ENVIRONMENTAL AND POLICY APPROACHES TO CARDIOVASCULAR-DISEASE PREVENTION THROUGH NUTRITION - OPPORTUNITIES FOR STATE AND LOCAL-ACTION

This article reviews environmental and policy intervention approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention through nutrition and recommends opportunities for state and local health departments to initiate and p articipate in environmental and nutrition policy initiatives, By addre ssing these complementary aims, the authors hope to stimulate further efforts to achieve progress in nutrition promotion among state and loc al health-related organizations. Key categories of opportunity to deve lop new or expanded nutrition policies and environmental strategies in clude economic incentives, food assistance and feeding programs, regul ations for institutional food service operations, and nutrition servic es in health care. Environmental strategies to reduce barriers to foll owing dietary guidelines, such as point-of-choice programs and school nutrition programs, should be tailored for local communities and widel y disseminated. In addition, current federal policy efforts, notably n utrition labeling rules, will provide a valuable focal point for state and local advocacy, education, and monitoring.