“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”

This past April, I attended the International Congress on Physical Activity and Health. It was a wonderful event. For those who couldn't attend, papers from the 5 keynote speakers are now available in the latest issue of the Journal of Physical Activity and Health. I have enjoyed reviewing the comments and recommendations made by those brilliant speakers. I would urge all of us to revisit the major issues presented at that conference because I believe they will help shape the future research and practice endeavors of many of our institutions. Happy reading and Happy Holidays from all of us at the USC PRC!

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

NEWS YOU CAN USE

RESEARCH UPDATE SEARCH ENGINE ADDED TO USCPRC WEBSITE: The USC Prevention Research Center is excited to announce that the addition of a search engine for the Research Updates to our website. You can search our database for publications by categories which include type of study, purpose of the study, population demographics, setting and type of PA. Keep in mind this is not an all-inclusive PA research database; our database includes only publications that have been featured on the USCPRC website since 2001. Updates will be added to this site on a regular basis (1-2 articles a week) to provide individuals with up-to-date information on current advances being made in the area of promoting physically active lifestyles. We hope you find this new feature helpful!

WALK IT WEBSITE: Next time you're in London, use the WalkIt.com to help you get around the city. Enter your starting point and destination and the website will generate a map and directions for the best route and calculate the distance, walking time, calorie burn and CO2 potentially saved by avoiding the car, taxi or bus. Check it out at http://www.walkit.com/.

RESEARCH NOTES

PEOPLE AND PETS EXERCISING TOGETHER: The effectiveness of a weight loss program targeting obese humans and their obese companion dogs was assessed in a 1-year prospective, controlled trial. A people and pet group (PP) and a people only group (PO) met separately in small group sessions led by a registered dietician who provided nutrition and physical activity counseling over a one year period. The PP group also participated in activities to build cohesiveness with their pets and to increase self-efficacy for dog walking. Participants in both groups, including the overweight dogs, lost a significant amount of weight from baseline to 12 months and increased time spent in physical activity. There was no significant difference in weight loss between groups. The overweight dogs served as social support for the overweight owners during the intervention. Future interventions targeting social support for weight loss should consider including pets. Kushner RF, et al. "The PPET Study: People and Pets Exercising Together." Obesity, 14(10):1762-1770, 2006.

COMMUNITY COALITIONS ABILITY TO CREATE PA CLASSES FOR OLDER ADULTS: Twenty-five Active Aging Community Tasks Forces (AACTF) in 28 counties were formed to 1) increase awareness about the benefits of physical activity among older adults and their service providers, 2) increase the number of older adult exercise classes incorporating resistance exercises, and 3) increase the number of trained personnel to lead exercise classes. Progress reports and surveys were used to evaluate the AACTF's achievement of objectives. Over a 5-year period, 36 workshops to train exercise class instructors were held, 153 new exercise classes for older adults were created, and 81 previously existing classes incorporated resistance exercises. These exercise classes served about 7,200 older adults, who saw improvements in low back/hip range of motion, agility/dynamic balance, leg strength, and upper arm strength. In addition, AACTF members reported quality leadership and substantial progress in meeting their objectives to create safe, effective exercise classes for older adults. Hooker & Cirill. "Evaluation of community coalitions ability to create safe and effective exercise classes for older adults." Evaluation and Program Planning, 29(3):242-250, 2006.

PA PROGRAM FOR OLDER ADULTS WITH HIP FRACTURES: A group-based exercise program was evaluated to assess its effect on improving functional independence of community-dwelling older adults recovering from hip fracture. Twenty-seven hip-fracture patients were recruited from a rehabilitation unit in a large hospital. Participants were 65 years of age or older with good cognitive function and were planning to return home after inpatient rehabilitation. Seventeen patients were enrolled in a 16 week community exercise program, which involved functional stepping and lower extremity-strengthening exercises. Ten participants served as controls and received traditional home care. The 16 week community exercise program increased physical activity levels and improved mobility, balance, and quadriceps strength of the elderly patients recovering from hip fractures. This study further supports the use of group-based exercise programs among older adults to improve functional independence. Jones, Jakobi, Taylor, et al. "Community Exercise Program for Older Adults Recovering From Hip Fracture: A Pilot Study." Journal of Aging and Physical Activity, 14(4):439-455, 2006.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

PA GUIDELINES FOR AMERICANS: In late October, HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced that the Department will develop comprehensive guidelines, drawn from science, to help Americans fit physical activity into their lives. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans will be issued in late 2008. The guidelines will summarize the latest knowledge about activity and health, with depth and flexibility targeting specific population subgroups, such as seniors and children. Read the full press release at: http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2006pres/20061026.html.

OVERWEIGHT AND PA AMOUNG CHILDREN REPORT: A new Health Resources and Services Administration publication, "Overweight and Physical Activity Among Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation, 2005," reports on the prevalence of overweight and levels of physical activity among children and their families at the national and state levels using data from the 2005 National Survey of Children's Health. The report includes information for each state, easy-to-follow bar graphs, and breakdown analyses by ethnic and racial group. To view or download the report, go to: http://www.mchb.hrsa.gov/thechild/. [CDC PA Listserv 10/13/06]

SCHOOL HEALTH INDEX TRAINING MANUAL: School Health Index Training Manual is now available online from the CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health. The manual includes a packaged set of materials for conducting trainings or presentations on the School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide (SHI). It provides detailed materials and resources on how to implement the SHI in schools. Users can select the most appropriate sections of the SHI Training Manual and customize those components to best suit their needs. To view or download the manual, go to http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/SHI/Training/. [CDC PA Listserv, 10/27/06] OL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

ATLANTA BICYCLE CAMPAIGN OFFERS SRTS TOOLS: Visit the Safe Routes to School ''Tools'' section of the Atlanta Bicycle Campaign's website for other materials to help you create a program for your neighborhood school. Many of the materials offered on this website are available in Spanish and English, including a Parent Survey, a Pedestrian Education Flyer, Walking Schoolbus Guidelines, and a Pedestrian Safety Video. Go to http://www.atlantabike.org/, then click on Safe Routes to School on the left toolbar, then see the link to "Tools" at the bottom of the page. [CDC PA Listserv, 10/13/06]

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL ONLINE GUIDE: An online reference manual designed to support the development of Safe Routes to School programs is now available from the National Center for Safe Routes to School. Readers of the online guide can pick and choose specific topics based on their interests and needs, such as guidelines for adult school crossing guards or tools to create school route maps. The guide links to other SRTS publications and training resources. Go to: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/. [Centerlines #162]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

ALR ANNUAL CONFERENCE: Active Living Research Annual Conference will be held February 22-24, 2007 in Coronado, California. This year's conference, "Active Living in Diverse Communities," will focus on the prevention of obesity in communities, neighborhoods, children, and families. Go to http://www.activelivingresearch.org/index.php/Annual_Conference_2007/386 for conference agenda and registration.

