities.

Health, Nutrition.

Organisers point out that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Those who are overweight or obese are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. They say that the numbers of overweight children and adolescents, as well as obese adults, in the USA have doubled over the past 2 decades. Approximately 108 million American adults (61%) are currently overweight or obese. In addition, 1 in 5 children over the age of 6 is considered overweight, and overweight and obesity acquired during childhood or adolescence may persist into adulthood and increase the risk for some chronic diseases later in life. Organisers point out that even modest amounts of weight loss (10% of initial body weight) can reduce high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels, and high blood glucose levels in overweight or obese individuals.

Hearts N' Parks was piloted during the summer of 1999 in 33 sites in 12 North Carolina communities involving more than 2,000 participants. An evaluation showed that participants retained information about heart-healthy behaviours and intended to eat healthier. In addition, children reported learning new physical activities and improving their performance in others; ageing people reported feeling healthier and experiencing less pain in their daily lives by the end of the programme.