Boston Steps is a community mobilization effort to address obesity, diabetes and asthma in eight neighborhoods that collectively have the highest disparities of these chronic diseases. The 25 square mile project area contains 58% of Boston’s total population and 70% of the city’s under-18 residents. These neighborhoods are Chinatown, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury, South Boston, and the South End.
 Unhealthy and harmful behaviors are more common within the project area than in other areas of Boston. Thirty-three percent of project area residents are overweight and 20% are obese. Twenty-three percent are current smokers and adult residents are 3 times more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than other City residents.
Boston Steps focuses on three chronic diseases and three key behaviors that impact these conditions: Steps Projects
The Boston Steps Community Action Plan provides an overview of the strategies Steps uses to promote healthy behaviors and reduce disease. The plan is organized around three core strategies. - Create and sustain a network of wellness activities and disease management supports;
- Systematically integrate support for health behavior change into medical care and school health services;
- Identify and address environmental and institutional factors that contribute to disease burden and disparities.
Diabetes programs work with community groups and residents to promote good nutrition, regular exercise and screening as ways to prevent and control diabetes. Asthma initiatives focus on children and families to manage symptoms and environmental contributors for better living. The Healthy Homes research project looks for ways to reduce the risk of asthma in the home, the Boston Community Centers help put on the Kids with Asthma Can Swim classes, and asthma training and education is offered to parents and community groups. NeighborWalk organizes residents to walk in their neighborhood at least once a week for 30 to 60 minutes. The walks promote physical activity and give residents opportunities to meet new people and show community spirit. This year, over 1700 members participated in Neighbor Walks around the city. Healthy Eating programs around the city help teach residents better nutrition and meal planning skills. WeCan classes give parents tools to keep children at healthy weights and the Steps to Wellness groups provide nutrition education as well. Boston BestBites: Food on the Lighter Side is a program of the Boston Public Health Commission that helps local restaurants to identify menu items meeting the latest nutritional guidelines. Check out our list of Best Bites restaurants. Boston Steps receives funding through the Steps to a Healthier US Cooperative Agreement Program through the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The national Steps Program, part of the President's HealthierUS initiative, funds communities nationwide to implement evidence-based interventions focused on reducing the burden of diabetes, obesity, and asthma. The program also works to address three related risk behaviors -- phyiscal inactivity, poor nutrition, and tobacco use. Want to check up on your health? Try some of these fun tools:
How well are you taking care of your body?
Do you meet the new dietary guidelines?
Do you know the truth about physical activity? | 
