JULY - AUGUST 2010 | USC-PRC Notes

“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”

The dog days of summer are upon us – at least here in South Carolina where it’s hot and steamy nearly every day. The days are longer and the pace of life seems much slower. It sort of feels this way right now within the physical activity (PA) world. After nearly two decades of historic events that have shaped the PA landscape, it seems as if a lull may be coming upon the field. I wonder what the next major event, breakthrough, or plan of action is going to be. Certainly, for us in the U.S., implementation of the National PA Plan looms large, as does the continued worldwide exploration of using technology to promote behavior change, causes and consequences of sedentary behavior, and environmental and policy “magic bullets”. I know there are many of you out there that will play a vital role in constructing an exciting future for PA research and practice, and the lull I am feeling will be short-lived as a result of your tireless energy and efforts.

From the home of the 2010 National College Baseball Champions – USC Gamecocks!

Steven P. Hooker, PhD, Director
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu

IN THIS ISSUE – JULY/AUGUST

NEWS YOU CAN USE: League of American Bicyclists Seeking New Board Members; Proposals for TRB’s Annual Meeting; Safe Routes Coaching Action Network Seminar; Places to Play; Pro Walk/Pro Bike® Program Update

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: FY 2011 Appropriations Update; President’s Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition

RESEARCH NOTES: Assessing Physical Activity in Public Parks in Brazil Using Systematic Observation; The Longitudinal Influence of Home and Neighbourhood Environments on Children's Body Mass Index and Physical Activity over 5 Years: The Clan Study; Effect of Teammates on Changes in Physical Activity in a Statewide Campaign

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES: Health Benefits from Tai Chi and Qigong; Computer Fun Helps Improve Girls' Food Choices, Fitness; PBIC Publishes Nat'l Bicycling & Walking Study Update

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES: PBIC Seeks Walk-Friendly Communities; Livable Communities Need Sustainable Solutions; Community Leaders’ Perspectives on Building Healthier Neighborhoods in Urban Settings

SCHOOLS: Call for 2010 James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award Applications; 179 Schools Celebrated for Healthy Achievements

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS: IDEA World Fitness Convention; Sports & Exercise Medicine Annual Conference; PE4Life Resource Conference Play to W.I.N; 48th International Making Cities Livable Conference

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:Presentation at National Conference

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

SEEKING NEW BOARD MEMBERS. The League Governance Committee is soliciting recommendations for candidates for the 2011 Board elections. The Board governs and sets broad policy and direction for the League. Board members serve three-year terms. Starting this year, seven will be elected nationally by all League members; the Board selects the remaining five. Four member-elected and one Board-appointed positions are open. In addition, the League's Bylaws allow the Board to create up to five additional Board seats for a total that may range from the current 12 up to 17. Learn more about the qualifications and how to apply at http://www.bikeleague.org/about/board/elections.php

PROPOSALS FOR TRB'S ANNUAL MEETING. Papers for the Transportation Research Board’s Annual Meeting (Jan. 23-27, 2011 in Washington, DC) must be submitted by August 1ST. Topics include:

Emerging and Innovative Public Transport and Technologies
Integrating modes for sustainable tourism and public land access
Public Involvement in Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues
Transportation Accessibility and Mobility Research
Transportation Planning for Small and Medium-Sized Communities Call for Papers

To see the full list of Calls for Papers, go to: http://tinyurl.com/27tyk6r. The Paper Submission site is open at http://tinyurl.com/2b9a5xd
[Source: CenterLines 257, July 7, 2010]

SAFE ROUTES COACHING ACTION NETWORK WEBINAR. This webinar will be on July 27th at 1:00pm EDT, “Navigating Change: How to Use the Updated System for Accessing Your Parent Surveys and Student Travel Tallies.” The National Center for Safe Routes to School (SRTS) has updated the online data system used by local SRTS programs to enter Parent Survey and Student Travel Tally questionnaires and to view summary reports of those data. The webinar will provide an overview of the updated system, highlighting features that are relevant to users from local programs. For more information please contact Michelle Gulley at mgulley@americawalks.org. [Source: National Center for Safe Routes to School [news@saferoutesinfo.org]

