QUARTER 4: October - December 2013 | USC-PRC Notes
"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"
Topics in this issue
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
The Walking Revolution: Documentary Tells Powerful Untold Story of Walking
It's as 'Easy' As 3-4-50: San Diego Works to Change Its Culture, Improve Its Health -- and Live Well
DeCroce Bill a Prescription for Wellness for Obesity-Related Health Conditions
Request for Information (RFI): Identifying Gaps in Understanding the Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits
Upcoming Events and Observances: January, February, March
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Business, Civic and Elected Leaders from Across the Country Call on Congress to Boost and Refocus Transportation Funding
RESEARCH NOTES:
Mapping the Development of Research on Physical Activity and the Built Environment
Neighborhood Commuting Environment and Obesity in The United States: an Urban–Rural Stratified Multilevel Analysis
Physical Activity in Parks: a Randomized Controlled Trial Using Community Engagement
Overcoming Legal Liability Concerns For School-Based Physical Activity Promotion
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Making Safer Streets, November 2013
Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments
A Compendium of Proven Community-Based Prevention Programs
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Hello, Green: Centennial Mall Bike Lane Design Gets OK
Go West, We Can!
SC Schools Honored by Alliance for a Healthier Generation for Fighting Childhood Obesity
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
January, February, March
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE:
USC PRC Researcher Awarded CDC SIP Grant for Smoking Cessation Project
USC PRC Researchers Participate in Healthy Aging Forum
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
The Walking Revolution: Documentary Tells Powerful Untold Story of Walking
The Every Body Walk! Campaign recently released a documentary film, “The Walking Revolution,” about the extensive benefits of walking, including health, environmental, and community improvements. The film explores personal stories about the positive consequences of walking. More information about the film is available here; the film can be viewed here.
[Source: Every Body Walk]
It's as 'Easy' As 3-4-50: San Diego Works to Change Its Culture, Improve Its Health -- and Live Well
In 2008, newly appointed San Diego County Health and Human Services Director Nick Macchione put together a team to draft a 10 year plan for making their county healthier. The plan was based on the “3-4-50” principle, that three behaviors (poor diets, physical inactivity and smoking) contribute to four chronic diseases (cancer, heart disease and stroke, diabetes, and respiratory conditions), and that those four diseases account for over 50% of death worldwide. In San Diego, 57% of deaths could be attributed to those four diseases. Macchione said that in designing the plan for San Diego, he realized that while the health system was very complex, sometimes simple solutions can be effective. “This was our epiphany: We could focus on three simple things—healthy eating, exercising and smoking—because they have such a huge impact.” Now halfway into the plan, Macchione discusses the progress of San Diego and the remaining five years of the county plan.
[Source: Forbes]
DeCroce Bill a Prescription for Wellness for Obesity-Related Health Conditions
Individuals with obesity-related conditions which may be treated with exercise would be given free access to State parks provided they have a physician’s prescription under legislation introduced by New Jersey Assembly woman Betty Lou DeCroce. The bill also calls for the Division of Parks and Forestry to develop a brochure for suggested workouts within park facilities, utilizing already established activity programs and trails. “Our State parks are an underutilized resource,” stated DeCroce. “By incentivizing residents to exercise and visit State parks citizens will be healthier, insurance companies will shoulder less of a burden, healthcare tax dollars will be saved and New Jersey’s beautiful parks will be highlighted and enjoyed.”
[Source: PolitickerNJ]
Request for Information (RFI): Identifying Gaps in Understanding the Mechanisms of Physical Activity-Induced Health Benefits
The NIH released a RFI (notice number: NOT-RM-14-001) on December 13, soliciting information about the ways that research might better integrate evidence on the multiple cellular pathways by which physical activity leads to improved health. The call is specifically for comments addressing the following: (a) the most pressing research questions related to the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which physical activity improves health and reduces the risk of disease, (b) the types of new protocols, techniques, and tools needed to answer these research questions, and (c) the likely translational applications for new knowledge about the mechanisms by which physical activity improves overall health and the long-term, overarching benefits of this knowledge. Responses are due December 31, 2013. For more information, see the full RFI here.
