2011 Newsletters
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
New Statewide Plan Encourages Physical Activity, Healthy Lifestyle; Department of Transportation Data Visualization Contest Encourages Creative Integration of Data; International Olympic Committee Expert Paper Targets Better Health of Young People; American Diabetes Day; National Family Health History Day
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Recipients of Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grants Announced
RESEARCH NOTES:
Adherence to the 2008 Adult Physical Activity Guidelines and Mortality Risk; Perceived Built Environment and Physical Activity in U.S. Women by Sprawl and Region; Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Go4Life-- Exercise and Physical Activity Campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH; Compendium of Physical Activities for Manual Wheelchair Users
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
South Carolina Receives Community Transformation Grant; Galveston Aims to Build a Healthier City After Ike's Wave of Destruction; Federal Aid Coming to Cities to Help Boost Smart Growth in Cities North of Boston; Boise Writes New City Blueprint; Biking, Walking, & Blogging: The Surprising Rise of Minneapolis as a Top Bike Town
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting; International Council on Active Aging Conference 2011
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE: CDC Healthy Aging Research Network
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"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"It does not seem possible that we have already reached Thanksgiving. It always feels like we go from August to December in a matter of weeks! I hope you take some time to enjoy the season, give thanks, and enjoy family and friends. Take an extra walk (or hike, or run, or bicycle ride) to relieve the holiday stress, keep your focus on what’s important, and keep off the holiday pounds! My role as interim director of our PRC still seems “new” to me. Sometimes I’m worried that we’ll run out of content for our newsletters. But my fears are completely unfounded! I am amazed (and inspired) by how much is going on related to physical activity at so many levels – scientific research, community programs, environmental change, and policy efforts. This month’s newsletter was written by Ms. Danielle Schoffman, and I think you’ll find the information she compiled interesting. We have added a section to the USC PRC Updates that focuses on the CDC Healthy Aging Research Network, a network that the USC PRC has been a member of since 2001. I hope you enjoy this addition. Happy Thanksgiving and Happy Holidays to all! Sara Wilcox, PhD, Interim Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:New statewide plan encourages physical activity, healthy lifestyle: West Virginia authorities have drafted a statewide plan to increase physical activity through the collaboration of eight sectors of state agencies (public health; education; business and industry; mass media; parks, recreation, fitness and sports; transportation, land use and community planning; and volunteer and non-profit organizations). The plan aims to encourage physical activity by promoting new opportunities for getting active as well as emphasizing opportunities that might already be available to residents, such as walking more and using active transport. Authorities hope to reduce their state’s climbing obesity rates, as well as help to prevent other chronic diseases and improve the general quality of life for West Virginia residents. Department of Transportation Data Visualization Contest Encourages Creative Integration of Data: A recent contest held by the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) offered students the challenge of using publically available data sets to “create a data visualization product that addresses critical transportation policy or investment questions related to transportation safety or economic development”. A few of the entries address issues of bicycle safety and bicycle commuting, including an innovative model of “Bicycle Commuting Trends in the United States” seen here. The projects are featured on the DOT website where the public can vote for their favorite entry. The top two submissions will be featured at the Transportation Research Board’s meeting in January, 2012. International olympic committee expert paper targets better health of young people: The International Olympic Committee Medical Commission recently published a Consensus Statement as a result of a conference on the “Health and fitness of young people through physical activity and sport” held earlier this year. The paper aims to define the consequences of inactivity and the benefits of physical fitness, with a particular emphasis on young people and their participation in sports. The paper offers some common barriers to continued participation in physical activity as well as offering recommendations for potential solutions. American Diabetes Month National Family Health History Day WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:Recipients of Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grants Announced: After securing Congressional approval for funding for the 2012-2013 school year, the U.S. Department of Education has announced the new recipients new Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grants. More than $35 million will be given to new programs in local education agencies and community-based organizations in 76 school districts across the country, with an additional $44 million allocated to fund the 2nd and 3rd years of PEP grants given in 2009 and 2010. PEP grants are awarded to groups to enable them to purchase new sports equipment and attend trainings to improve their physical education programs. The goal of these grants is to implement innovative PE programs that help students in grades K-12 reach state standards for physical education, as well as offering guidance on healthy eating and general physical well-being. RESEARCH NOTES:Adherence to the 2008 Adult Physical Activity Guidelines and Mortality Risk: While a comprehensive review of the relationship between health benefits and physical activity led to the 2008 USDHHS Federal Physical Activity Guidelines, no research had looked at the impact of the new Guidelines on mortality risk. This study examined the mortality risk for the general U.S. adult population associated with meeting or not meeting the 2008 Guidelines. The study examined the benefits of exercise on reduction in risk of all-cause mortality as well as any added benefit of strength exercises. The effect of a prior diagnosis of a chronic condition was also tested. The study found that meeting the 2008 Guidelines was associated with a reduction in all-cause mortality for U.S. adults. Perceived Built Environment and Physical Activity in U.S. Women by Sprawl and Region: In an effort to bridge the gaps in knowledge about potential regional differences and extent of urban sprawl on health, investigators looked at the relationship between women’s perceptions about their neighborhood and their level of physical activity. NHANES II data from 68,968 women were examined, including self-reported weekly physical activity and four questions about perception of neighborhood (perceived proximity to shops/stores, perceived access to recreation facilities, perceived presence of sidewalks, perceived crime). The authors found that the region or dispersion of sprawl did not affect physical activity level, but perceived proximity to shops/stores and access to recreation facilities were positively correlated with amount of physical activity performed. Air Quality and Exercise-Related Health Benefits from Reduced Car Travel in the Midwestern United States: “The secret to a long, healthy life: Bike to the store!” Researchers examined data on obesity, the health effects of pollution, and automobile air pollution in 11 Midwestern cities in an effort to find out what the effects of biking more and driving less would be on community and individual health. They found that if the Midwesterners they studied chose to bike instead of drive to one half of their local errands (2.5 miles or less, 25 minutes or less biking) they would prevent 1,100 deaths and save $7 billion in health-care costs. The results suggest that even a modest increase in biking and decrease driving could have profound health implications for individuals and their neighbors. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:Go4Life, Exercise and Physical Activity Campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH:Go 4 Life is a new campaign from the National Institute on Aging at NIH to help promote physical activity in Americans aged 50 and older. The Go 4 Life website offers information, including a guide on “Exercise and Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging,” available in both English and Spanish. The guide includes information on the 3 steps emphasized by the plan, “Get Ready,” “Get Set,” and “Go!” and also offers photos and instructions to help adults learn about new exercises and healthy eating tips. A DVD with demonstrations of the suggested exercises is also available to give more instruction to people getting started with the program. All materials are available free of charge on the Go 4 Life website. Exercise compendium for wheelchair activities: In a systematic literature review, researchers identified published studies on the energy expenditures associated with activities for individuals who use manual wheelchairs, and compiled a compendium of 63 activities and the associated energy costs. While many individuals using wheelchairs do not get the recommended levels of physical activity, the comparison of research in this study demonstrates that it is possible for manual wheelchair users to accrue a significant amount of moderate and vigorous intensity activity by engaging in a select group of activities. Achieving the recommended levels of physical activity is crucial for reducing risk for chronic diseases including obesity and heart disease, and the compendium could help improve the measurement of such activity in future research. PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:South Carolina Receives Community Transformation Grant: The Community Transformation Grants (CTG) program was recently created by the Affordable Care Act as a new mechanism through which the CDC can fund community-based programs targeted at eliminating health disparities. Through the CTG program, approximately $103 million was awarded to 61 states and communities throughout the US. These grants will support community-level efforts to reduce chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. All 61 grantees will address the following priority areas: 1) tobacco-free living; 2) active living and healthy eating; and 3) evidence-based quality clinical and other preventive services, specifically prevention and control of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control is receiving $4,624,724 to serve the entire state of South Carolina, an estimated population of 4,500,000 including a rural population of over 1,050,000. Work will focus on expanding efforts in tobacco-free living, active living and healthy eating, quality clinical and other preventive services, and healthy and safe physical environments.
