Physically inactive lifestyles are becoming more prevalent worldwide, as are the chronic diseases they cause. To change behavior on a population-wide basis, it is important to understand the underlying forces responsible for current patterns and trends. Among the many possible factors that are being studied, physical environment variables are particularly promising. There is substantial evidence linking the design of communities and access to recreational facilities with active transportation and recreation. Land development practices in many countries are increasingly based on automobile-oriented, suburban patterns that are risk factors for inactivity and overweight. Better understanding of how to create “activity-friendly” communities can advance science and can lead to evidence-based policy recommendations. Country-specific data are needed to provide evidence that is credible to policy makers.

A key reason for forming IPEN is that studies of environmental correlates of physical activity in any single country are likely to underestimate associations. This is because the range of environments in each country is limited. Eventually, we plan to conduct analyses of data pooled from multiple countries participating in IPEN. Pooled analyses should represent the full range of variation in environments and physical activity.

In 2000, Drs. Sallis, Saelens, and Frank were awarded a National Institutes of Health grant to study the environmental correlates of physical activity in the U.S. using objective measures of environments (Geographic Information Systems) and physical activity (Actigraphs). This is the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study (NQLS). In 2002, Dr. Owen was awarded a grant to conduct a similar study in Australia. It is named PLACE. Dr. De Bourdeadhuij used some of the same measures in a study in Belgium. We agreed the time was right to advocate for similar studies to be conducted in other countries, and there would be many advantages to using common study designs and measures. IPEN was formed to invite and support investigators around the world to participate in this new area of research that we believe has great public health significance. The core team has been joined by Dr. Jacqueline Kerr who has experience conducting research in Europe and is now based in San Diego. Dr. Michael Pratt of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is working with a network of physical activity investigators in Latin America.

At this point, we have limited resources to support IPEN investigators. However, we have materials to help you apply for funding in your own countries. We are seeking funding to support studies in multiple countries as well as the coordination function, but no such funds are available now. We invite suggestions for potential funders of international studies.