SMART GROWTH CONFERENCE: The 6th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities will be held February 8-10 in Los Angeles, CA. The program will feature the latest on cutting-edge smart growth issues, implementation tools and strategies, best practices, interactive learning experiences, new partners, new projects, and new policies. For conference information and registration, go to: http://www.newpartners.org/.

HEALTHY AGING NETWORK RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM: The Healthy Aging Research Network Symposium: Effective Community-Based Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults Conference will be held in Seattle, WA on February 14-15, 2007. The conference presents best health promotion practices for older adults with attention to: reach to target audiences, efficacy/effectiveness of programs, adoption by target settings or institutions, implementation or fidelity of the intervention, and maintenance of the intervention effects. For conference information, go to http://www.son.washington.edu/cne/secure/display4.asp?SKU=07107-C.

WRITERS:

Lara Peck and Anna Price

“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”

I have benefited tremendously from utilizing the USC PRC Listserv twice in the past several months (if you are not a subscriber, directions on joining the Listserv are provided at the end of the newsletter). This list reaches over 1,200 persons throughout the world that have expertise in many facets of physical activity research and practice. Each time that I have approached members of the Listserv with a question, I have received timely advice and information that has helped me make well-informed decisions. Many times the information I received hadn't yet been disseminated because it was "hot off the press." This was very gratifying and extremely helpful. I would encourage you to utilize this resource often. After all, we're all in this together!

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NEW "EAT SMART. PLAY HARD." WEB PAGES: The USDA Food and Nutrition Service launched two new web pages that will help kids, parents, and caregivers put the new Dietary Guidelines and My Pyramid recommendations into action. The "Eat Smart. Play Hard." kids' web page (http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardkids) provides kids with interactive learning and skill-building experiences in a virtual community setting, and encourages and motivates them to make better lifestyle choices using kid-friendly, entertaining techniques. The new Healthy Lifestyle web page (http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardhealthylifestyle) provides parents and other caregivers with tools for healthy living including low cost menus and recipes that meet the new dietary guidelines. [SCCOPE News and Updates, 9/21/06]

RESEARCH NOTES

NEIGHBORHOOD PA QUESTONNAIRE: The Neighborhood Physical Activity Questionnaire (NPAQ) was designed to differentiate between recreation and transport walking both inside and outside of the neighborhood and to establish an overall index of physical activity behavior. The NPAQ was designed to overcome three specific challenges: the instrument had to 1) capture walking levels locally, 2) be a stable measure of habitual exercise and 3) differentiate between recreational and transport walking. The NPAQ was modeled on the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Active Australia Survey. A sample of 82 faculty and staff from local universities participated in a test-retest reliability study. The study concluded that the NPAQ is reliable for studies on environmental correlates of walking within the neighborhood. The tool reliably measures walking and total PA and can differentiate between recreation and transportation related walking inside and outside the neighborhood. Giles-Corti B, Temperio A, Cutt H, Pikora T, et al. Development of a reliable measure of walking within and outside the local neighborhood: RESIDE's Neighborhood Physical Activity Questionnaire. Preventive Medicine, 42(1):455-459, 2006.

WHY CANADIANS CYCLE MORE THAN AMERICANS: A review of bike usage in Canada and the U.S. revealed Canadians ride bicycles more than Americans due to land-use and transport policy differences. Canadians have shorter average trip distances than Americans due to denser, mixed-land use in Canadian cities. In addition, Canadians own fewer cars than Americans as Canadians' average incomes are lower than Americans, and the cost of purchasing and operating a car is higher in Canada. Furthermore, Canadians cities are more conducive to cycling due to accessible bike paths and lanes, sufficient bicycle parking, traffic calmed neighborhoods, and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations. However, cycling remains marginal in both the U.S and Canada compared to Western Europe. Additional bike paths and lanes, bike parking, and cycling education and promotional programs are suggested to further increase bike use in the U.S. and in Canada. Pucher J & Buehler R. Why Canadians cycle more than Americans: A comparative analysis of bicycling trends and policies. Transport Policy, 13: 265-279, 2006.

EVALUATION OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS: The August 6 issue of Evaluation and Program Planning (Volume 29, Issue 3) was just released, which contains a special section devoted to the evaluation of physical activity programs. Nine papers are included with topics including evaluation of programs designed for older adults and underserved youth; programs to increase walking; programs targeting individual, organization and policy change; and programs implemented at the community, state and national level. As such, the papers should be of keen interest to both researchers and practitioners. The table of contents and abstracts may be found at http://preview.tinyurl.com/2c9rur.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

NEW PA GUIDELINES FOR SCHOOLS: In the September 12, 2006 issue of Circulation, a scientific statement from the American Heart Association takes a comprehensive look at the role of schools in promoting physical activity among students. Policy and practice recommendations are included for physical education and other sources of daily physical activity. See the press release (which includes a summary of the recommendations) at: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3041345. The citation for the scientific statement is: Pate RR, Davis MG, Robinson TN, Stone EJ, et al. Promoting physical activity in children and youth: A leadership role for schools: A scientific statement from the American Heart Association Council on Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Metabolism (Physical Activity Committee) in collaboration with the Councils on Cardiovascular Disease in the Young and Cardiovascular Nursing. Circulation, 114(11);1214-1224, 2006.

PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT: A report entitled "Understanding the Relationship between Public Health and the Built Environment" presents a comprehensive picture of the elements of the built environment that have the greatest positive impact on these public health outcomes based on research. The report focuses on five public health topics - respiratory and cardiovascular health, fatal and non-fatal injuries, physical activity, social capital and mental health. One chapter focuses on physical activity and the relationship between the built environment and rates of walking, cycling and mass transit. The report was prepared for the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to help prepare of a rating system for neighborhoods called LEED-ND (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Neighborhood Development). The report can be downloaded at:
http://www.cnu.org/node/105. [SCCOPE News and Updates, 9/21/06]

COMMUNITY GUIDE PA RECOMMENDATIONS: Three new summary sheets have been added to the website for The Guide to Community Preventive Services about policy and environmental approaches to promoting physical activity (http://www.thecommunityguide.org/pa/default.htm). These documents summarize the findings concerning street-scale and community scale urban design and land use policies and practices and transportation and travel policies and practices. A detailed report on the evidence and findings appears in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 3(Suppl 1):S55-S76, 2006.

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

BUILDING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES FOR OLDER ADULTS: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with partner organizations across the country, is developing a national pilot program called "Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging," to recognize communities that factor into community planning, environmental considerations and the need for older adults to be physically active. The goal of the program is to raise awareness about the importance of linking Smart Growth with the need for and desire by older adults to be physically active. For more information about the program, go to http://www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

NCBW ANNOUNCES ROUND VI OF WALKABLE COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS: The National Center for Bicycling & Walking has announced that applications are now available for the Spring/Summer 2007 round of Walkable Community Workshops (WCWs). Applications are due by October 27th. More information about the workshops and a downloadable application can be found at:
http://www.bikewalk.org/workshopapplication.php. Direct questions about the WCW program or the application to Mark Plotz at mark@bikewalk.org, or call him at (301) 656-4220.

ACTIVE AGING 2006: The 4th Annual ICAA Conference: Active Aging 2006 will be held November 15-17, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. For conference brochure and more information, go to http://www.icaa.cc/convention.htm.

WRITERS:

Lara Peck, Delores Pluto, Anna Price, Matt Thomas

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

The last two months have been very stressful for me due to some serious personal matters that families are faced with from time to time. Despite being away from home for several weeks, living out of a hotel, and not having a set routine, the one constant that I had during this time was regular exercise. No matter where I was or what I was experiencing, a healthy dose of exercise during the day tremendously helped me deal with the stress. It was like having an old friend along for the ride, and this provided much-needed aid and comfort. I sometimes forget about the mental and emotional benefits of regular physical activity, but due to this recent experience I can personally testify that these types of benefits are real and can be as important as the physical benefits. If you're feeling overwhelmed, take a break, go for a walk or run or bike ride. You'll be amazed at how this can help clear your head and take the edge off. Your challenges won't go away, but your capacity to deal with them will be greatly improved.

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

FEATURE STORY

STEP UP! STEP OUT!: Step Up! Step Out! is a physical activity intervention conducted by the USC Prevention Research Center in partnership with Sumter County Active Lifestyles and the Sumter County Recreation and Parks Department in Sumter County SC. The Step Up! Step Out! website is now available online and is appropriate for adults, men and women. Weekly behavioral tips, an exercise log, testimonials, safety tips and other information can be used help individuals become more physically active. While some of the information, such as where to exercise, has been tailored to the project community in South Carolina, most of the tools and info can be used anywhere. Go to http://www.sumtercountyactivelifestyles.org and click on the Step Up! Step Out! logo. Information about the project, including a list of publications can be found on the PRC website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/sips/promotion.htm.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

WALK TO SCHOOL MONTH: October is International Walk to School Month. Go to http://www.walktoschool.org to be a part of the global events and to make your community more active.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

PERSONAL HEALTH INVESTMENT TODAY (PHIT) ACT: In May, Congressman Weller (R-IL) Introduced the Personal Health Investment Today Act of 2006 (HR 5479). The legislation was written to encourage Americans to change their behaviors and increase their physical activity in order to help curb the overweight/obesity trend and its role in increasing chronic disease. PHIT will allow individuals to place up to $1,000 annually in existing pre-tax Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Health Savings Accounts (HSA), Medical Savings Accounts (MSA) and medical reimbursement arrangements to pay for exercise programs and equipment, youth and adult sports league fees, fitness and health club dues, etc. To view the bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter the bill number. [The Activity Advocate, June 2006]

RESEARCH NOTES

PA PROGRAMS FOR OLDER ADULTS: Two evidence-based physical activity programs for older adults, Active Choices (a 6-month telephone-based program) and Active Living Every Day (a 20 week group-based program), were implemented by 9 community based-organizations across the United States to determine if they could be translated into community settings. The posttest survey results of 608 participants (257 in Active Choices and 333 in Active Living Every Day) showed statistically significant increases in MVPA and total PA, an increase in satisfaction of body appearance and functions and decreases in depressive symptoms and perceived stress and BMI. These findings suggest that both programs can be successfully translated in community settings. Wilcox, Dowda, Griffin, et al. "Results of the first year of Active for Life: Translation of 2 evidence-based physical activity programs for older adults." American Journal of Public Health, 96(7):1201-1209, 2006.

