QUARTER 1: January – March 2024 | USC-PRC Notes

“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”

Topics in this issue

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

  • Update from the USC PRC Core Research Project
  • Update from the USC PRC

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

  • Hypertension: A Pandemic Perspective
  • RWJF Culture of Health Prize- 2024 Call for Applicants
  • Cardiovascular Disease Disparities in Rural America: Can this House of Cards be Saved? – NIH Office of Intramural Research

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

  • April, May, June

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

  • Biden’s Proposed 2025 Budget Bolsters Public Health

RESEARCH NOTES:

  • Examining Associations Between School-level Determinants and the Implementation of Physical Activity Opportunities
  • Sex Differences in Association of Physical Activity with All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality
  • Developing Effective Strategies to Optimize Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Long Covid Population – The need for Caution and Objective Assessment
  • Assessing Support for Policy Actions with Co-Benefits for Climate Change and Physical Activity in Canada

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

  • The 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities and its Expansion
  • The Current State of Physical Activity Assessment and Interventions with Public Policy Solutions

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

  • Opinion: How Utah is Bridging the Gap Between Health and Nature
  • Steps for Schools Raises $48K for Idaho Education
  • Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County and ODPHP Share Tips to Get Older Adults Moving

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

  • April, May, June, July

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR:

Greetings!

It is hard to believe that March is here (and almost over), and Spring is right around the corner. Daylight is extended, temperatures are warming, flowers are blooming, and pollen is everywhere! How often do you resist change because you are comfortable with how things are and have “always been”?  I’ll admit I can be guilty of getting stuck like this. But Spring reminds us that change is often beautiful and change is inevitable. I hope that you embrace aspects of change in your life as you move into the Spring season.

Speaking of change…in this month of March, Women’s History Month, I can’t help but think about women’s college basketball. Wow! What an exciting time in history for women’s basketball and what wonderful changes! Interest in the sport and ticket sales have soared, and players have become household names. I’m excited and happy for all of the women in the sport now and all of the girls aspiring to join in.

I wish you all a happy Spring and happy changes (and Go Gamecocks!)!

-Sara Wilcox

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the USC PRC Core Research Project

Online training for the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Program, developed at the University of South Carolina, is now available to churches nationally through its new translation partner, Health Ministries Association (HMA). HMA encourages, supports and empowers leaders in the integration of faith and health in their local communities. Its membership is made up of health ministers, faith community nurses, clergy, and others who coordinate health ministries in diverse faith communities. Over the next year, the USC PRC will provide technical assistance and other support to HMA and also seek to identify barriers and facilitators to FAN program translation. Interested churches can learn more about enrolling in the FAN online training by visiting the FAN training page. 

PRC Director Dr. Sara Wilcox and graduate research assistant Jasmin Parker-Brown recently attended the Annual Society of Behavioral Medicine conference in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Both Dr. Wilcox and Jasmin, as well as former graduate research assistant Kelsey Day, shared findings from the PRC core research project, the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Program.

Physical Activity and Public Health Courses

We are busy planning for another great PAPH course! The 2024 Physical Activity and Public Health Courses will be held this September in Columbia, South Carolina. Both the Postgraduate Course on Research Directions and Strategies (held September 11-18) and the Practitioner’s Course on Community Interventions (held September 14-18) will be led by Dr. Russ Pate and Dr. Sara Wilcox. More information about the courses is available online, and applications for both courses are due June 1.

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Hypertension: A Pandemic Perspective

In this monthly letter, the Director of the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), Rear Admiral Reed, is joined by ORISE Fellow Bianca Marcias to discuss the ever-pressing issue of hypertension in the U.S. In this article, they discuss the global impact of hypertension and emphasize its status as a pandemic. The rising prevalence of high blood pressure poses significant challenges to public health systems worldwide. The article discusses risk factors, prevention strategies, and the urgent need for effective interventions. As hypertension continues to affect millions, addressing this silent killer remains a critical priority for health professionals and policymakers.
[Source: ODPHP]

RWJF Culture of Health Prize- 2024 Call for Applicants

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has announced its annual call for the Culture of Health Prize award. This award recognizes communities’ efforts in addressing structural racism, health inequities, and health issues. RWJF will select up to 10 communities as prize winners, each receiving $250,000 to support equitable health initiatives. Applications are due June 3rd, 2024. Additional information can be found on the RWJF site here.
[Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]

