UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER NOTES
"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

Greetings from the faculty, staff, and students at the USC Prevention Research Center. We hope those of you who live in the Northern Hemisphere are enjoying the arrival of spring! It is certainly beautiful here in South Carolina.

The decade of the 1990's brought us a tremendous advancement in the public health efforts to increase physical activity awareness and action. Notable were the release of the CDC-ACSM position statement, the Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Fitness, and the NHLBI Consensus Statement on the health benefits of regular physical activity. We hope these reports have helped to reduce the levels of inactivity in the U.S. If you want to find out more about physical inactivity levels in your state, look at the website for the Division of Physical Activity and Nutrition at the CDC (http://preview.tinyurl.com/3cs4vt). They have provided an interactive program that allows you to review the 10-year trends (1990-2000) in physical inactivity by state. No doubt, you will find these data interesting for your program planning and evaluation. Best wishes in leading an active life.

Barb Ainsworth, Director
Dennis Shepard, Deputy Director
Delores Pluto, Newsletter Editor (dmpluto@sc.edu)
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu

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IN THIS ISSUE - March 2002

NEWS YOU CAN USE: World Health Day, National Public Health Week, National Walk to Lunch Day, Bike to Work Week/Day

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: FY 2003 US Budget, Congressional Hearing on Safe Routes to School, New Transportation Charter

RESEARCH NOTES: Lifestyle Intervention Reduces Incidence of Diabetes, Cycling to Work, PA Among European Seniors

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES: Economic Benefits of Promoting PA, Guidelines for Promoting PA & Nutrition, PA Evaluation Handbook, PA Guidelines For Infants & Toddlers, Health Promotion for Older Adults

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES: Working for the Nation's Wellness, Trail Finder Maps in NY, Cycling Safely in Chicago

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS: Bicycle Education Leaders Conference, National Health Education/Health Promotion Conference, National Trails Symposium

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NEWS YOU CAN USE

WORLD HEALTH DAY: Don't forget World Health Day - April 7. Find ways to "Move for
Health!" in your community on web sites hosted by the American Association for World Health (http://www.thebody.com/aawh/aawhpage.html), Pan American Health Organization (http://www.paho.org/default.htm), CDC
(http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/whd2004/default.htm), and WHO (http://www.who.int/world-health-day) Consider contacting media outlets in your area to make sure they are aware of World Health Day and that its focus is physical activity and health. Go to the links above for creative ideas to bring World Health Day home to your community.

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK: Celebrate "Healthy People In Healthy Communities" April 1-7, 2002. For a planning kit, go to the APHA website at http://www.apha.org/news/press/nphw.htm.

NATIONAL WALK TO LUNCH DAY: America Walks is declaring Wednesday, May 1, 2002, "National Walk to Lunch Day." According to the website, the idea is for people to walk at lunchtime because walking is good for people and communities. Many people who are unable to walk to work, for whatever reason, might be able to walk at lunch. The walk might be to a restaurant, to a park or plaza with a brown bag from home, or just around the block after eating.

BIKE TO WORK WEEK/DAY: For the 46th consecutive year, the League of American Bicyclists will declare May to be National Bike Month. The League is also promoting Bike to Work Week from May 13 - 17 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 17. For more information about planning associated events, go to http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

FY 2003 US BUDGET: President Bush's proposed budget for fiscal year 2003 contained good news for researchers by strongly supporting efforts to double the NIH budget. This establishes an important benchmark for Congress. While there is strong Congressional support for substantially increasing the NIH budget, there is also pressure put limited funds into other areas - particularly the war on terrorism. For the Centers for Disease Control, the outlook was less optimistic. The President recommended level funding for physical activity programs and elimination of the new media campaign that focuses on increasing activity among youth. The budget also proposes giving level funding to the Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant, which funds many state health department physical activity efforts. Sources on Capitol Hill speak of the need to highlight programs that work. For Congress to increase funding for physical activity, members want to see evidence that their investments in this arena are paying off.

CONGRESSIONAL HEARING ON SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL: On February 5, 2002, health and transportation officials and advocates took part in a Congressional Forum to discuss their efforts to create Safe Routes to School. Rep. Jim Oberstar of Minnesota, ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, convened and moderated the forum in the Library of Congress. In his opening statement, Rep. Oberstar lamented the health of an "entire generation of children who are mobility challenged." Dr. Jeff Runge, Administrator of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, emphasized the need to allow people of all ages to move about safely and freely, to enable commerce and to promote social interaction and health. He cautioned, however, against encouraging children to walk or bicycle without providing a safe street environment. Dr. Bill Dietz and Christine Branche of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said having safe routes to school is important in fighting physical inactivity and the obesity epidemic in children. Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) staff members Barbara McCann and James Corless discussed state?level efforts to use federal safety money for Safe Routes to School projects. While programs in California and Washington have experienced demand far in excess of funding, state Departments of Transportation have opposed proposals for similar programs in other states. At the forum, STPP released an updated Summary of Safe Routes to School Programs. The document is now available on STPP's website at http://www.transact.org.