[Source: NIH]
UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:
JANUARY
NONE
FEBRUARY
American Heart Month
February 1-28, 2014
National Cancer Prevention Month
February 1-28, 2014
National Wise Health Consumer Month
February 1-28, 2014
National Cardiac Rehabilitation Week
February 9-15, 2014
2014 Hike the Hill
February 9-12, 2014
National Wear Red Day
February 7, 2014
MARCH
National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
March 1-31, 2014
National Kidney Month
March 1-31, 2014
National Nutrition Month
March 1-31, 2014
National School Breakfast Week
March 3-7, 2014
Kick Butts Day
March 19, 2014
American Diabetes Alert Day
March 25, 2014
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Business, Civic and Elected Leaders From Across the Country Call On Congress to Boost and Refocus Transportation Funding
Leaders from across the country and from a variety of sectors joined together in Washington D.C. on November 19 to urge Congress to refocus on transportation funding. At the same time, Transportation for America released a proposal that offers a way to raise the $30 billion dollars needed to patch holes in the funding from the 2012 MAP-21 program. The proposal and also details a new mechanism that would support competitively-funded grants for innovative transportation projects. “ ‘Under deadline to renew the federal transportation program and save the highway trust fund from insolvency in 2014, congressional leaders have said they want to hear from ordinary communities, and local civic and business leaders,’ said James Corless, director of Transportation for America. ‘Today, they got that chance, and our alliance will make sure they hear from even more communities going forward.’ ”
[Source: Transportation for America]
RESEARCH NOTES:
Mapping the Development of Research on Physical Activity and the Built Environment
While recent research has demonstrated links between physical activity and the built environment, there is little known about the overall state of this area of research, including remaining gaps in knowledge where further investigation is needed. A team of researchers started with key articles identified by experts in this field, and used Citation Network Analyzer to build a network of the built environment and physical activity research. Articles were classified into categories including review, discovery, delivery, theory/methods, other physical activity and built environment, and non-physical activity and built environment. The results showed that physical activity and built environment research is largely in the discovery phase, though the large number of review papers suggests that it might be transitioning towards delivery. Additionally, the analysis showed that delivery articles (implementation and evaluation of interventions) were not well integrated into the rest of the literature, and that researchers in delivery may want to focus on better positioning their findings into the discovery literature in the future.
Harris JK et al. (2013) Mapping the development of research on physical activity and the built environment. Preventive Medicine.
Neighborhood Commuting Environment and Obesity in the United States: An Urban–Rural Stratified Multilevel Analysis
Researchers were interested in the impact of high automobile dependency and increased commute times on the risk for obesity in both rural and urban areas. Using data from the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) from 1997-2005 linked with Census data from 2000, they examined the neighborhood-level effects of automobile dependency and commute time on individual obesity. Overall, there were differences in the effects of commute characteristics on risk for obesity in rural versus urban areas. Higher neighborhood automobile dependency was associated with an increased risk for obesity in urbanized areas but not in non-core rural areas; longer commute time was associated with an increased risk for obesity in large central metro and non-core rural areas (among others), but was not in large fringe metro or medium metro areas. The results indicate that interventions and policy changes must be made at a specific level of land-mix use to address the distinctive needs of the area.
Zhang X et al. (2013) Neighborhood commuting environment and obesity in the United States: An urban–rural stratified multilevel analysis. Preventive Medicine.
Physical Activity in Parks: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Community Engagement
Using a unique blend of study design elements, researchers investigated the impacts of collaborating with park advisory boards (PABs) and park directors (PDs) to help increase physical activity in local parks. The study used community-based participatory methods within a randomized controlled trial design; parks in the Los Angeles area were randomized to either PD intervention, PD/PAB intervention, or control intervention. Each park was given funding and instructions on data to collect about their park including assessing park use and collecting feedback from park users and community residents. During the study period, park use declined in the control parks while it increased in both the PD and PD/PAB parks (no difference between PD and PD/PAB conditions); park users and residents increased their physical activity in the intervention arms. These findings point to the potential impact that modest funding for programs and involvement of PDs and PABs could have on physical activity rates in parks.