Cardiovascular Disease Disparities in Rural America: Can this House of Cards be Saved? – NIH Office of Intramural Research

Join the NIH’s Office of Intramural Research for the next installment of the Director’s Wednesday Afternoon Lecture series. Esteemed speaker Dr. Debra Moser will discuss cardiovascular disease disparities in rural America, highlighting opportunities for researchers and practitioners to address these challenges. For further details and registration, visit the event website.
[Source: NIH Office of Intramural Research]

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

Biden’s Proposed 2025 Budget Bolsters Public Health

President Biden’s proposed fiscal year 2025 budget includes funding increases that would strengthen the nation’s public health system. The budget allocates $130.7 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), with specific allocations for key agencies. Notable provisions include increased funding for firearm morbidity and mortality prevention research, support for climate and health programs, and investments in pandemic preparedness and response. While facing budget constraints, the administration is working to prioritize public health initiatives to address ongoing challenges and improve health outcomes.
[Source: APHA]

RESEARCH NOTES:

Examining Associations Between School-level Determinants and the Implementation of Physical Activity Opportunities

School-based physical activity (PA) opportunities play a crucial role in promoting student health and well-being. However, better understanding the organizational challenges to successful implementation is still needed. In this cross-sectional study, researchers analyzed data from schools (n=46) participating in the Healthy Zone School Program (HZSP) in Dallas, Texas. They investigated associations between school-level determinants (such as culture, leadership, and priority) and the implementation of PA opportunities through collected surveys. While no specific determinants were linked to the number of PA opportunities, access to knowledge and information and a supportive implementation climate positively influenced the overall success of school-based PA programs when accounting for campus type, student race/ethnicity, and percentage of lower SES students. These findings highlight the importance of creating a conducive environment for effective PA initiatives in schools.
[Source:Craig, D. W., Walker, T. J., Sharma, S. V., Cuccaro, P., Heredia, N. I., Pavlovic, A., DeFina, L. F., Kohl, H. W., 3rd, & Fernandez, M. E. (2024). Examining associations between school-level determinants and the implementation of physical activity opportunities. Translational behavioral medicine, 14(2), 89–97. https://doi.org/10.1093/tbm/ibad055]

Sex Differences in Association of Physical Activity with All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality

The study investigated the relationship between physical activity and mortality, considering sex differences. Using data from over 400,000 U.S. adults, leisure-time physical activity was collected via survey from the National Health Interview Survey and then applied to the National Death Index records from 1997-2017. Participants with preexisting conditions like coronary heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, or cancer were excluded. The researchers found that regular leisure-time physical activity compared to inactivity was associated with 24% lower all-mortality risk in women and 15% in men. Men also reached their maximal survival benefit when achieving around 300min/wk of MVPA in comparison to women, who only needed 140min/wk to reach a similar benefit. Overall, women derived greater benefits in terms of reduced all-cause and cardiovascular mortality risk from equivalent doses of leisure-time physical activity compared to men. These findings emphasize the importance of motivating women to engage in regular physical activity to close the gender gap in health outcomes.
[Source: Fernández-Rodríguez R, Martínez-Vizcaíno V, Reina-Gutiérrez S, Bizzozero-Peroni B, Torres-Costoso A, Rodríguez-Gutiérrez E, Díaz-Goñi V, Cadenas-Sánchez C. Sex Differences in Effects of Exercise on Physical Function in Aging: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis. World J Mens Health.. https://doi.org/10.5534/wjmh.230257]

Developing Effective Strategies to Optimize Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Long Covid Population – The Need for Caution and Objective Assessment

In this prospective study, researchers discuss the challenges faced by individuals with Long Covid in maintaining physical activity and cardiorespiratory fitness while also emphasizing the need for caution and objective assessment. Long Covid is associated with over two hundred symptoms, affecting millions of people worldwide. One prominent symptom is post-exertional symptom exacerbation (PESE), which prevents patients from engaging in physical activity. The review emphasizes the need for evidence-based guidelines to design safe rehabilitation approaches for Long Covid patients, considering the variability of symptoms and the impact on quality of life and functional status.
[Source: Faghy, M. A., Duncan, R., Hume, E., Gough, L., Roscoe, C., Laddu, D., Arena, R., Asthon, R. E. M., & Dalton, C. (2024). Developing Effective Strategies to Optimize Physical Activity and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in the Long Covid Population- The Need for Caution and Objective Assessment. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, S0033-0620(24)00039-2. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2024.03.003]