NEW TRANSPORTATION CHARTER: The Surface Transportation Policy Project (STPP) has begun the Alliance for a New Transportation Charter, devoted to making transportation more sustainable, just, and environmentally wise. The group's charter says, in part, "We call now for the development and implementation of local, state, and national transportation policies that provide real changes in transportation planning and investments that fully embrace the following principles: Enhanced Public Health, Safety, and Security; Promotion of Social Equity and Livable Communities; Sustained Economic Prosperity; Improved Energy Use and Environmental Protection." The Alliance intends to highlight the successes of past federal funding of non-motorized and alternative transportation, and to begin to articulate needs for reauthorization of the Transportation Equity Act (TEA-21) in 2003. To read the rest of the Charter and to join, visit STPP's website at: http://www.transact.org.

RESEARCH NOTES

LIFESTYLE INTERVENTION REDUCES INCIDENCE OF DIABETES. This study compared the effects of a lifestyle-intervention program and the administration of metformin on the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes on individuals at high risk for developing the disease. 3234 non-diabetic individuals with increased risks for developing diabetes were randomly assigned to either a lifestyle intervention, metformin, or placebo group. Compared to the placebo group, the incidence of diabetes was lower in the lifestyle-intervention group by 58% and by 31% in the metformin group. Diabetes Prevention Program Research Group. "Reduction in the incidence of Type 2 Diabetes with lifestyle intervention or metformin." The New England Journal of Medicine, 346(6): 393-403, 2002.

CYCLING TO WORK: The Cycling 100 Project encouraged the use of bicycles as a means of transportation to work for people living in Perth, Australia. 100 people who lived close to work were provided with a loan bicycle and were required to replace four car trips to work each week for a year. At the end of the year, cyclists had replaced 121,000 kilometers of driving with cycling. Other measures revealed that significant improvements in physical work capacity, reductions in coronary risk ratio, increases in HDL levels, decreases in LDL levels, and increases in job satisfaction. Marshall. "Promoting Cycling for Health and Fitness." Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 12(3): 258-260, 2001.

PA AMONG EUROPEAN SENIORS: Europeans age 65 and older were interviewed about their beliefs and attitudes about physical activity and exercise, along with their levels of physical activity and health. Respondents ranked physical activity fifth in a list of the most important factors influencing health. Food, smoking habits, alcohol use, and stress, respectively, were the top four influences. With increasing age a greater proportion of subjects rated food as an important influence while a smaller proportion rated physical activity as important. Of the participants, 68% did not believe that they need more physical activity and 37% of those saw age as a barrier to physical activity. Additionally, 41% were not performing any physical activity while 50% were engaging in some activity 3.5 or more hours per week. The most common activities reported by active participants were walking, gardening, cycling, and swimming. Afonso, Graca, Kearney, et al. "Physical activity in European seniors: Attitudes, beliefs, and levels." The Journal of Nutrition, Health, and Aging, 5(4): 226-229, 2001.

For additional summaries of recent research on promoting physically active lifestyles, visit the Research Updates at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF PROMOTING PA: The National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW) has developed a short report on the economic benefits of bicycle- and pedestrian-based tourism and of trail development. This report provides links and bibliographic information to help communities justify improving environmental supports for physical activity. Find it at http://www.walkinginfo.org/why/benefits_economic.cfm.

GUIDELINES FOR PROMOTING PA & NUTRITION: The Association of State and Territorial Public Health Nutrition Directors' Nutrition and Physical Activity Work Group has published "Guidelines for Comprehensive Programs to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity". The document offers recommendations for making it easier to live a healthy lifestyle by counteracting the impact of living in a society that makes it easy to eat high-calorie foods while avoiding activity. State and local health advocates can use the Guidelines to create comprehensive nutrition, physical activity, and obesity control programs. The document is available on line at 6_resource_file1.pdf http://preview.tinyurl.com/2jsqs4.

PA EVALUATION HANDBOOK: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has published the "Physical Activity Evaluation Handbook." The Handbook outlines six basic steps of program evaluation and illustrates each step with physical activity program examples. Appendices provide information about physical activity indicators, practical case studies, and additional evaluation resources. Look for ordering information and links to the online document at http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/handbook/pdf/handbook.pdf.