To learn more about the CTG program, click here. Galveston Aims to Build a Healthier City After Ike's Wave of Destruction: residents of Galveston, TX are aiming to rebuild their city in a way that not only protects them from further storms, but also promotes healthier lifestyles. Three years after Hurricane Ike hit the sand bar city, the storm’s devastation is still evident, and the reconstruction is still underway. However, some residents want to make sure that the new Galveston offers residents improved access to healthy foods and more opportunities for exercise. The struggle is finding ways to accomplish this in an economically depressed area with the threat of future storms. Federal aid coming to cities to help boost smart growth in cities north of Boston: A handful of cities north of Boston will be receiving federal funding to help develop and implement innovative space planning models, with extensive input from the communities. The goals of the “smart growth” plans include the promotion of local businesses in pedestrian-friendly areas, creating mixed neighborhoods with residential and commercial development, and promoting social equity through local economic development. In one such community, Chelsea, part of the nearly $70,000 in federal aid is being used to fight pollution through green solutions such as rain gardens and stormwater tree boxes and planters. Boise Writes New City Blueprint: A comprehensive city blueprint plan has recently been prepared with the input of residents and community business leaders to describe how they want the next 20 years of Boise’s development to look. The plan emphasizes non-motorized transportation and livability issues such as sidewalks, bike paths, and the promotion of a vibrant city center with mixed-use areas. The plan will be proposed in a public hearing in Boise in November. Biking, Walking, & Blogging: The Surprising Rise of Minneapolis as a Top Bike Town: Many people were surprised last year when Minneapolis was named America’s “#1 Bike City” by Bicycling magazine, beating cities like Portland and Boulder. Despite its sprawl and cold weather, Minneapolis residents stay very active and bicycling is a large part of the city’s identity. The widespread influence of bicycling can be seen in the city’s well-developed bike paths and bike-share programs as well as the impact of several large bike corporations on the local economy. Minneapolis is now trying to inspire other U.S. cities to follow their lead and become more bicycle friendly. Recently, city officials and bicycling advocates met with a delegation of transportation leaders from Pittsburgh and Columbus, Ohio, during a visit sponsored by the Bikes Belong Foundation. UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:NOVEMBER DECEMBER International Council on Active Aging Conference 2011 USC PRC UPDATES:CDC HEALTHY AGING RESEARCH NETWORK: USC has had the privilege of participating in the CDC Healthy Aging Research Network (CDC-HAN) since 2001. The CDC-HAN is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Aging Program. The coordinating center and seven member and affiliate universities are a subset of CDC’s Prevention Research Centers located throughout the United States. In late September, the CDC-HAN centers and partners met in Atlanta for a two-day in-person meeting. There we celebrated our 10 year anniversary. We were fortunate to have Assistant Secretary for Aging Kathy Greenlee address our meeting. The CDC-HAN is doing great things! Check out our website to learn more about us. http://www.prc-han.org/ WRITER:Danielle Schoffman |
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
NEWS YOU CAN USE: How a Park Helped One Town Weather the Recession; Bike-sharing Gears up in U.S. as Gas Prices Soar; Active Aging Week; 8th Annual World Wide Day of Play; Family Health and Fitness Day USA; International Walk-to-School Day; Walk to School Month
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: Transportation Funding Extended
RESEARCH NOTES: Effects of Physical Activity on Teen Smoking Cessation; Activity Across Adulthood and Physical Performance in Midlife- Findings from a British Cohort Study; The Association Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Body Size and Physical Activity in the California Teachers Study Cohort
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES: Key Findings on Bicycling and Walking from the U.K.; Physical Activity Guidelines for Early Years
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES: Screen Time Reduced for Chicago Preschools; Missoula is a Runner Friendly Community; Mason City Iowa Receives Grant to Begin Walking School Bus
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS: 85th Annual ASHA School Health Conference: Limitless Possibilities - School Health in the New Decade; 138th American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition; European Public Health Association (EUPHA) Annual Conference; Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE: Physical Activity and Public Health Courses; Walking Intervention
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“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”Earlier this month, I had the privilege of spending a weekend at Sea Pines Resort at the annual Physical Activity and Public Health course. I had not been to the meeting in two years. It is always a re-invigorating experience! I was delighted to see that both the research and practitioner fellows took part in an entire morning session focused on policy change. I believe this is such an important area for our field. My presentations focused on community-engaged research, and I was struck by how many of the fellows were interested not only in working with communities, but in conducting community-based participatory research. I also attended the presentations given by other faculty members while I was there, and enjoyed and learned from each of them. Despite the cool weather, I left the course with a renewed excitement about physical activity and public health and a good feeling about an upcoming generation of researchers and practitioners. I hope that you enjoy this newsletter. I feel very grateful to Robin Shook for his excellent writing of our newsletters and website management over the past year. He went beyond the call of duty to continue this work as I awaited Danielle Schoffman, who will now be taking on this role. I wish Robin the best as he fully transitions to a new project with Dr. Steve Blair and I warmly welcome Danielle to the PRC! Sara Wilcox, PhD, Interim Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:How a park helped one town weather the recession: Greenville, South Carolina has thrived during the recent recession, with relatively low unemployment and a recent upgrade in the town’s credit rating. Part of the Greenville’s success is due to a recent beautification of the town’s downtown park. Says the mayor, "The park cost $13 million. Within two years, over $100 million in private investment was created around the park — hotels, restaurants, condominiums, apartments. The entire, what we call the West End of our downtown, just blossomed." Bike-sharing gears up in U.S. as gas prices soar: Cities large and small have started bike sharing programs recently, including Washington, DC, Denver, and Des Moines, Iowa. Bike share programs allow users to rent bicycles for all or part of a day for a small fee, and are ideal for short trips around town. While the emergence of these programs is due to many factors, including being healthy and non-polluting, they also are inexpensive. "Some of the main reasons we hear about people joining Bikeshare or biking in general is the cost of gas. That is not going to go down anytime in the future, and it will only keep getting worse," says a program manager for the Washington, DC bike share program. Active Aging Week 8th Annual World Wide Day of Play Family Health and Fitness Day USA International Walk-to-School Day Walk to School Month WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:Transportation funding extended: On September 15th the US Senate passed an extension of the nation’s transportation bill, which included funding for walking and bicycling trails, but not without controversy. Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) pushed for an amendment to strip transportation enhancements from the overall bill, which would have eliminated funding of $700 million for biking and walking infrastructure projects (less than 2% of the entire transportation bill). The bill ultimately passed by a margin of 92-6, which will extend funding until March 31, 2012. RESEARCH NOTES:Effects of Physical Activity on Teen Smoking Cessation: This study examined whether adding a physical activity component to a smoking cessation program could increase the rates of smoking cessation in teens (ages 14-19 years). Researchers compared a brief intervention, a clinically proven cessation program (Not on Tobacco), and a combination of the Not on Tobacco program and a physical activity module. At 6-months, teens in the combination program had a greater likelihood of cessation compared with those in just the Not on Tobacco program, and results showed that the physical activity module was especially effective for smoking cessation in boys. Activity Across Adulthood and Physical Performance in Midlife- Findings from a British Cohort Study: While existing evidence demonstrates that physical activity is an important factor for physical performance and strength in older age, little is known about how the benefits of physical activity change over time. Using data from the UK Medical Research Nation Survey of Health and Development, researchers looked at the association between leisure time physical activity reported for ages 36, 43, and 53 years and measures of physical performance and strength measured at age 53 (grip strength, standing balance, and chair rise times). The authors found associated benefits from physical activity for chair rise (all ages), standing balance (43 and 53), and grip strength (only men, 53), suggesting that the benefits of physical activity are cumulative and not just important during sensitive periods of aging. Cooper, R., G.D. Mishra, D. Kuh. (2011). "Physical Activity Across Adulthood and Physical Performance in Midlife; Findings from a British Birth Cohort." American Journal of Preventative Medicine. The Association Between Neighborhood Characteristics and Body Size and Physical Activity in the California Teachers Study Cohort: Investigators used data from the California Teachers study to look at the interactions of physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and neighborhood factors. They found that low physical activity and being overweight or obese was correlated with other characteristics of the individual, such as their race/ethnicity and age. For some women, household crowding was associated with less physical activity, while other neighborhood factors (low socioeconomic status of the neighborhood, less neighborhood amenities, more people working outside the home), were also associated with higher probability of low physical activity and higher probability of being overweight or obese. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:Key findings on bicycling and walking from the U.K.: Understanding Walking and Cycling, a three-year study funded by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, looked into the reasons why people may or may not choose to ride bicycles or walk to their destinations. Their findings suggest that the perception of bicycling and walking as "abnormal" or "second class" is a roadblock, but building safer environments for walking and bicycling, lowering speed limits, and reducing trip distances are helping boost the number of people choosing to travel by those modes. Physical activity guidelines for early years: The United Kingdom’s British Heart Foundation National Center for Physical Activity and Health (BHFNC) recently released physical activity guidelines, including a special group of guidelines for the first time, specifically for children under five years old. Divided into two groups, walkers and non-walkers, the guidelines include recommendations for both the time and type of physical activity that children under five should try to achieve. PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:Screentime reduced in Chicago preschools: The Department of Public Health in Chicago will begin requiring children who attend preschool or day care centers to spend less time in front of television and computer screens and more time being active beginning in November. Children will now spend less than 60 minutes in front of a screen and at least 60 minutes participating in physical activity. Also included are recommendations on the types of food provided at these facilities. This is part of a broader effort by new mayor Rahm Emanuel, which also provides incentives for schools to extend the school day, which could provide time for recess. Missoula is a runner friendly community: The Road Runners Club of America recently recognized Missoula, Montana as a “Runner Friendly Community.” The award was given based on the town’s infrastructure, community support, and local government support for running. The distinction is important for both runners and non-runners, as these communities can increase the quality of life, improve physical activity as outlined in the National Physical Activity Plan, and provide for increased economic impact for the community. According to the award, Missoula has shown that community organizations and business work together to promote running for both exercise and sport. Mason City Iowa receives grant to begin walking school bus:Mason City, Iowa recently received at $25,000 grant from the Wellmark Foundation to begin a Walking School Bus program. The award will fund students at two area elementary schools to walk or bicycle safely to school under adult supervision. As part of the application, a study was conducted which found low levels of students actively commuting to school, only 10% at one of the schools. The project aims to increase this number and help establish exercise habits early in life. UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:OCTOBER NOVEMBER Gerontological Society of America Annual Meeting USC PRC UPDATES:Physical Activity and Public Health Courses: The Physical Activity and Public Health Courses took place at Sea Pines Resort on Hilton Head Island, SC from September 13 to 21. The Postgraduate Course on Research Directions and Strategies, directed by Dr. Russell Pate, trained 34 participants. The Practitioner’s Course on Community Interventions, directed by Mr. Dennis Shepard, trained 27 participants. For more information about the courses, see the website at http://www.sph.sc.edu/paph/practitioners.htm. Walking Intervention: The USC Prevention Research Center is gearing up to start a community walking intervention in Sumter, SC. The intervention is developed in partnership with the Sumter County Active Lifestyles coalition. The intervention, directed by Dr. Lyndie Forthofer, will help people engage their existing social networks to support increased walking. It will be open to all Sumter County residents, but will especially target underserved areas of the community. WRITERS:Robin Shook, Danielle Schoffman |
JULY/AUGUST
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Denver B-Cycle; Elementary School Making Strides in Fitness; National Parks and Recreation Month; Family Golf Month
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
National Complete Streets Legislation Introduced
RESEARCH NOTES:
Using the Tax System to Promote Physical Activity;
2011 Compendium of Physical Activities; Physical Activity and Cognition in Women
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2011; TIGER Grants Available
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Southern California Becoming More Pedestrian Friendly; Complete Streets Coming Soon to New York State; South Dakota Town to Host Great Day of Play
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
XIX IEA World Congress of Epidemiology; IDEA World Fitness Convention; 3rd Safe Routes to School Conference; Public Health International Conference 2011; Physical Activity and Public Health Course
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:
National Physical Activity Plan Evaluation