SPACES TO PLAY. In Arizona, the Maricopa Council on Youth Sports and Physical Activity has developed a website that helps kids find places to go for sports and recreation. Funded by grants from private foundations, the website lists public locations in central Arizona by sport. When you click on a location, you get information on hours of operation and available amenities. The website has a separate section for spaces to play at night (earmarking those with lighting), since summer heat can make outdoor activities difficult during the day. The council plans to seek additional funding to go statewide. [Source: Parks and Recreation Weekly News Brief, June 2010]

PRO WALK/ PRO BIKE® 2010 PROGRAM UPDATE. Pro Walk/Pro Bike® 2010 Chattanooga is nine weeks away (Sep 13-17 in Chattanooga, TN). A complete list of special meetings and mobile workshops will be available at the end of the month. In the meantime here are two meetings that are part of the extended PWPB program:

U.S. Bicycle Route System Implementation Workshop, Monday, September 13; 1- 4 pm. Contact Ginny Sullivan at gsullivan@adventurecycling.org. for more information.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals Workshop, September 17. For more information or to register, contact Daniel Carter at (919) 962-8720 or daniel_carter@unc.edu.

AMERICA ON THE MOVE'S SEPTEMBER CAMPAIGN: September 1-30, 2010, http://www.americaonthemove

HEALTHY AGING® MONTH: September 1-30, 2010, http://www.healthyaging.net/

NATIONAL TURN OFF THE TV WEEK: September 19-25, 2010, http://www.tvturnoff.org/

FAMILY HEALTH AND FITNESS DAY USA, September 25, 2010, http://www.fitnessday.com/family

For more information and to register, go to http://www.bikewalk.org/2010conference/index.php
If you are interested in being a sponsor contact sharon@bikewalk.org. [Source: CenterLines 257, July 7, 2010]

For a list of PA related observances and events, visit the PA links section of our website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/PAlinks/index.htm.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

FY 2011 APPROPRIATIONS UPDATE. House Appropriations Subcommittee markups of the twelve annual spending bills began before the July 4th holiday. The President's budget request for USDOT, HUD, and EPA included the following funding requests: a $200 million FHWA program to fund performance-based transportation planning, $20 million to start an Office of Livability at USDOT, $150 million for the Sustainable Communities Planning and Challenge grants at HUD, and $11.23 million for the EPA Smart Growth program. [Source: Smart Growth America, June 29, 2010]

PRESIDENT’S COUNCIL ON FITNESS, SPORTS, AND NUTRITION. President Obama has issued an executive order establishing a committee to promote fitness and outdoor exercise. Health and Human Services will work with Agriculture and Education to "develop and coordinate a national program to enhance physical activity, fitness, sports participation, and good nutrition." The president will appoint 25 unpaid members to sit for two-year terms, and may appoint paid staff. The council can work with national, state and local groups. It will expire in two years unless the president decides to extend it. For more info, see http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/2010-15851.htm. [Source: Parks and Recreation Weekly News Brief, July 6, 2010]

RESEARCH NOTES:

ASSESSING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN PUBLIC PARKS IN BRAZIL USING SYSTEMATIC OBSERVATION. This study assessed park use in Recife, Brazil, and differences in PA and occupation rates in public parks with and without the Academia da Cidade Program (ACP), which provides cost-free, supervised PA classes. The authors used the System for Observing Play and Recreation in Communities in 128 targeted areas in 10 park sites (5 ACP sites, 5 non-ACP sites) to obtain data on the number of users and their PA levels and estimated age. Each area was assessed 4 times a day for 11 days over a 4-week period. On the basis of systematic observation, ACP appears to be a useful strategy in promoting park use and PA among the population in Recife. Parra, McKenzie, Ribeiro, et al. Assessing Physical Activity in Public Parks in Brazil Using Systematic Observation . American Journal of Public Health, 100(8), 1420-14262010.