INTERNET PA INTERVENTION FOR GIRLS: In North Carolina, 319 adolescent girls (grades 6-8) with home Internet access participated in a two week physical activity intervention to compare a web-based intervention to print media. One hundred eighty-one girls received the intervention materials via the Internet and 181 received printed materials. It was hypothesized that the Internet group would show greater increases in physical activity self-efficacy and intentions. Both Internet and print groups showed significant changes in self-efficacy. Only the print group showed significantly greater increases in intentions to be active and a small but significant increase in self-reported physical activity. Marks, Campbell, Ward, et al. "A Comparison of Web and Print Media for Physical Activity Promotion among Adolescent Girls." Journal of Adolescent Health, 39(1):96-104, 2006.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

2ND EDITION COMPLETE STREETS GUIDE: The second edition of the Thunderhead Alliance Guide to Complete Streets Campaigns is now available through all on-line book sellers. The Guide provides an analysis of current complete streets policies and step-by-step campaign development process. Elected and appointed officials, community leaders and concerned citizens will be ready to take part in current campaigns or launch their own campaign after reading the Guide. For more information, go to http://www.thunderheadalliance.org/ and click on "Complete the Streets." [Thunderhead Alliance's The Weather Report, 06/28/06]

LAND USE AND HEALTH TOOLBOX: The "Land Use and Health Toolbox: Resources on Health and the Built Environment" is now available online. The National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO) has assembled fact sheets, guides, PowerPoint presentations, web casts, policy reports and other resources to assist health practitioners, elected officials, and community planners make the connection between public health, community design and the built environment. To access the toolbox, go to http://www.naccho.org/topics/hpdp/land_use_planning/LUP_Toolbox.cfm. [Livability Listserv, 06/12/06]

ENACT LOCAL POLICY DATABASE: The Prevention Institute, with funding from The California Endowment, has made available online the Environmental Nutrition and Activity (ENACT) Local Policy Database. The searchable database is designed to provide community advocates, health professionals, policymakers and those working in related fields with concrete examples of local-level policies that have been adopted and/or implemented to improve nutrition and physical activity environments. Have you worked on a local policy to make healthier eating easier for your community, developed a local plan to improve walkability, or established a policy to make sure students get active? You can submit examples of policies to include in this database. To view the database or to submit your local policy, go to http://www.preventioninstitute.org/sa/policies.

DEVELOPING MESSAGES ABOUT PA: CDC's VERB campaign has completed a set of reports that present recurrent themes and recommendations for developing successful messages about physical activity. The reports are based on three years of concept and message testing among tweens (children 9-13) and parents in four ethnic groups, as well as the general market. In addition, a new report entitled "Inspiring Children's Physical Activity: Exploratory Research with Parents" describes factors that influence parents to encourage their child's participation in physical activity. The report summarizes the results of focus groups and in-home interviews conducted with mothers of 9- to 13-year-olds in 2003. These and other reports can be found at http://preview.tinyurl.com/2jfqzr.

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

ON COMMON GROUND MAGAZINE EXAMINES SMARTH GROWTH: On Common Ground magazine, published by the Government Affairs office of the National Association of Realtors® (NAR), features a wide range of views on Smart Growth issues with the goal of encouraging a dialogue among Realtors®, elected officials and other interested citizens. The Summer 2006 issue, "New Urbanism is Blooming," examines urban planning and real estate development in regards to walkable communities. Hard copies of this magazine are distributed free of charge. Go to http://www.realtor.org/SG3.nsf/Pages/summer06?OpenDocument to view current and past issues.

STREET SHARE CAMPAIGN: The Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin, the Safe Community Coalition of Madison, and Dane County, Wisconsin recently launched the Street Share Campaign to improving traffic safety in rural and urban areas where motorists and cyclists must share the road. The campaign includes PSA's, increased enforcement of motorist and bicyclist compliance with traffic laws and target education of children and bicycling community. The campaign is funded through memorial donations for Jessica Bullen who was killed in a bike/car collision in 2005. Go to http://www.ghostbikes.net/projects/motoristeducation.php to learn more. [BikeLeague News 07/03/2006]

SRTS PROGRAM TO BE ADAPTED FOR INNER CITIES: Current SRTS programs are not adequately addressing urban conditions that can pose multiple hazards to children and the limited availability of adults to participate in typical startup activities. To address this limitation, Sharon Roerty and Mark Plotz of the Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) are adapting Safe Routes to School program activities to the inner city. They are conducting interviews with Safe Routes to School (SRTS) practitioners and champions in the U.S and abroad who have implemented SRTS initiatives urban settings. If you have organized or been involved in SRTS programs in inner city schools and would like to share you experiences, please contact Mark Plotz at mark@bikewalk.org or Sharon Roerty at sharon@bikewalk.org. To learn more about the ALRC and SRTS, go to: http://www.activelivingresources.org. [Centerlines #152]

ONLINE PROMOTIONAL VIDEO FOR SRTS: The League of American Bicyclists has produced a 4 -minute, non-technical, promotional video to promote the new Safe Routes to School program to your local school board or PTA. The piece was developed by the League with the help of a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Go to http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/saferoutes/video.php to view the video. [American Bicyclist Update, 07/31/06]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

2006 COOPER INSTITUTE CONFERENCE SERIES: The 2006 Cooper Institute Conference Series "Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity" will be held October 26 -28, 2006 in Dallas, Texas. The deadline for abstract submissions is August 20. For conference information, go to http://www.cooperinst.org/conf2006intro.asp

SOPHE 57th ANNUAL MEETING: SOPHE's 57th Annual Meeting, Health as a Human Right: Health Education, Equality and Social Justice for All, will be held in Boston, MA on Nov 2-4. September 8 is the deadline for Early Bird pre-registration and application for student scholarships. Go to http://www.sophe.org for more conference information.

ACTIVE LIVING RESEARCH 2007 CONFERENCE: The Active Living Research Fourth Annual Conference will be held at the Coronado Island Marriott Resort in Coronado, CA on February 22-24, 2007. Conference information, including agenda, hotel and registration, will be available soon at http://www.activelivingresearch.org/index.php/Annual_Conference_2007/386.

WRITERS:

Lara Peck, Delores Pluto

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

There has been a surge in the attention to childhood obesity in recent weeks with the release of new national data and the announcement by leading beverage companies of their intention to remove "empty" calorie, sugar-ladened drinks from school vending machines. Several large media outlets, including nationally-syndicated talk radio, have again shined the spotlight on the issue. We must continue to be careful, however, not to marginalize persons, especially children, who are overweight. I've always liked the motto "physical activity for all," meaning for persons of all ages, cultures, abilities, and sizes. With summer approaching, may we provide ALL persons with opportunities to engage in enjoyable physical activities.