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"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"Greetings from South Carolina! In May, I took the reins from Dr. Steve Hooker and accepted the position as Interim Director of our Prevention Research Center (PRC). I am about to begin my 13th year at USC (I counted and recounted, and it’s true!). One of the things that drew me to USC was the PRC, at that time led by Dr. Barbara Ainsworth. The PRC has been a continued source of support and enrichment for me, and I am honored to be taking on this new leadership role. If your work or community is touched by a PRC (there are 37 PRCs in 27 states), I encourage you to contact the Senator or Representative from that state and ask that they support the PRC Program in fiscal year 2012. These are difficult economic times, but we cannot afford to lose steam in promoting health and keeping prevention at the forefront in our communities. I wish Steve the very best as he makes his transition to Arizona State University. You will have wonderful colleagues there. Thank you for your service, leadership, and optimism over the past 8 years, Steve! Sara Wilcox, PhD, Interim Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:Denver B-Cycle Available to Employees & Guests: Bikeshare companies are popping up all over the country and now a major hotel company is recognizing the positive impact bicycling has on its employees and guests. DENVER-Sage Hospitality announced a partnership with Denver B-cycle to become the first large-sized employer to purchase annual bike sharing memberships for all full-time employees in downtown Denver -- approximately 600 people. Sage is also becoming the first Denver hospitality company to offer guests discounted access to the bike sharing program. The six participating Sage hotels include The Curtis, a Doubletree Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Denver Downtown, The JW Marriott Denver at Cherry Creek, Residence Inn by Marriott Denver City Center, The Oxford Hotel and TownePlace Suites by Marriott Denver Downtown. Learn about the DENVER-Sage/B-Cycle partnership. Maryland Elementary School making strides in fitness: One Maryland elementary school is using a simple idea to increase the physical activity of its students. Physical education teacher Brenda Tarquinio created a ‘mileage club’ which awarded students charms for running a certain number of laps around a course during recess. In addition to the charms, names are recorded in the gymnasium for students completing laps equivalent to a marathon (26.2 miles, or 131 recess laps) and 100 miles (500 recess laps). Beyond increasing the amount of physical activity the students obtained each day, disciplinary problems decreased and test scores rose. National Parks and Recreation Month Family Golf Month WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:National Complete Streets legislation introduced: Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced legislation on May 24, 2011 that aims at improving roadways to make them safer and to encourage Americans to walk or bike to their destinations. The Complete Streets Act of 2011 (Senate Bill Number S. 1056) would promote the design of streets that are safe for all who use them - including motorists, bus riders, pedestrians, bicyclists, and people with disabilities. The bill encourages federal, state, and regional agencies that receive federal transportation funding to fully consider incorporating pedestrian and bicycle safety measures when roads are built or modernized. RESEARCH NOTES:Using the tax system to promote physical activity: Canada has recently introduced several tax incentives in an effort to increase physical activity levels. These taxes vary, but are generally categorized into income tax measures (e.g. tax credits for enrollment in youth activity programs) and sales tax measures (e.g. sales tax exemptions for the purchase of bicycles). This article explores the rationale behind these tax incentives and provides a critical analysis for the estimated influence of these measures on increasing physical activity levels. 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities: First introduced in 1987, the Compendium of Physical Activities has been used in studies worldwide to assign intensity units to physical activity questionnaire responses and to develop innovative ways to assess energy expenditure in physical activity studies. The August 2011 Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise features the second revision of ‘The Compendium.’ The newest revision includes new and updated energy costs for many activities, and provides literature references for energy expenditure values that are assigned to activities. Additional resources to support the 2011 Compendium can be found on the Compendium of Physical Activity website. Physical Activity and Cognition in Women: A growing body of evidence suggests physical activity plays an important role in cognition, though most of this research has involved healthy individuals. The manuscript by Vercambre et al. extends these previous findings to a cohort of women with prevalent vascular disease or at least 3 coronary risk factors. The authors found regularly walking for exercise was strongly related to slower rates of cognitive decline, with the rates of cognitive decline between the least and most fit group equivalent to 5-7 years of aging. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:F as in Fat: How obesity threatens America’s Future 2011: Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2011, a report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Twelve states now have obesity rates above 30 percent; Four years ago, only one state was above 30 percent. This report provides state-by-state obesity statistics plus recommendations for policy makers. TIGER Grants Available:The latest round of the hugely popular federal TIGER grant program is now accepting pre-applications. Nearly $527 million will be available on a competitive basis for road, rail, transit, and port projects that promise to achieve national objectives, strengthen the economy, and make communities more livable and sustainable. Past rounds of the TIGER program have funded many Complete Streets projects, including implementation work being done in St. Paul, Minnesota and a network of Complete Streets in a revitalizing area of Dubuque, Iowa. Pre-applications are due October 3, 2011. Additional information, including slides from a recent half-day seminar, is available at http://www.dot.gov/tiger/. A summary from the seminar is available from the League of American Bicyclists. PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:Southern California Becoming More Pedestrian Friendly: In an area famous for ‘Carmageddon’ and a song that states ‘Nobody walks in LA’, efforts are underway in several Southern California cities to provide space on the roadways for pedestrians, cyclists, and transit riders. This article highlights the efforts of Dan Burden, the ‘Johnny Appleseed of walk-able communities,’ and the cities of Los Angeles, Santa Monica, San Diego, and Los Angeles County. Complete Streets Coming Soon to New York State: In one of the highest profile legislative victories for the movement to date, both houses of the New York State legislature passed "Brittany's Law," a Complete Streets bill. The bill was passed in honor of Brittany Vega, who died while crossing a road on her way to school; her mother Sandi became one of the cause's most tireless advocates. The bill, passed in late June, awaits Governor Cuomo's signature. South Dakota town host Great Day of Play: On July 27, the Yankton Parks and Recreation in partnership with the South Dakota Parks and Recreation Association is hosting the annual Great Day of Play. The mission of the Great Day of Play is to encourage children, adults and families to increase physical activity by getting out and playing in the city’s parks, recreation facilities, and trails, with free admission to the community pool. UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:AUGUST 3rd Safe Routes to School Conference SEPTEMBER Physical Activity and Public Health Course USC PRC UPDATES:National Physical Activity Plan Evaluation: Launched in 2010, the National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP) is a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population. A product of a private-public sector collaborative, hundreds of organizations are working together to create a national culture that supports physically active lifestyles. Since the NPAP is designed to be a dynamic document that reflects the current state of US policy and science, measurement of the plan is critical for success. The effort to evaluate the NPAP is being spearheaded by the Prevention Research Centers at Washington University in St. Louis, The University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, and the University of South Carolina. Writer: Robin Shook |
MAY/JUNE
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Let’s Move! Flash Workout; Walkability Presentation; Physical Activity and Public Health Courses; National Bike Month; National Physical Fitness and Sports Month; National Bike to Work Week; National Bike to Work Day; YMCA Healthy Kids Day
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding at Risk?
