Washington, D.C. – October 14, 2022 – The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) announces a new report, Hispanic or Latino Transportation and Land Use Thought Leaders Perspectives in Transportation, Public Health, and Land Use.
Informed by Hispanic or Latino thought leaders’ lived experience and professional expertise, this comprehensive report, authored by Fernandez Research Group, LLC, summarizes barriers and facilitators related to community design that influence physical activity of Hispanic or Latino people.
The resource provides actionable steps related to community design that can improve equitable and inclusive access to physical activity for Hispanic or Latino communities.
“Understanding the barriers and racial inequalities of routes to destinations in disadvantaged communities is crucial,” says Tammy Dillard-Steels, MPH, MBA, CAE, SOPHE’s CEO. “With this comprehensive report, we hope to raise awareness to the barriers and facilitators of physical activity and activity-friendly communities among Hispanic or Latino individuals/communities.”
The Hispanic or Latino population in the United States is approximately 62.1 million. Hispanic or Latino people have decreased levels of physical activity and increased levels of obesity, diabetes, and hypertension which can be addressed with diet and physical activity.
Evidence shows that activity-friendly routes to everyday destinations can increase population levels of physical activity. Increased physical activity is associated with a range of health benefits. One study, for example, found that those who cycle to work were less stressed than those who drove to work. Collaborative action from various fields can improve equitable and inclusive access to physical activity for Hispanic or Latino communities.
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About SOPHE
The Society for Public Health Education (SOPHE) is a nonprofit association that supports leaders in public health, health education and promotion to advance healthy and equitable communities across the globe. SOPHE members work in health care settings, communities, organizations, schools, universities, worksites, and in local, state and federal government agencies. For more information visit www.sophe.org.
About the CDC/SOPHE DNPAO Cooperative Agreement
This project was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number NU38OT000315, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (CDC DNPAO). The views and findings expressed in this independent report and analysis are those of the authors and are not meant to imply endorsement or reflect the views and policies of SOPHE or the U.S. Government.
