Prevention Research Centers-Healthy Aging Research Network

(The USC PRC is one of 9 Healthy Aging Network (HAN) centers.)

Research to Practice Symposium:
Promoting Environmental and Policy Change to Support Healthy Aging
September 15-16, 2009
UNC William and Ida Friday Center for Continuing Education
Chapel Hill, North Carolina

A growing body of research points to the influence of the broader environment upon the health and health behaviors of older adults, but activity to promote environmental and policy change to support healthy aging is limited. This conference will serve as a catalyst for increased activity in environmental and policy change by stimulating discussion and equipping attendees with the background and tools to facilitate their work. It will feature the challenges amenable to environmental and policy change; the evidence that supports specific approaches and their outcomes; and promising strategies for practice. For symposium updates, please visit: http://prc-hanconferences.com/. For symposium inquiries, contact Gwen Moni at prchan@u.washington.edu.

A National Physical Activity Plan that will help Americans become physically active every day is being developed by researchers, healthcare professionals and educators throughout the United States. The USC PRC, with initial support from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has taken the lead to organize the groups involved in developing and implementing the plan, which is expected to be released in late 2009. Dr. Russell Pate, a Co-Investigator with the USC PRC, and one of the nation’s leading researchers on the link between physical activity and health, is chairing this effort.

Participating partners with the University of South Carolina include the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics; the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance; AARP; the American Cancer Society; Active Living Research; the American College of Sports Medicine; and the American Heart Association.

A conference seeking input from policymakers, scientists, healthcare providers and leaders in public health, education, transportation, media, business and industry and non-profit organizations will be held July 1 – 2, 2009, in Washington, D.C. Read more and register for the conference at
http://www.physicalactivityplan.org/conference2009.htm#Registration

THE STARS PROJECT

Dr. Patricia Sharpe, Research Pro fessor in the Department of Exercise Science and Prevention Research Center received an R01 research grant from the National Institutes of Health, which will take a comprehensive approach to behavior change among overweight and obese women in economically disadvantaged communities.   The project gives attention to individual attitudes and skills, socio-cultural factors, and environmental barriers and supports to behavior change, including economic barriers for women ages 25 to 50. The intervention will promote behavioral skills and social support for success in the context of challenges to healthy eating, physical activity, and weight loss.  To learn more about the project, go to http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/Projects/stars.htm

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