Integrating Physical Activity and Weight Control Behaviors in Surveillance

FUNDING SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control – National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

TIMELINE: Sept. 30, 2001 - Sept. 29, 2003

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR: Barbara E. Ainsworth, PhD, MPH (USC-PRC)

CO-INVESTIGATORS:
Patricia Sharpe, PhD, MPH (USC PRC)
Charles Matthews, MS, PhD (USC-EPI/BIO)
Cheryl Addy, PhD (USC SPH)
Katherine Lind, PhD, MPH (USC)

CONSULTANTS:
Joan Conway, PhD, RD (US Dept. of Agr.)
Myriam Torres, PhD

The overall goal of this two-year study is to integrate physical activity (PA) and weight control behavior surveys to obtain prevalence estimates of these behaviors in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults. The investigators will also collaborate with CDC partners to extend an understanding of the relationships between PA and weight control behaviors in U.S. adults. In all activities, emphasis will be given to identifying behaviors that characterize the age, sex, economic, and racial/ethnic diversity of Americans. Six specific aims will be completed.

Through participation in the Healthy Aging Network as a Network Center, the specific aims of this project are to:

• Develop occupational PA questions



• Develop a Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) weight control survey module



• Prepare a survey that integrates measures of PA and traditional and CAM weight control practices for surveillance



• Administer the survey to 8,000 English- and Spanish-speaking adults using a random digit dialing protocol



• Compare prevalence estimates for PA between the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) and International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and weight control practices between the BRFSS and CAM instruments



• Disseminate survey results from national data sets about PA and weight control behaviors

All research activities will take place in the Prevention Research Center at the University of South Carolina. In Year 1, Aims 1-5 will be completed. The USC Survey Research Laboratory will administer the national prevalence survey using BRFSS methods. Spanish translation will be completed, and cognitive testing of the survey will be performed in English (n=15) and Spanish (n=15). Researchers with knowledge of CAM practice, survey design, nutrition, and weight control will develop the CAM weight control questions. Qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to evaluate the survey for comprehension, prevalence of PA and weight control behaviors, and integration of PA and weight control questions. In Year 2, Aim 6 will be completed, by collaborating with CDC partners to analyze data from this and other national surveys to understand PA and weight control practices as behaviors and etiologies of obesity, and to disseminate the findings through scientific presentations and published papers.