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

NEWS YOU CAN USE

TOP 10 WALKING CITIES IN US: Prevention Magazine and the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) have named the Top 10 cities for walking the United States. One hundred cities were evaluated based on the percentage of people who regularly walk-either for fitness and health or to get to and from work, low crime rates, mild year-round temperatures, the number of cultural attractions, participation in recreational sports, and pet ownership. The top 10 cities for 2006 are: 1. Portland, Oregon 2. Colorado Springs, Colorado 3. Madison, Wisconsin 4. Boise City, Idaho 5. Las Vegas, Nevada 6. Austin, Texas 7. Virginia Beach, Virginia 8. Anchorage, Alaska 9. Fremont, California 10. Raleigh, North Carolina. The list appears in Prevention's annual April walking issue. Go to http://www.prevention.com/article/0,,s1-2-92-34-6707-1,00.html to read the article. [Livability Listserv, 4/14/06]

BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES: The League of American Bicyclists has announced the 2006 Bicycle Friendly Communities. Fifteen cities earned or renewed the designation in April 2006, and four communities earned an Honorable Mention. The cities earning "gold" designation are: Madison, WI, San Francisco, CA and Tucson/Pima Eastern Region, AZ. The program analyzes bicycle friendliness in five areas: education, enforcement, encouragement, engineering and evaluation. The Bicycle Friendly Community program is supported by a grant from Bikes Belong. For more information, go to: http://www.bicyclefriendlycommunity.org/ [Bike League News 4/24]

50th ANNIVERSARY OF PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND SPORTS: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is celebrating its 50-year anniversary in 2006 and invites you to become 50th Anniversary Partners to Get America Moving. Partners will receive the official PCPFS 50th Anniversary logo; a link and notable mention on the PCPFS web site and President's Challenge web site; invitations to participate in celebratory activities at the national, state, and local levels; and tools and messages to incorporate into state and community programs. Go to http://www.fitness.gov/50thanniversary/50th_anniv_partner_info.htm for registration information and a PCPFS 50th Anniversary Toolkit. [AoA E-News]

NATIONAL SOCIETY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PRACTIONERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH: Physical activity practitioners from state health departments formed the National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health in April. The Society's mission is to elevate physical activity as a public health priority through engagement, education, and expansion of partnerships. Visit the Society's website to become a member at http://www.pacollaborative.org. More resources and news about the Society will be posted soon. [CDC PA Listserv 5/17/06]

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

HEALTHY PLACES ACT: The Healthy Places Act of 2006 (S.2506/H.R.5088) brings together all levels of government to address environmental health issues by: (1) establishing and supporting health impact assessment programs to proactively examine the potential health effects of major policy or programmatic changes, (2) creating a grant program to assist states and local communities to address environmental health hazards, particularly those that contribute to health disparities and (3) accelerating research on the relationship between the built environment and health, as recommended by two Institute of Medicine reports. Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to view the bill and status.

RESEARCH NOTES

MULTI-SCALE ANALYSIS OF BUILDING COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE PA: Development patterns, travel behavior, and physical activity were assessed in a three-scale (regional, city, and city-block level) analysis of urban built environments in American cities. Evidence shows that walking and cycling will be encouraged if destination distances are reduced and streetscapes are safe, but may not result in more Americans meeting PA recommendations. Race and class issues factor in because pedestrian-oriented environments have historically been adopted by wealthier municipalities that can fund such landscapes. Public health improvements are inextricably linked to social and racial equity. American municipalities need to balance the needs of pedestrians, cyclists, automobiles, and public transport. Vojnovic. Building communities to promote physical activity: a multi-scale geographical analysis. Geografiska Annaler, 88B(1); 67-90, 2006.

PA AND ADOLESCENT RISK BEHAVIORS: Adolescents provided data about physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors and their relation to different risk behaviors for the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. The final sample of 5,979 males and 5,978 females included 70% white, 14% black, 11% Hispanic, and 4% Asian adolescents. Results of regression analysis show that participating in a broad range of physical activities is associated with less participation in risky behaviors and more positive health outcomes, like higher self-esteem. Adolescent PA is complex and relates to metabolic, behavioral, and social processes. Nelson & Gordon-Larsen. "Physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns are associated with selected adolescent health risk behaviors." Pediatrics, 117(4):1281-1290.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

NCBW LAUNCHES NEW WEB SITE: The National Center for Bicycling and Walking has launched new revisions to its website. Revisions include a new page for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference and a new element called the "State of the Practice," which features designing for accessibility and pedestrian and bicycle access guides and resources frequently used by experts in the field. Send your ideas for other resources to John Williams, the resources section editor, at john@montana.com. Check out the new additions at http://www.bikewalk.org.

CHILDHOOD OBESITY POLICY STATEMENT FROM AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a policy statement, "Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity Through Increased Physical Activity," which recommends that physicians, health care professionals, schools, communities and families all work together to help improve nutrition and encourage physical activity. In regards to physical activity, the policy recommends that physicians and health care professionals aggressively advocate for school and community recreation programs that encourage physical activity; reinstatement of compulsory, quality, daily physical education programs; protection of school recess time; creation of safe recreational facilities, parks, playgrounds, bicycle paths, sidewalks and crosswalks; and social marketing that promotes physical activity. The full policy statement can be found in the May 2006 issue of Pediatrics, 117(5); 1834-1842, 2006. View the press release at http://www.aap.org/advocacy/releases/may06physicalactivity.htm.

LET'S JUST PLAY!: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has partnered with Nickelodeon to launch the Go Healthy Challenge with the introduction of four real children on their quest to eat better, play harder, and feel better. Kids can join the challenge on the Let's Just Play website. The website also includes health tips, monthly challenges, recipes and message boards. Kids can visit http://www.nick.com/letsjustplay to view the website. Professionals can visit http://preview.tinyurl.com/2kbouk for more information about the program and partnership.

