Overview
PAA’s National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) is a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives for increasing physical activity in all segments of America. The Plan aims to foster a national culture that supports physically active lifestyles and lead the population to achieve the US Surgeon General’s Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. Its ultimate purpose is to improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life for all.
Published in 2016, the current NPAP builds on the inaugural US NPAP, published in 2010. The Plan was developed with input from hundreds of professionals, researchers, and public and private organization leaders, and underwent a mid-course revision in 2022 to update target dates and objectives based on policy and population health progress.
The Plan is organized into 10 societal sectors that bridge the gap between research, policy, and community action. The Plan recognizes the remarkable diversity of the American population and addresses the substantial disparities in physical activity across gender, age, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, physical, cognitive or sensory ability, and geography in all sectors, strategies, and tactics.
History of the National Physical Activity Plan
2007
- Organizational partners were recruited and a coalition was established as a public-private partnership.
- An interim Coordinating Committee was formed to guide the development of the NPAP.
- The NPAP project was initiated with funding from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
2008
- The Coordinating Committee developed the NPAP vision, mission, and goals as well as plans for launch, implementation, and evaluation of the forthcoming NPAP.
- Sector working groups were formed, one to represent each of the right societal sectors.
2009
- The first NPAP conference was held in Washington D.C. to facilitate development of the NPAP.
- A special issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health published eight white papers outlining the rationale for the forthcoming recommendations in the NPAP.
2010
- On May 3, 2010, the first U.S. National Physical Activity Plan was released during an event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.
2016
- On April 20, 2016, a new NPAP was launched during an event at the National Press Club in Washington D.C.
2022
- A new 10th sector for Military Settings was added to the National Physical Activity Plan. The new sector was launched via a virtual Congressional Briefing in July 2022
- The National Physical Activity Plan underwent a midcourse review and update which was completed December 2022. This is the most current version of the U.S. National Physical Activity Plan.