PA GUIDELINES FOR INFANTS & TODDLERS: The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has released the first physical activity guidelines for infants and toddlers. Based on the recommendations of motor development experts, movement specialists, exercise physiologists, and medical professionals the report offers guidelines for each age group. The guidelines are intended for teachers, parents, caregivers, and health care professionals. Order copies of the full document (stock number 304-10254) by calling 1-800-321-0789. It costs $10 for NASPE/AAHPERD members and $13 for non-members.

HEALTH PROMOTION FOR OLDER ADULTS: The American Society on Aging (ASA) and the Roybal Institute of Applied Gerontology (with funding from the CDC) have collaborated to produce "Live Well, Live Long: Steps to Better Health," a health promotion and disease prevention project for older adults. The project will be composed of online modules to enhance practitioner and organizational capacity and understanding of the changing health and social service needs of an aging and more diverse population. The first module is a health promotion primer, which includes sections on Changing Behavior, Creating Health Promotion Campaigns, Working with Mass Media, and Creating Culturally Sensitive and Effective Health Promotion Materials. The module is available at http://www.asaging.org/cdc/index.cfm.

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

WORKING FOR THE NATION'S WELLNESS: On Feb. 26, 2002, the National Recreation & Park Association and U.S. Department of Health & Human Services announced the formation of a strategic partnership. Agencies within HHS will work with NRPA leaders and staff over the next year to develop programs, products, and services aimed at increasing physical activity and reducing overweight and obesity nationwide. Read the complete press release at http://www.health.gov/healthypeople/ or http://www.nrpa.org/.

TRAIL FINDER MAPS IN NY: The New York Parks and Conservation Association (NYPCA) launched Trail Finder Maps, a new online guide to community trails and greenways in New York State. The initiative is designed to get people outdoors to be active - to bike, walk, run, cross-country ski, ride horses, or ride snowmobiles. The website for Trail Finder Maps is http://www.ptny.org/greenways/map_files/8.new.shtml.

CYCLING SAFELY IN CHICAGO: Mayor Daley's Bicycling Ambassadors (managed by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation) teach motorists and bicyclists to better share city streets to reduce the number of bicycling-related injuries and create more livable neighborhoods. Teams of Ambassadors deliver bicycling expertise personally through demonstrations and conversations in public places and at events. The Program's 2001 Report, including an executive summary, campaign components, and easy to use educational materials, is available at http://www.bicyclingambassadors.org/handouts.html.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

BICYCLE EDUCATION LEADERS CONFERENCE: The League of American Bicyclists, the Wisconsin DOT, and the Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin will hold the Bicycle Education Leaders Conference for bicycle safety advocates and educators, June 3-5, 2002, in Madison, WI. Special topics of the conference include Safe Routes to School, Innovative Teaching Approaches, Safety, and Bicycle Friendly Communities.

NATIONAL HEALTH EDUCATION/HEALTH PROMOTION CONFERENCE: CDC and the Association of State and Territorial Directors of Health Promotion and Public Health Education are sponsoring the 20th annual Health Education and Health Promotion conference. "Strengthening America Through Health Education and Health Promotion Alliances" will be held in New Orleans, LA, June 5-7, 2002. Conference themes include Emerging Challenges, Threats, Epidemics, and Opportunities; Health Policy and Environmental Change; Innovative Approaches to Personal Health; and Technology, Media and Communications.

NATIONAL TRAILS SYMPOSIUM: Greenways & Trails - Crossing the American Landscape will be held November 13-16, 2002, in Haines City, FL (near Orlando). This is an opportunity for trail advocates, managers, planners, and users, as well as tourism, and business interests, to come together to communicate and experience an inspirational and educational conference.

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Writers: Delores Pluto, Lillian Smith, Regina Fields, Tracy Jenkins

This and past issues of the "University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center Notes" are available at our website. If you have an item you would like to submit, please send it to Delores Pluto at dmpluto@sc.edu.

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, e-mail the Prevention Research Center at USCPRC@gwm.sc.edu. When subscribing, please include your name, e-mail address, title, and organizational affiliation. There is no subscription cost.

For continuing discussions about physical activity, join the Physical Activity and Public Health On-Line Network listserv. Instructions are located on our website, at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu.

The USC Prevention Research Center is a member of the CDC Prevention Research Center's National Network, consisting of 26 Centers in the U.S. For more information about the PRC National Network, visit http://www.cdc.gov/prc/about-prc-program/.
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Prevention Research Center
Norman J. Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
730 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
803-777-4253

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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