RESEARCH NOTES:
Physical Activity Guidelines and Mortality Risk; Physical Activity Attitudes among African Americans; Community Wide Physical Activity Interventions
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Americans Want Walkable Neighborhoods; NCPPA.ORG Resources and Reports; Parks and Playgrounds Grant Opportunity
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week in Columbia, Missouri; Complete Streets Part of a Broad Plan in Dubuque, Iowa
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
World Congress on Exercise is Medicine/American College of Sports Medicine Annual Conference; 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:
Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Best Practices Award
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“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”It is my distinct pleasure to notify you that Dr. Sara Wilcox has agreed to serve as interim Director of the USC PRC beginning May 16, 2011. Sara has been a co-investigator and affiliated with the USC PRC in some manner since 2001. She is capable in every way as an administrator and research scientist to keep the USC PRC headed in the right direction until a national search is conducted for a permanent Director. Once again, I wish to express my appreciation to all those who made my time as USC PRC Director highly enjoyable and productive. It has been an experience I will never forget, and one that will provide a strong foundation for all of my endeavors at Arizona State University. Good health, good cheer and success to all of you until we meet again! Steve Hooker, PhD, Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:LET’S MOVE! FLASH WORKOUT: The National Association of Broadcasters Education Foundation recently organized a "Let's Move! Flash Workout" featuring 16-time Grammy Award winner Beyoncé to demonstrate support for First Lady Michelle Obama's initiative aimed at curbing childhood obesity. Over 600 schools nationwide participated in the flash workout on May 3rd, and First Lady Michelle Obama stopped by Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, DC to check out their event and did some dancing herself. WALKABILITY PRESENTATION: Dan Burden, an internationally recognized authority on bicycle and pedestrian facilities and programs, livability, sustainability and smart growth, recently spoke at a TEDx conference in Manhattan Beach, California. TED conferences are a set of global meetings to disseminate ‘ideas worth spreading.’ In Mr. Burden’s presentation, he makes the case for creating communities that are centered on people and not cars. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH COURSES: The deadline for applying for the 2011 Physical Activity and Public Health (PAPH) Courses is May 15. The PAPH courses include an 8-day Postgraduate Course on Research Directions and Strategies and a 6-day Practitioner's Course on Community Interventions. The faculty for the courses are composed of nationally recognized experts in public health research and practice. This year the courses will be held September 13-21 in Hilton Head, South Carolina. National Bike Month National Physical Education and Sports Week National Bike to Work Week National Bike to Work Day YMCA Healthy Kids Day WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FUNDING AT RISK? As part of the budget compromise reach by Republicans and Democrats in April, the two parties agreed to rescind $2.5 billion in unspent transportation funds. According to the League of American Bicyclists, when a similar situation occurred last year bicycling and walking projects were disproportionally targeted for these rescissions. To learn more, see the League of American Bicyclists website below. RESEARCH NOTES:PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GUIDELINES AND MORTALITY RISK: This paper examined the all-cause mortality risks associated with the levels of physical activity outlined in the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Adults. The authors analyzed physical activity data from the 1997-2004 National Health Interview Survey matched with death records occurring from 1997-2006. Healthy adults meeting the physical activity guidelines for both strength and aerobic activities experienced 27-41% reductions in mortality, with the biggest reductions among those older than age 65. The largest reductions mortality overall were among adults with at least one chronic health condition. Individuals in this group meeting guidelines for both aerobic and strength activities experienced reductions in mortality of 25-48%, again with the largest decreases among those older than age 65. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY ATTIDUES AMONG AFRICAN AMERICANS: Despite the benefits of physical activity, large numbers of US adults are physically inactive, with African Americans having the lowest prevalence of physical activity among major ethnic groups. This study examined the association of attitudes, beliefs, and leisure-time activity among 807 African Americans using data from a national telephone poll. The authors found in both men and women perceived ‘personal importance of exercise’ and ‘necessity of exercise for health’ as factors associated with physical activity. Additionally, ‘having enough activity space’ was also associated with physical activity among women. By understanding these factors, successful physical activity interventions can be developed. COMMUNITY WIDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTERVENTIONS: Community wide physical activity interventions are becoming increasingly popular due to their multi-component strategies for eliciting behavior change. Despite this increase in use, few studies have evaluated the impact of community wide physical activity interventions based on evidence currently available. This Cochrane Review identified 25 studies that met their inclusion criteria, with 17 of these studies set in low income countries or low socioeconomic communities. The authors state “we observed that there was a lack of good studies which could show whether this approach was or wasn’t beneficial.” Future research in this area should focus on improved study design, improved quality of physical activity measures, and larger samples of participants. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:AMERICANS WANT WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: A new survey of 2,074 adults by the National Association of REALTORS® shows that Americans prefer smart growth neighborhoods over those that are heavily dependent on driving. The results of the survey show 77% of respondents look for pedestrian friendly features such as abundant sidewalks, and 80% would sacrifice square footage in their home for a shorter commute. The Community Preference Survey highlights that 56% of Americans prefer more walkable neighborhoods with a mix of nearby destinations to those that require more driving. NCPPA.ORG RESOURCES AND REPORTS: The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity has assembled a variety of physical activity fact sheets, tools, and reports on their website. Appropriately titled “Resources & Reports,” this section of ncppa.org features an incredible amount of information helpful for any physical activity practitioner. PARKS AND PLAYGROUNDS GRANT OPPORTUNITY: The Stewardship Council has made available up to $1.2 million to improve community parks and open spaces to make them more usable for children. Proposals will be accepted until July 29, 2011 for projects that will greatly improve park infrastructure and result in creating a more welcoming environment, with an emphasis for those which will addresses lack of space for underserved children and youth. Proposals which involve existing facilities and creating new facilities with broad community impact will have priority. PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:BIKE, WALK, AND WHEEL WEEK IN COLUMBIA, MISSOURI: For the tenth straight year, PedNet Coalition in Columbia, Missouri is sponsoring the Mayor’s Challenge: Bike, Walk, and Wheel Week May 14-21, as part of National Bike Week. Included among the numerous events scheduled during the week are ‘Bike or Hike to Church Sunday!’, ‘Family Fun Fest/Fitness is Fun’, ‘Walk to School Day’, and the ever popular ‘Breakfast Station Day’ where free breakfast is provided at 11 locations throughout Columbia for those biking and walking to work or school. These events celebrate May as National Bike Month. COMPLETE STREETS PART OF A BROAD PLAN IN DUBUQUE: The river town of Dubuque, Iowa has become the fourth city in Iowa to adopt a Complete Streets policy. The resolution had broad support from many groups, including: the Environmental Stewardship Advisory Council, Green Dubuque, Proudly Accessible Dubuque, the Long Range Planning Advisory Council, the Sierra Club Iowa Chapter, and Tri-State Trail Vision. The Complete Streets resolution is the latest step in a reinvestment push in the Historic Millwork District involving a $5.6 million federal grant and a $150,000 Iowa Great Places grant. UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:World Congress on Exercise is Medicine/ 2011 Annual Meeting of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity USC PRC UPDATES:CBPR BEST PRACTICES AWARD: The University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center (PRC) is one of 11 PRC’s that have been awarded the Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) Best Practices Award by the National Community Committee. This award recognizes the USC’s PRC’s endeavors to fulfill the principles of CBPR in its research activities. To read more about the award and view the other distinguished recipients, click on the link below. WRITER:Robin Shook
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MARCH/APRIL
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
‘Catch’ catching on; March Madness- Bicycle edition; ‘Million PALA Challenge’; National Walk to Work Day; National Start! Walking Day; World Physical Activity Day
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Senate Passes Resolution Encouraging Physical Activity; Congress: FY 2011 Budget Update
RESEARCH NOTES:
Physical Activity in US Adults; Youth physical activity resource use and activity; Association between social factors and physical activity
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
National Bike Summit; Street Smart Walk Score resource; Portland’s biking investments to yield major savings
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Safety in Numbers in Minneapolis; Mascot livens up Walking School Bus; South Carolina Complete Streets Resources
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
126th AAHPERD National Convention & Exposition; 15th Annual Health & Fitness Summit; Australian National Tracks and Trails Conference; Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Activity; 2011 International Conference on Aging in the Americas
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:
Core Project Activities- awareness campaign
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“Promoting Health through Physical Activity”Change is on the horizon. I have accepted a new faculty position in the Exercise & Wellness Program in the College of Nursing and Health Innovation at Arizona State University. My relocation in July will signal the end of my 8-year tenure as Director of the USC PRC. When I started the job at USC in 2003, I could not have envisioned the professional and personal growth that I would experience. I have had the utmost fortune to meet and work with some of the brightest, friendliest, most caring, and most energetic people in the world. USC PRC faculty, staff, students, and community partners have significantly contributed to my success and definitely “made me look good” in the eyes of colleagues. There are countless others from whom I have learned valuable lessons and who have supported and encouraged me during times of both abundance and challenge. I will forever be thankful, and look forward to continuing to work alongside many of you as we strive to improve the health of our fellow citizens and communities through physical activity research and practice. Steve Hooker, PhD, Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:‘CATCH' CATCHING ON: With recent funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Communities Putting Prevention to Work Cooperative Agreement, Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH) will be working with 300 middle schools throughout the state of Florida. In cooperation with the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Education, the goal of the project is to implement sustainable evidence-based, comprehensive, physical activity programs in the physical education programs of Florida middle schools. MARCH MADNESS- BICYCLE EDITION: Just in time for the NCAA basketball tournament, the League of American Bicyclists has analyzed the universities represented in the tournament based on bicycle-friendliness using their new Bicycle Friendly University Program. Schools making the Bicycle Friendly Four are the University of Washington, the University of Arizona, Louisville, and the University of Wisconsin. 'MILLION PALA CHALLENGE': Fuel Up to Play 60, launched by National Dairy Council and the National Football League, is working with the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition for the “Million PALA Challenge” (.pdf), which aims to have one million US adults and kids completing the requirements to earn a Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA). To earn a certificate, students must get their recommended daily physical activity (60 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week) for 6 weeks. National Walk to Work Day National Start! Walking Day World Physical Activity Day WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:SENATE PASSES RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) applauded the passage of a bipartisan resolution he introduced with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) affirming the importance of exercise and encouraging the development of incentives to promote physical activity to combat obesity, reduce chronic disease and lower health care costs. “Exercise is a key component of a healthy lifestyle and it prevents disease, death and saves the government and taxpayers money,” said Senator Casey. “I applaud the passage of this resolution and encourage everyone to make exercise a part of their lifestyle.” CONGRESS: FY 2001 BUDGET UPDATE: Debate over funding for the remainder of fiscal year 2011 continues, with new developments occurring on a daily basis. Recent continuing resolutions to fund the government on a short term basis have included budget cuts totaling $6 billion. Impacted programs have included funding for the Sustainable Communities Initiative, which helps develop diverse transportation choices and promotes walkable neighborhoods. RESEARCH NOTES:PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN US ADULTS: The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans was released in 2008, which recommends adults obtain at least 150 minutes/week of moderate-intensity of physical activity, 75 minutes/week of vigorous-intensity, or a combination moderate and vigorous physical activity. A recent analysis of National Health Examination Survey accelerometer and self-report measures of physical activity report only 9.5% of men and 7.0% women met the current physical activity guidelines. Estimates of physical activity were much higher using self-report measures versus accelerometers. YOUTH PHYSICAL ACITIVITY RESOURCE USE AND PHYSICAL ACITIVITY: To examine whether use of physical activity resources such as parks are associated with daily physical activity, 111 adolescents completed a travel diary while wearing accelerometers. The authors found using a physical activity resource was significantly associated with total minutes in moderate-vigorous physical activity, and African Americans and males had significantly greater moderate-vigorous physical activity. ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL FACTORS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: The role of the social environment has gained recognition for its potential role in shaping physical activity patterns. Using surveys and pedometer data obtained from 1112 low-come housing residents, the authors examined the role of social factors on physical activity. The findings suggest individuals with smaller social networks were significantly less active than those with larger social networks after controlling for various socioeconomic factors such as employment status, poverty level, and perceived safety. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT: More than 570 people attended the 2011 National Bike Summit held March 8-10 in Washington, DC. Attendees participated in more than 400 congressional meetings on Thursday, March 10, including those with two Cabinet Secretaries, the Transportation Commissioner from the biggest city in the nation, a representative of the First Lady, and the Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR). The summit culminated in a Congressional Bike Ride in honor of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. STREET SMART WALK SCORE RESOURCE: Walk Score has developed a new tool for assessing community walkability, Street Smart Walk Score. Street Smart uses actual walking routes rather than crow-flies distances to calculate the score for a given address, then looks at the underlying road network to compute the number of intersections per square mile and average block length, and weights destinations based on research about what people actually walk to. PORTLAND’S BIKING INVESTMENTS TO YIELD MAJOR SAVINGS: The city of Portland has invested heavily in biking over the last two decades, creating hundreds of miles of interconnecting bike paths that allow residents to commute to work, shop at local businesses and ride for pleasure. A recent analysis shows these investments will help its residents significantly lower their health care costs and save on fuel; up to $594 million in reduced health care spending and as much as $218 million in lower fuel costs. These estimates are based on the city’s planned investments of up to $605 million in biking improvements by 2040. PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:SAFETY IN NUMBERS IN MINNEAPOLIS: According to the latest Minneapolis Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Report (.pdf), as bicycle usage has increased by 174 percent in the city, the number of bicyclist-motorist crashes has decreased by twenty percent. New York City and Portland, Oregon have witnessed similar trends linking increased ridership to safer conditions. MASCOT LIVENS UP WALKING SCHOOL BUS: With the arrival of spring, the Walking School Bus program in Columbia, Missouri is returning with a new mascot— a giant, blue tennis shoe— designed to pique the interest of students not yet participating in the program. The Walking School Bus program provides a consistent, safe system in which children can walk to school as a group under the supervision of trained adults. The program, lead by the PedNet Coalition and the Columbia/Boone County Health Department, is considered one of the best in the country, and in fall 2010 more than 400 children from 11 elementary schools and 150 volunteers participated. SOUTH CAROLINA COMPLETE STREETS RESOURCES: Eat Smart, Move More South Carolina, a state-wide obesity prevention coalition, has produced a Complete Streets Toolbook (.pdf) and a Complete Streets Advocacy Manual (.pdf) to help South Carolinians push for pedestrian-, bicycle-, and transit-friendly infrastructure in their towns. While written for use by local leaders in South Carolina, many of the techniques and ideas can easily be applied to other communities. UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:126TH AAHPERD NATIONAL CONVENTION & EXPOSITION 15TH ANNUAL HEALTH & FITNESS SUMMIT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRACKS AND TRAILS CONFERENCE SYMPOSIUM ON THERAPEUTIC RECREATION AND ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGING IN THE AMERICAS USC PRC UPDATES:CORE PROJECT ACTIVITIES: The PRC and our partner Sumter County Active Lifestyles will be launching a community campaign in April and May to raise awareness of walking facilities in underserved areas of Sumter County, South Carolina. The awareness campaign will consist of walking track/community park ‘Open Houses,’ with live radio broadcasts during the events and a media campaign involving radio, newspaper, and billboards ads, a street banner, and local television news. Previously collected focus group data found many residents were unaware of these activity areas within their own community, despite recent improvements at many of these sites. WRITER:Robin Shook |
JANUARY/FEBRUARY
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Physical Activity Fast Facts; What should physical education look like in the year 2020 and beyond?; Jump Rope for Heart Month; Trails Advocacy Week; National Girls and Women in Sports Day
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Congress Passes the National Foundation on Physical Fitness, Sports and Nutrition Establishment Act
RESEARCH NOTES:
Integration of Short Bouts of Physical Activity into Organizational Routine: A Systematic Review of the Literature; Diet vs Exercise for the Prevention of Pediatric Obesity: The Role of Exercise; Maintaining a High Physical Activity Level over 20 Years and Weight Gain
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
More Jobs in Bike Lanes than Other Road Projects; New Report: Bridging the Gap in Bicycle Networks; America Walks Strategic Plan for 2011-2013
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Over Two Hundred Complete Streets Policies Adopted; San Antonio Adds Outdoor Fitness Equipment to Parks;
Turning Failed Commercial Properties into Parks
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
Active Living Conference; 2010 Building Healthy Lifestyles Conference; Association for Community Health Improvement Spring Training Conference; National Bike Summit; 27th Annual Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Conference
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:
Core Project Activities
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"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"Jack LaLanne, one of the world's foremost health and fitness pioneers and icons, passed away on January 23, 2011 at the age of 96. I remember watching his TV show while growing up as a pre-adolescent in the 1960s. He would do exercise after exercise after exercise, and make it look so easy I had the opportunity to meet Mr. LaLanne once while attending a California Governor's Council on Physical Fitness meeting when he was 80. Even at that age, his shoulders were as broad as he was tall! He was as enthusiastic about fitness and life at that meeting as he had been when I watched him on TV. He appeared ageless and truly practiced what he preached. I am thankful for people such as Jack LaLanne who understand intuitively that physical activity and exercise are cornerstones of health, and emphatically encourage others to improve their physical fitness and lives. He once stated, "The only way you can hurt your body is not to use it." A simple, strong message that doesn't require a mountain of research to back it up. Steve Hooker, PhD, Director NEWS YOU CAN USE:PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FAST FACTS. On the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity Website http://ncppa.org/policy/activity/, there is a “Physical Activity Fast Facts” box near the top right hand side of the screen which continuously scrolls interesting and informative facts related to physical activity and health that can be used by those who are interested in promoting policy and environmental change in their communities. [Source: National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity website] WHAT SHOULD PHYSICAL EDUCATION LOOK LIKE IN THE YEAR 2020 AND BEYOND? The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has invited physical education teachers, college/university faculty, physical education teacher candidates, K-12 students, parents, school administrators, policymakers, community members, and other key supporters (e.g., public health professionals, medical community) to share visionary thoughts about the future of physical education.
