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Despite physical activity being essential to good health, our lifestyles are becoming increasingly sedentary and few Britons are active on a regular basis. Many transport and planning policies unintentionally contribute to this problem by creating barriers to physical activity – for example, prioritising cars before pedestrians and cyclists, and locating housing, shops, services and workplaces in areas that are virtually inaccessible without a car.

Walking and cycling are affordable and available to nearly everyone, and can help reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and other avoidable chronic conditions. To encourage physical activity, the NHF published Building Health: Creating and enhancing places for healthy, active lives: What needs to be done? This is a collection of papers by leading experts and campaigners which examine how the design of cities, towns and buildings might better encourage physical activity.  It offers recommendations on how to build healthier communities, and covers issues such as strategic and urban planning, walking and cycling, urban green spaces and building design. It was written in partnership with Living Streets and CABE. 

The NHF continues to work to ensure that health is at the centre of planning policies.

Priorities

  1. Provides a forum in which members exchange information and ideas, co-ordinate activities, and form evidence based policy where action is needed.
  2. Collectively stimulates and advocates effective action at the national and international level through policy research and development, information and education.
  3. Facilitates working relationships between members and policy makers, and strengthens and develops public health capacity.

Our main objective is primary prevention through tackling the common primary risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, obesity and cancers. We work to create action, at the national and international level, on tobacco control, promoting physical activity through supportive environments and encouraging a healthy food economy and culture in the UK .

Web: www.heartforum.org.uk

National Heart Forum, Tavistock House South, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9LG

Tel: 020 7383 7638

Fax: 020 7387 2799