NATIONAL SRTS CLEARINGHOUSE: The University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center (HSRC) has been awarded $6 million in funding to assist communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. The HSRC, funded for 5 years by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, will establish a clearinghouse on the National Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, a federal program established to create safe settings where more parents and children can walk and bicycle to school. The clearinghouse will provide technical assistance to SRTS program coordinators and serve as the central hub of information on successful strategies and programs. The HSRC also will be responsible for developing educational programs, as well as developing and maintaining a website, listserv and toll-free phone number. Visit the clearinghouse website at: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION (PE) IN SCHOOLS

PE CURRICULUM ANAYLSIS TOOL: The Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) is now available from CDC to help school districts conduct clear, complete, and consistent analyses of written physical education curricula, based upon national physical education standards. The tool features preliminary curriculum considerations, such as accuracy and feasibility analyses, content and student assessment analyses, customizable templates for state or local use, and scorecards and curriculum improvement plan worksheets that can be shared with key stakeholders, school administrators or other groups interested in strengthening PE programs. Results from the analysis can help schools enhance an existing curriculum, develop their own curriculum, or select a published curriculum, for the delivery of quality PE in schools. The tool is available online at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/pecat. [CDC PA listserv 4/27/06]

2006 SHAPE OF THE NATION REPORT: The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and the American Heart Association have released the 2006 Shape of the Nation Report: Status of Physical Education in the USA. The report finds that most states receive a failing grade on their PE requirements. It recommends that PE instruction be the cornerstone of a comprehensive school physical activity program that also includes health education, elementary school recess, after-school physical activity clubs and intramurals, high school interscholastic athletics, walk/bike to school programs, and staff wellness programs. The complete report, including mandates, executive summary, and state policies and profiles, is available at http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/ShapeOfTheNation/.

NUTRITION AND PA IN US ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) has released "Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005." The report, based on a survey conducted by NCES of elementary schools in the United States, includes findings on the types of food available (besides full school meals) and the opportunities available for students to engage in physical activity, such as recess and PE classes. The report indicated elementary students spend an average of 208 to 222 minutes per week in scheduled recess and PE. To read the full report, visit: http://nces.ed.gov/Pubs2006/nutrition/.

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

COMPLETE STREETS CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED: The National Complete Streets Coalition has announced the launch of the Complete Streets Campaign. Seed funds from Bikes Belong, AARP, and American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) allow work to begin on the three-part campaign to encourage adoption of complete streets policies across the country. The Coalition will spread the word on the benefits of complete streets; build the coalition to create a powerful broad-based movement for complete streets; and help get it right when jurisdictions are ready to adopt a policy. A downloadable brochure and complete street policies and recommendations are available at http://www.completestreets.org.

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

2006 COOPER INSTITUTE CONFERERNCE SERIES: Registration for the 2006 Cooper Institute Conference Series "Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity" is now open. The conference, to be held October 26 -28, 2006 in Dallas, TX , will focus on developing collaborative frameworks for researchers, practitioners, and educators in the fields of public health, parks, and recreation. For conference and registration information, go to http://www.cooperinst.org/conf2006intro.asp.

PRO WALK/PRO BIKE CONFERENCE: Schedules and registration information for the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Madison, WI will be available on the National Center for Bicycling and Walking website on May 30. The conference will be held September 5 - 8, 2006. Go to http://www.bikewalk.org/conference/index.html for conference information.

SRTS NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP MEETING: The SRTS National Partnership Annual Meeting will be held on Friday, September 8 from 3-6 PM directly after the conclusion of the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Madison, WI. The Partnership will hold a separate registration for its annual meeting. More information will be forthcoming soon.
[CDC PA listserv 5/11/06]

WRITERS:

Lara Peck, Alicia Norris

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

The International Congress on Physical Activity (PA) and Public Health will celebrate the 10 -year anniversary of the Surgeon General's Report on PA and Health. It's hard to believe that much time has passed since its release. It is more amazing how far PA research and practice have progressed over the past decade. There has been a tremendous increase in our understanding of factors influencing PA behavior and the application of such knowledge. The conference certainly will be a celebration, but it undoubtedly will showcase how much more work remains to be accomplished. Along with all of you, the USC PRC is poised to contribute to that work. I hope to see you in Atlanta!

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NATIONAL TRAILS DAY: The 14th Annual National Trails Day is Saturday, June 3, 2006. This year's slogan is "Experience Your Outdoors," encouraging Americans to get outside, get active, and experience the wonders of trails in their own communities and throughout the country. Visit American Hiking Society's web site at http://www.americanhiking.org/events/ntd/index.html for event planning and promotional ideas.

70,000 STEPS IN 7 DAYS WALKING CHALLENGE: "Steppin' Out," the National Walking Challenge, encourages local communities to get up and move by striving for 70,000 steps in seven days. The challenge will involve wearing a pedometer and tracking how many steps a day a person is achieving. The community who achieves the most steps in the seven days will receive national recognition through press releases, the Medical Fitness Association (MFA) website, and the MFA's 2006 Annual Conference in Las Vegas. Visit http://www.medicalfitness.org for more information and to register. [CDC PA Listserv 2/22/06]

101 TIPS FOR FAMILY FITNESS FUN: The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) and Walk4Life, Inc. have teamed up to remind parents that children learn by example and have suggestions for getting more physically active with their new brochure, "101 Tips for Family Fitness Fun." To receive a free copy and information about bulk rate costs or to purchase copies, call 1-800- 321-0789 or visit http://www.aahperd.org/naspe/. The stock number is 304-10322. The brochure is also available in Spanish. [CDC PA Listserv 2/14/06]

PEPSI AND YMCA PARTNER TO FIGHT OBESITY: YMCA of the USA and PepsiCo recently announced a five-year alliance totaling $11.6 million in support to America's YMCAs through 2010. This new agreement supports YMCA Activate America, a health initiative that seeks to make healthy living a reality for millions of Americans. The alliance includes program development and marketing initiatives designed to strengthen and promote YMCAs resource for healthy living. To learn more about Activate America, go to http://www.ymca.net/activateamerica. To read the March 8th PepsiCo press release, go to http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=78265&p=IROL-newsPepsiCo2006. [Centerlines #145]

RESEARCH NOTES

ACCESS TO PA FACILITIES, PA AND OVERWEIGHT IN ADOLESCENTS: Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, data for 42,857 ethnically diverse adolescents was examined to determine if disparities in access to recreational facilities effect PA and overweight patterns. Adolescents in lower socioeconomic status (SES) and high-minority neighborhoods had accessibility to fewer exercise and recreational facilities, which in turn was associated with decreased PA and increased overweight. SES disparities in PA and overweight patterns may be a result of inequality in availability of PA facilities. Gordon-Larsen, Nelson, Page, Popkin. "Inequality in the Built Environment Underlies Key Health Disparities in Physical Activity and Obesity." Pediatrics. 117:417-24, 2006.

EXERICISE AND DEMENTIA RISK: One thousand seven hundred forty adults age 65 and older who scored above the 25th percentile on the Cognitive Ability Screening Instrument (CASI) participated in a study to determine if exercise is associated with reduced risk for dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Over 6 years, those who exercise 3 or more times per week had a reduced incidence rate of dementia (13 per 1000 persons-years) compared to those who exercise few that 3 times per week (19.7 per 1000 persons-years) suggesting exercise is associated with reduced risk of dementia. Larson, Wang, et al. "Exercise is associated with Reduced Risk for Incident Dementia among Person 65 Years of Age and Older." Ann Intern Med. 144:73-81, 2006.

JOURNALS FOCUS ON PA: Several recently published journals have published special issues focusing on PA. Leisure Sciences (Volume 27, Number 5, October - December 2005) highlights recreation, leisure activities and active lifestyles. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise (Volume 37, Issue 11, November 2005) focuses on objective monitoring of physical activity and the use of accelerometers. The Journal of the American Planning Association (Volume 72, Issue 1, Winter 2006) focuses on planning's role in building healthy communities. The Journal of Physical Activity and Health (Volume 3, Supplement 1, 2006) highlights papers presented at the 2nd Annual Active Living Research Conference in February 2005.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

PROCEEDINGS FROM WHISTLER 2001 CONFERENCE NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE: Presentations from CDC and Health Canada's 2001 conference, "Communicating Physical Activity and Health Messages," are now available on the Lifestyles Information Network's website. The conference was convened to consider dose-response implications for PA messages and improved strategies to promote PA and to create "activity friendly" environments. The presentations are available for downloading at. http://adp.lin.ca/resource//html/whistler/whistlertoc.htm [CDC PA-list, March 3, 2006]

SCHOOL HEALTH AND WELLNESS

HEALTHY SCHOOL PROGRAM LAUNCHED: The Alliance for a Healthier Generation (Clinton Foundation, American Heart Association, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation) is launching the Healthy School Program to help schools create environments that foster healthy lifestyles and ultimately prevent overweight and obesity among students. The program will set standards for schools, help schools meet those standards, and recognize and reward those schools that meet the standards. The program is made possible by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Applications for the program will be available beginning July 1, 2006, at http://www.healthiergeneration.org or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1. [CDC PA Listserv 2/14/06]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

MINNESOTA CITIES STRIVE TO BE FIT CITIES: Cities in Minnesota can apply to be designated as a Governor's Fit City by creating and maintaining a city environment supportive of active living. Cities can do various things to qualify as a Fit City, such as implement a worksite wellness policy for city employees; provide and maintain recreation areas, parks, playgrounds, and playfields; promote or sponsor a physical activity event; or build community awareness about locations, services, and organizations dedicated to fitness/physical activity. The Minnesota Dept. of Health website describes qualification criteria and the application process. Go to http://www.health.state.mn.us/fitcity/. [CenterLines Issue #142]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

29th ANNUAL DIABETES CONFERENCE: CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation and Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity will convene the 2006 Annual Diabetes Conference May 16-19, 2006 in Denver, CO. This year's theme is Obesity: A Look to the Future. For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/conferences/index.htm.

WRITERS:

Lara Peck, Delores Pluto

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

A new year brings new hope and optimism - particularly in the form of resolutions to be more active and eat better. Eleven YMCAs in South Carolina have banded together with community partners to sponsor the "Shrinkdown," a free, 8-week healthy lifestyle program. Nearly 25,000 people have registered, signifying the demand for such a program. I know that many of you are involved in similar efforts to improve the health of others. My hope is that our individual and collective research, policy and practice endeavors in 2006 will help us discover the means to actively engage as many people as possible who are thirsting for better health.

Steve Hooker, PhD, Director
Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor

NEWS YOU CAN USE

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK 2006: "Designing Healthy Communities; Raising Healthy Kids" - that's the theme of this year's National Public Health Week. For information about how you can be involved, go to http://preview.tinyurl.com/yvw8bx

GOOGLE MAP PEDOMETER: The Google Map Pedometer is now available. This is a fun tool that allows you to plot and calculate the distance of your own walking route. There is also a calorie converter so you can figure out how many calories you burned on your walk. Visit: http://www.webwalking.com/googlemap.htm

NEW WEBSITE FOR ALBERTA CENTRE FOR ACTIVE LIVING: The Alberta Centre for Active Living has a newly designed website that allows you to find physical activity information much more easily. Use the Advanced Search feature to find information in one or more categories. Check it out at http://www.centre4activeliving.ca [WellSpring, December 2005]

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE PRESIDENT'S COUNCIL: The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. To become a 50th Anniversary Partner to Get America Moving, go to http://www.fitness.gov/news-partnerinvitation.htm

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AMENDMENTS FOR NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND: Senator Cornyn (R-TX) and Representative Wamp (R-TN) have each introduced a bill (S1276 & HR4359) that would amend No Child Left Behind Act to include physical education. The bills require content and performance standards for physical education beginning in school year 2006-2007 as part of a state plan for compliance under the law. By the 2008-2009 school year, states would also have to assess student progress in physical education. Go to http://thomas.loc.gov/ to view the bill's text and summary. [The Activity Advocate, Nov/Dec 2005]