JUMP ROPE FOR HEART MONTH TRAILS ADVOCACY WEEK NATIONAL GIRLS AND WOMEN IN SPORTS DAY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:CONGRESS PASSES THE NATIONAL FOUNDATION ON PHYSICAL FITNESS, SPORTS AND NUTRITION ESTABLISHMENT ACT. On December 22, 2010 the President signed into law S. 1275. This bill officially establishes the National Foundation on Physical Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. The foundation will help fund the activities of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition and increase resources for the promotion of sports, physical activity and good nutrition. [Source: Fitness is Fun: The official newsletter of the President's Challenge, January 2011] RESEARCH NOTES:INTEGRATION OF SHORT BOUTS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INTO ORGANIZATIONAL ROUTINE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE. Among sedentary individuals, it is often more feasible to encourage multiple short intervals of physical activity (e.g. 10 minutes) compared to a single longer bout of exercise. The authors here present a systematic review of evidence of these short bouts of exercise as a component of an overall exercise routine. While not all studies reviewed assessed physical activity before and after an intervention of short-duration exercise, those which did observed modest but significant improvements in physical activity. Other variables, such as workplace or educational performance, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and physiological measures, displayed mixed results. However, the authors feel when taken collectively these results provide promising evidence to support the effectiveness of short bouts of physical activity. Daheia, Mona, Melicia, et al. (2011). "Integration of Short Bouts of Physical Activity Into Organizational Routine: A Systematic Review of the Literature." American Journal of Preventive Medicine 40(1): 76-93. DIET VS EXERCISE FOR THE PREVENTION OF PEDIATRIC OBESITY: THE ROLE OF EXERCISE. In an article in the January 2011 volume of the International Journal of Obesity, Gutin provides a fresh perspective in the debate over the optimal methods for preventing childhood obesity. He approaches this conversation in an intriguing fashion, beginning by citing recent research focused on body composition as opposed to overall body weight. He argues increased vigorous physical activity in adolescents should be the primary intervention strategy to prevent obesity through mechanisms that increase development of lean tissue. Framed in a debate context, this editorial is accompanied by an article focused on the prevention of childhood obesity through dietary interventions. Gutin (2011). "Diet vs exercise for the prevention of pediatric obesity: the role of exercise." Int J Obes 35(1): 29-32. MAINTAINING A HIGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEVEL OVER 20 YEARS AND WEIGHT GAIN. Using longitudinal data collected at seven time points over 20 years in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, the authors evaluated the relationship between physical activity level and changes in BMI. After adjustments for variables such as energy intake, baseline BMI, and age, the authors found maintaining a high level of physical activity was associated with smaller gains in BMI and waist circumference when compared with a low level of physical activity. This relationship was particularly beneficial for women, as those who maintained a high level of physical activity gained 6.1 fewer kilograms per year compared to those who maintained a low level of physical activity. Hankinson, Daviglus, Bouchard, et al. (2010). "Maintaining a High Physical Activity Level Over 20 Years and Weight Gain." JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association 304(23): 2603-2610. REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:MORE JOBS IN BIKE LANES THAN OTHER ROAD PROJECTS. The Political Economy Research Institute at the University of Massachusetts Amherst has published a new report that indicates building pedestrian projects, bike lanes and bike boulevards create more jobs per million dollars spent than road repairs and road resurfacing. Researchers studied the costs of engineering, construction, and materials for different types of projects in the city of Baltimore, Md. and concluded that, for a given amount of spending, bike lanes create about twice as many jobs as road construction. [Source: American Bicyclist Update, January 18, 2011] NEW REPORT: BRIDGING THE GAP IN BICYCLE NETWORKS. Bridges are critical parts of community transportation networks, and making sure they safely accommodate people on foot or on bike allows for expanded mobility and transportation choice. There are thousands of overdue bridge projects around the country. This means more chances than ever before to provide accommodations for bicycling and walking. Failure to do so means missing a once-in-a-generation opportunity. A new report from the League of American Bicyclists shows how to advocate successfully for “complete” bridges, including lessons learned from several campaigns. [Source: National Complete Streets Coalition Newsletter, December 2010] AMERICA WALKS STRATEGIC PLAN FOR 2011-2013. America Walks has published a three-year plan that outlines goals, objectives, and tactics to create safe and attractive streets and neighborhoods that encourage people of all ages, abilities, ethnicities, and incomes to walk for exercise, recreation, and transportation. Walkable community policies promote health, economic vitality, environmental sustainability, and social equity. [Source: America Walks Monthly E-Newsletter, December 2010 PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:OVER TWO HUNDRED COMPLETE STREETS POLICIS ADOPTED. The Complete Streets movement continues to grow, with over 200 jurisdictions formally committed to Complete Streets by the end of 2010. This milestone comes only 14 months after the 100th community adopted the Complete Streets policies, showing the success of coalition members, partners, and allies in communicating the possibilities of accessible, multimodal, equitable, healthier transportation systems. SAN ANTONIO ADDS OUTDOOR FITNESS EQUIPMENT TO PARKS. San Antonio, TX has made working out even easier by installing outdoor fitness equipment in city parks. The city has installed the equipment in four parks, and nine more parks will receive fitness equipment in 2011. The pieces include equipment allowing the user to perform stretches, power step exercises, push ups, squats, and core and balance exercises with the goal of improving cardiovascular conditioning, muscle tone and flexibility. The installation of the fitness equipment was made possible by the Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant (funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) awarded to the Metro Health Department to combat obesity and related diseases. [Source: The San Antonio Express-News] TURNING FAILED COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES INTO PARKS. A new term gaining popularity recently is "redfields"- used to describe the red ink for underperforming, underwater and foreclosed real estate. “Redfields to Greenfields” is an initiative aimed at reducing the huge supply of stricken commercial properties and revitalizing the areas around them. The plan is this: Determine where defunct properties might fit a metropolitan green-space strategy; acquire and clear them; then make them into parks and conservation areas, some permanent and some only land-banked until the market wants them again. Redfields-to-greenfields studies have been completed for Cleveland, Denver, and Miami with more under way in Detroit, Houston, and Los Angeles. [Source: Miller-McCune Magazine] UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:NATIONAL BIKE SUMMIT BIENNIAL TRAILBUILDERS CONFERENCE 126TH AAHPERD NATIONAL CONVENTION & EXPOSITION 15TH ANNUAL HEALTH & FITNESS SUMMIT AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TRACKS AND TRAILS CONFERENCE SYMPOSIUM ON THERAPEUTIC RECREATION AND ADAPTED PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THE 2011 INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON AGING IN THE AMERICAS WRITERS:Marsha Stepp, Robin Shook |
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