A Taste of Healthy Living: A Recreational Opportunity for People at Risk of Developing Type 2 Diabetes

The Saanich Peninsula Diabetes Prevention Project was a participatory research project exploring the contribution of recreation programs to the prevention of type 2 diabetes among at-risk populations. Addressing active living, healthy eating, and fostering social inclusion, “A Taste of Healthy Living” was one of the initiatives emerging from the extensive community assessment phase. The purpose of this article is to describe the program's influence on participants' lives. The findings showed that the program encouraged healthy and active lifestyles, and nurtured social capital. Public recreation served as a mechanism for the redistribution of “social wealth.”

Keywords:

• active living
• physical activity
• public recreation
• social capital

Notes

¹The First Nations bands opted to integrate walking—a culturally appropriate activity—into their schools and communities rather than implement the “A Taste of Healthy Living” program. The walking programs are described elsewhere (Wharf Higgins, Rickert, & Rutherford, 2004).