THE LONGITUDINAL INFLUENCE OF HOME AND NEIGHBOURHOOD ENVIRONMENTS ON CHILDREN'S BODY MASS INDEX AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY OVER 5 YEARS: THE CLAN STUDY. This study examined the independent contributions of family and neighborhood environments to changes in youth PA and BMI z-score over 5 years. In 2001, 2004 and 2006, 301 children had their height and weight measured, and PA assessed using accelerometers. In 2001, parents reported on the home environment (social support, role modeling, rules and restrictions, physical environment) and perceived neighborhood environment (local traffic, road safety, sporting venues, public transport), and Geographic Information Systems were used to map features of the neighborhood environment (destinations, road connectivity, traffic exposure). The results indicated that the home environment seemed more important than the neighborhood environment in influencing children's PA and BMI z-score over 5 years. Crawford, Cleland, Timperio, et al. “The longitudinal influence of home and neighborhood environments on children's body mass index and physical activity over 5 years: the CLAN study.” International Journal of Obesity, 34, 1177-1187, 2010.

EFFECT OF TEAMMATES ON CHANGES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN A STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN. This study reported the PA outcomes from Shape Up Rhode Island (SURI) 2007, a statewide campaign to increase steps through team-based competition. Given the importance of social networks in behavior change, this study focused on the effects of team and team characteristics on activity outcomes. For 16 weeks, 5,333 adults comprising 652 teams wore pedometers and reported their steps online. The findings suggest that team members influence individual activity outcomes in team-based statewide campaigns. Leahey, Crane, Marinilli, et al. “Effect of teammates on changes in physical activity in a statewide campaign.” Preventive Medicine, 51, 45-49, 2010.

For additional summaries of recent research on promoting physically active lifestyles, visit the Research Updates section of our website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/updates/index.htm.
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REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

HEALTH BENEFITS FROM TAI CHI AND QIGONG. In the current issue of the American Journal of Health Promotion, there an across-the-board review of the health effects of Qigong and Tai Chi that finds they offer many physical and mental health advantages, with benefits for the heart, immune system and overall quality of life. The review included 77 randomized controlled trials on Qigong or Tai Chi interventions published in peer-reviewed journals between 1993 and 2007, with 6,410 participants in those studies. The authors say that there is now a “stronger evidence base” than before for bone health, cardio-respiratory fitness, physical function, balance, quality of life, fall prevention and psychological benefits. Jahnk, Larkey, Rogers, et al. “A Comprehensive Review of Health Benefits of Qigong and Tai Chi.” Am J Health Promot. 24(6):e1-e25, 2010.

COMPUTER FUN HELPS IMPROVE GIRLS' FOOD CHOICES, FITNESS. An internet program from scientists at the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas has helped some 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls make better food choices and be more physically active. As part of a preliminary study, the “Food, Fun, and Fitness Internet Program for Girls” uses culturally sensitive comic strips geared towards 8- to 10-year-old African-American girls to promote better food choices and physical activity. Cartoon personalities struggle with meeting food and fitness goals. Read more at http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2010/100622.htm. [Source: United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service Website]

PBIC PUBLISHES NAT'L BICYCLING & WALKING STUDY UPDATE: The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) has released a 15-year status report that details trends and changes in bicycling and walking since the National Bicycling and Walking Study was published in 1994. According to this new study, since 1994 there has been an increase in bicycling and walking, and a decrease in pedestrian and bike fatalities and injuries across the United States. Data from the 2009 National Household Travel Survey indicate that there has been an increase of approximately 25% in both activities, and a 22.3% decrease in fatalities. The full report can be accessed at www.walkinginfo.org/15_year_report/. [Source: Centerlines 257, July 7, 2010]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

PBIC SEEKS WALK-FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES. The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) is seeking up to 5 communities to pilot test the online draft of the Walk Friendly Communities (WFC) assessment tool. The program will officially be launched this fall. To ensure that it will be a comprehensive tool for all communities, PBIC is seeking communities for pilot testing. Initial pilot tests were held in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, Orlando, Florida, and Davidson, North Carolina. The second round will test the usability of the online application and submission mechanisms, and will involve the assessment of a community through completion and submission of the latest version of the assessment tool. For more info, go to: http://tinyurl.com/2ba9ryx. [Source: Centerlines 257, July 7, 2010]

LIVABLE COMMUNITIES NEED SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS. The city of Normal, Illinois received a $22 million TIGER grant (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) for a new city transportation hub. This program was created by the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The project brought Amtrak trains, city and regional buses, and taxis to one centrally located building. It also led to a new hotel and conference center, both in walking distance from the hub. According to Mayor Chris Koos, making uptown accessible for walking, biking and public transit was a key goal of their small city’s redevelopment effort, allowing more residents a place where they could live, eat and shop. Read more at http://preview.tinyurl.com/373chyh. [Source: Transportation for America Email (info@t4america.org), June 2010]

