Indiana awards over $220,000 across state to increase physical activity this summer

These grants, funded by federal Preventive Health Block Grant dollars, will support communities that are attempting to address obesity in Indiana.

"It's undeniable that obesity causes chronic disease" said State Health Commissioner Greg Wilson, M.D. "The two preventable behaviors that lead to obesity are poor nutrition and lack of physical activity, so we are making these grants to Indiana communities in order to encourage Hoosiers to be more physically active."

The grants are being awarded to communities that have a diverse group of partners and that demonstrate understanding of the need to increase the choices for physical activity. These 24 projects will be completed this summer.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 30 minutes of moderate exercise five to seven days a week.

"Technology has removed most physical activity from our lives, and not all communities are conducive to safe biking and walking," said Dr. Wilson. "We have to look for ways to put physical activity back in our lives."

"We hope that people will try to identify opportunities to increase their physical activity day by day," said Joni Albright, director of the Office of Special Projects, which is administering the grants.

"It's our hope that through these community projects, we will learn about initiatives that successfully increase individual physical activity levels and then share the results with other communities," Albright said.

"This grant opportunity has produced the wide range of creative ideas that we have come to expect from across Indiana," Albright said. "We know that what works in one setting does not necessarily work in another, because every community is different."

Projects include youth fitness camps, community walking and biking events, and step-counting. The grants being awarded are: