Active Living by Design

Active Living by Design (ALbD) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation that was established in 1998. It is a part of the School of Public Health at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Active Living by Design aims to increase physical activity in daily life through community design, public policies, and communications strategies.

In November 2003, Active Living by Design funded 25 community partnerships across the country to demonstrate how changing community design will impact physical activity. In July 2005, twelve of these partnerships also began piloting Healthy Eating by Design projects.

Active Living is a way of life that integrates physical activity into daily routines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that adults accumulate at least 30 minutes of moderately intense physical activity on five or more days per week. 

Individuals may achieve this by walking or bicycling for transportation, exercise or pleasure; playing in the park; working in the yard; taking the stairs; and using recreation facilities.

However, less than half of U.S. adults are active at the recommended rate.