COMMUNITY LEADERS’ PERSPECTIVES ON BUILDING HEALTHIER NEIGHBORHOODS IN URBAN SETTINGS. A Canadian study conducted in Edmonton, Alberta focused on planning decisions made by key city stakeholders and how they were influenced to promote or prevent development of neighborhoods in urban areas where walking, being active, and buying healthy foods would be easy. Seventeen stakeholders were interviewed for the study:

Nine public health sector employees who work in transportation, planning, and community initiatives
Three city council members.
Five from the private sector, e.g., land developers

Read an article on this study published in Research Update, a publication of the Alberta Centre for Active Living: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2g9k6x7. [Source: AusPAnet, July 6, 2010]

SCHOOLS:

CALL FOR 2010 JAMES L. OBERSTAR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL AWARD APPLICATIONS: Applications Due August 4, 2010. The 2010 Award will recognize outstanding achievement by a school or community in conducting a SRTS program that has greatly improved safety or increased the number of elementary and/or middle school students walking and bicycling to school. Applications can be submitted by individuals or organizations such as schools, local SRTS programs, community organizations, local governmental departments, state SRTS coordinators, SRTS advocates, state Departments of Transportation, Governor's Highway Safety Offices, FHWA Division representatives, and NHTSA Regional Offices. For more information and an application, visit http://preview.tinyurl.com/32he96f. [Source: National Center for Safe Routes to School: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/]

179 SCHOOLS CELEBRATED FOR HEALTHY ACHIEVEMENTS. At theAnnual Healthy Schools Program Forum last month in New York City, 179 schools from across the country that have transformed their campuses through healthy eating and physical activity policies and programs were honored. This year’s successes include Memorial High School in West New York, N.J., the first and only school to earn a Gold National Recognition Award. Atlanta, Birmingham, Boston, Lincoln, Los Angeles; Miami; Raleigh-Durham, and San Antonio each boast multiple bronze- or silver-level schools. Former President Bill Clinton, American Heart Association Chairman Neil Meltzer and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation President and CEO RisaLavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., all spoke at the event. Read more at http://www.healthiergeneration.org/ [Source: Alliance for a Healthier Generation News Release, June 15, 2010]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
IDEA World Fitness Convention. 8/4/2010 - 8/10/2010, Los Angeles, CA. http://www.ideafit.com/

SPORTS & EXERCISE MEDICINE ANNUAL CONFERENCE. 09/17/2010 - 09/18/2010, Dublin, Ireland
http://www.conferencealerts.com/seeconf.mv?q=ca1m8ims

PE4LIFE RESOURCE CONFERENCE PLAY TO W.I.N. 10/4/2010 - 10/5/2010
Overland Park, KS, http://www.pe4life.org/events/pe4life-upcoming-events/

48TH INTERNATIONAL MAKING CITIES LIVABLE CONFERENCE. 10/17/2010 - 10/21/2010, Charleston, SC, http://www.livablecities.org/conferences/forthcoming-conferences.html

For a more complete list of conferences and workshops, visit the PA links section of our website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/PAlinks/index.htm.

USC PRC UPDATES:
PRESENTATION AT NATIONAL CONFERENCE: Dr. Hooker recently attended the following meeting sponsored by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health: Cardiovascular Disease Prevention in High Risk Rural Communities. As part of the invited workgroup, Dr. Hooker gave a presentation titled “Policy and Environmental Interventions to Promote Physical Activity – Cutting Edge Research.” Recommendations from this workshop will be used to create future funding initiatives within NIH and other federal agencies to combat CVD and other health disparities in rural communities.

For a more complete list of conferences and workshops, visit the PA links section of our website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/PAlinks/index.htm.

Writers: Marsha Stepp, Jorge Banda

This and past issues of the “University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center Notes” are available on our website at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/Newsletter/index.htm.

To submit an item, please e-mail Marsha Stepp at mstepp@mailbox.sc.edu.

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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/newsletter/commands.htm.

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.

Prevention Research Center
Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina
921 Assembly Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
803-777-4253

This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number 5-U48-DP-000051 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.

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