Assessing Support for Policy Actions with Co-Benefits for Climate Change and Physical Activity in Canada

The study investigated public support for policy actions that have co-benefits for both physical activity promotion and climate change mitigation in Canada. Using survey data from 2,507 adults, the researchers found high support for selected policy actions, including policies that promote active transportation and green spaces that can also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase physical activity levels. The study underscores the importance of integrating health and climate change considerations into policy-making processes to achieve multiple benefits for public health and the environment.
[Source: Fagan, M. J., Vanderloo, L. M., Banerjee, A., Ferguson, L. J., Lee, E., O’Reilly, N., Rhodes, R. E., Spence, J. C., Tremblay, M. S., & Faulkner, G. (2024). Assessing Support for Policy Actions With Co-Benefits for Climate Change and Physical Activity in Canada. Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 21(3), 256-265. https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.2023-0617]

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

The 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities and its Expansion

The 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities represents a significant update, adding 303 new physical activity codes and modifying 176 existing ones based on new measured data. Researchers and practitioners now have expanded options for quantifying physical activity, making it a more robust and relevant tool for assessing energy expenditure and health benefits associated with different activities. The 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activity can be found here.
[Source: Herrmann, S. D., Willis, E. A., & Ainsworth, B. E. (2024). The 2024 Compendium of Physical Activities and its expansion. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 13(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jshs.2023.09.008]

The Current State of Physical Activity Assessment and Interventions with Public Policy Solutions

This paper provides an overview of efforts to standardize the assessment, referral, and prescription of physical activity through public policy. It highlights the work of the Physical Activity Alliance’s “It’s Time to Move” initiative, which focuses on national physical activity policy and more active living. The paper also discusses other areas of growth and potential for standardizing and integrating physical activity measurement, assessment, and referral within primary care structures through techniques, methods, and partnerships.
[Source: Whitsel, L. P., Bantham, A., Chase, P. J., Dunn, P., Hovind, L., & McSwain, B. (2024). The Current State of Physical Activity Assessment and Interventions with Public Policy Solutions. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pcad.2024.02.012]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

Opinion: How Utah is Bridging the Gap Between Health and Nature

Growing research has documented the positive benefits of engaging with nature on a holistic level (physical, mental, social, and spiritual). In Utah, initiatives such as Nature and Human Health-Utah (NHH-UT) were founded to promote outdoor recreation and connect people with nature to improve physical and mental health. The NHH-UT team also emphasizes the importance of integrating nature into healthcare strategies and urban planning to create healthier communities. Utah’s efforts can serve as a model for other regions.
[Source: The Salt Lake Tribune]

Steps for Schools Raises $48K for Idaho Education

“Steps for Schools” is an initiative that successfully raised $48,000 for education in Idaho. Since its launch in 2015, Steps for Schools has awarded over $316,000 to Idaho schools through the efforts of participating lawmakers. The program encourages participants to walk, run, or bike and log their miles, with sponsors donating money based on the distance covered. This fundraising effort not only promotes physical activity but also supports education in the state.
[Source: Coeur d’Alene/ Post Falls Press]

Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County and ODPHP Share Tips to Get Older Adults Moving

The article discusses a collaborative effort between the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County and the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) to promote physical activity among older adults. They shared tips and resources to encourage older adults to stay active, emphasizing the importance of regular physical activity for maintaining health and independence as people age. The partnership highlights the significance of community engagement and collaboration in promoting healthy behaviors among older populations
[Source: OASH]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

APRIL

May

JUNE

JULY

Writers: Jasmin Parker-Brown

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The USC Prevention Research Center is a member of the CDC Prevention Research Center’s National Network, consisting of 33 Centers in the U.S. For more information about the PRC National Network, visit http://www.cdc.gov/prc.

This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48DP006401 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the CDC.

The University of South Carolina does not discriminate in educational or employment opportunities or decisions for qualified persons on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status.