WORKPLACE HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM (WHIP): Advocates continue to work on securing co-sponsors for the WHIP (HR1634/S772) and are now up to 51 on the House side and 8 on the Senate side. Advocates are optimistic that the bill will make it to the floor in 2006. A Workplace Fitness Coalition has been established and is comprised of organizations in support for the WHIP bill. For more information, please email sfranklin@ncppa.org. [The Activity Advocate, Nov/Dec 2005]

GUIDE FOR SR2S PROGRAM IMPLEMENTION: The Federal Highway Administration has issued detailed guidance to the states on how to implement the $612 million Safe Routes to School program created by SAFETEA-LU in August 2005. The 23-page guidance memo carefully balances the overall goals of the program with the need to preserve flexibility among the states on how they implement the new program. Go to http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/index.htm for more details. [American Bicyclist Update 1/9/06]

RESEARCH NOTES

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PIE: The Urho Kaleva Kekkonen (UKK) Institute for Health Promotion Research in Tampere, Finland developed a new way to present a clear physical activity message. A Physical Activity Pie was developed to combine the physical activity recommendations for health and fitness and the known dose-response relationships between different kinds of physical activity and various aspects of health. In the pie, an energy expenditure of 1000 kcals is the focus of the amount of physical activity needed to offset health risks related to inactivity. The pie addresses this by recommending the duration, type and frequency of the physical activity depending on the goal of health or fitness. The advantage of the "pie" shape is to suggest that physical activity can encompass both health and fitness goals using the same type of activity and can be divided in 2 halves in any direction resulting in the recommended physical activity energy expenditure of 1000kcals. Fogelholm, Suni, Rinne, et al. Physical Activity Pie: A Graphical Presentation Integrating Recommendations for Fitness and Health. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2:391-396, 2005

ACCESSIBILITY OF HEALTH CLUBS FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES: Accessibility of health clubs for people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments was assessed in a convenience sample of 35 health clubs (19 in urban areas and 16 in suburban areas; 16 for profit and 19 not for profit) nationwide. Six areas (built environment, equipment, swimming pool, information, policies and professional behavior) were assessed using a new instrument, AIMFREE (Accessibility Instruments Measuring Fitness and Recreation Environments). The results were consistent with previous similar studies that showed a moderate to high degree of inaccessibility with deficiencies in all 6 areas. Rimmer, Riley, Wang, & Rauworth. Accessibility of health clubs for people with mobility disabilities and visual impairments. American Journal of Public Health, 95(11): 2022-2028, 2005

WORKPLACE WALKABILITY TOOL: Researchers developed an audit tool to assess 9 elements of walkability in the workplace: pedestrian facilities, pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, crosswalks, route maintenance, walkway width, roadway buffer, accessibility, aesthetics, and shade. The scores for 79 selected areas ranged from 20-39 (poor), 40-69 (fair), and 70-100 (good). 34% of the selected areas were rated poor, 32% fair, and 34% good. Walkway planners may use these ratings as a way to improve utilization of walkways for pedestrian travel by removing barriers that deter sidewalk use and creating an atmosphere more conducive to walking. Danneberg, Cramer, & Gibson. Assessing the Walkability of the Workplace: A New Audit Tool. Am J Health Promot. 20(1):39-44, 2005

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF TRAILS AND GREENWAYS: This 4-page fact sheet by the Trails and Greenways Clearinghouse provides insight into the economic benefits of having trails and greenways in your community, including increasing property values, building local economies and benefiting the environment. A list of helpful resources is also included. View the fact sheet at: http://www.trailsandgreenways.org/resources/benefits/topics/tgc_economic.pdf.
[Centerlines #138]

TRAIL USER SURVEY WORKBOOK: The Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and Trail Facts Interactive Marketing, with support from the Penn. Dept. of Conservation, have published a trail survey workbook called "How to conduct a survey and win support for your trail: sample surveys and methods." The workbook includes survey templates, and information about how to design your survey and methods to collect, record, analyze and report your data. To view the workbook and templates, go to http://www.trailsandgreenways.org/resources/highlights/online/default.asp. [Centerlines #139]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

CDC'S 2006 NATIONAL HEALTH PROMOTION CONFERENCE: The CDC's 2006 National Health Promotion Conference will be held September 12-14, 2006 in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference theme is Innovations in Health Promotion: New Avenues for Collaboration. Visit www.cdc.gov/cochp for updates and more information.

PRO WALK/PRO BIKE 2006 CALL FOR PROPOSALS: Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2006 will be held September 5-8, 2006 in Madison, Wisconsin. The submission form for proposals for presenters is available at http://www.bikewalk.org/PWPB2006/proposal.html. The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2006.

ACTIVE AGING 2006: Active Aging 2006 will be held November 15 -17, 2006 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Submissions for presentations are due February 26. You can find more information about the conference, call for presenters and application form at: http://www.icaa.cc/Index.asp

COOPER INSTITUTE CONFERENCE SERIES: The Cooper Institute Conference Series: Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity will be held on October 26 - 28, 2006 in Dallas, Texas. The 2006 conference will focus on developing collaborative frameworks for researchers, practitioners, and educators in the field of public health, parks, and recreation. Abstracts will be accepted for poster presentations at the conference. Watch for the upcoming call for abstracts and registration information at http://www.cooperinst.org

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE

BLOW IT UP WITH THE PLAZA: The Arnold School of Public Health (home of the USC PRC) is completing construction of the 1st of two new buildings. The USC PRC will be moving into this building soon. Before that can happen, however, the University will be imploding the neighboring old hotel. For information about this explosive event, go to http://www.sph.sc.edu/

RECENT PUBLICATIONS:
Paxton, Sharpe, Granner & Hutto. Association of sociodemographic variables and community environment to use of public parks and trails for physical activity International Journal of Health Promotion and Education. 43(3);108-116, 2005.

Burroughs, Peck, Sharpe, et al. Using focus groups in the consumer research phase of a social marketing program to promote moderate-intensity physical activity and walking trail use in Sumter County, South Carolina. Prev Chronic Dis [serial online] 2006 Jan. Available from: URL: http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0093.htm

WRITERS:

Lara Peck, Delores Pluto