Cohen DA et al. (2013) Physical Activity in Parks: A Randomized Controlled Trial Using Community Engagement . American Journal of Preventive Medicine.
Overcoming Legal Liability Concerns for School-Based Physical Activity Promotion
Schools have been identified as good targets for physical activity promotion, including interventions to increase physical activity during the school day as well as before and after hours. Among the strategies that have been found to be effective are Safe Routes to Schools programs (encourage walking and biking to school), joint-use agreements (open up the schools so that the public can use playgrounds, etc. when school is not in session), and playground enhancements (upgrading to playground equipment that is more “active”). However, while these strategies have been show to be effective, many schools are hesitant to implement them because of legal concerns including increased liability. This article provides a discussion of the legal environment in which school programs are implemented as well as a discussion of the suggestions for schools to protect themselves. The authors include an overview of personal liability laws, explain how the laws apply to each of the three intervention areas (i.e., Safe Routes to School, joint-use agreements, and playground enhancements), then discuss strategies for schools to minimize their legal risk.
Zimmerman et al. (2013) Overcoming Legal Liability Concerns for School-Based Physical Activity Promotion. American Journal of Public Health.
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
Making Safer Streets, November 2013
Over the past decade, New York City has seen a 30% decline in traffic fatalities, the lowest level since records were first kept in 1910, making New York City’s streets the safest of any big city in the United States. This report details the innovative methods that New York City has used to improve its street design, including moving beyond the traditional approach of “engineering, education, and enforcement,” to use collaborations with local communities for a maximally effective plan. Additionally, the report includes a quantitative assessment of projects based on before and after comparisons of crash data of projects implemented in the last seven years. The report also explores the ways that signals, street geometry, markings, and signs can be used to make streets function better and more safely, and improve not only safety but also the attractiveness and usability of the street for pedestrians, drivers, and cyclists.
[Source: New York City Department of Transportation]
Health in All Policies: A Guide for State and Local Governments
The World Health Organization describes the “Health in All Policies” approach as assisting “leaders and policymakers to integrate considerations of health, well-being and equity during the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies and services.” Using this approach and acknowledging the complexities of the US public health system, this guide was written about the collaborative efforts needed to make community-level health improvements. Strategies in the guide are geared toward creating healthy communities, as defined by a broad range of services, including access to safe and affordable opportunities for physical activity. The guide includes three parts: Part I is a discussion of the concept of Health in All Policies; Part II is a about the structure, relationship building, leadership, and messaging needed for this approach; Part III is a case study of the California Health in All Policies Task Force.
[Source: Public Health Institute]
A Compendium of Proven Community-Based Prevention Programs
The Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and New York Academy of Medicine (NYAM) released A Compendium of Proven Community-Based Prevention Programs, which highlights 79 evidence-based disease and injury prevention programs that have saved lives and improved health. The Compendium is a follow-up to a 2009 report released by TFAH and NYAM, which demonstrated the high return on investment for money spent on preventive health services (e.g., increasing physical activity, improving nutrition, reducing tobacco use). The report was supported by grants from The Kresge Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Physical activity programs highlighted in the Compendium include: The Partnership for an Active Community Environment (PACE) steering committee in New Orleans; North Carolina’s State Health Plan for Teachers and Eat Smart, Move More, Weight Less (ESMMWL); Shape Up Somerville in Massachusetts; and The Well-Integrated Screening and Evaluation for Women Across the Nation (WISEWOMAN).
[Source: Trust for America’s Health]
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
Hello, Green: Centennial Mall Bike Lane Design Gets OK
Construction is set to move forward for 16 blocks of new bike lanes in Lincoln, Nebraska, which will use a new street zoning trend of painting the lines in green instead of the traditional white, to alert other road users to watch for bicycles. The bike lane will also feature a “traffic box,” which will be a green painted area where cyclists can safely wait for traffic lights to change, as well as bike-specific traffic signals for the eastbound traffic. Criticisms of the project include the high lost (estimated $1.3 million), the loss of car parking spots, and the potential impact on traffic. However, supporters note that the bike lane will increase safety for riders, it could encourage more casual riders to start riding to work or downtown, and it is the first dedicated east/west route from downtown to the rest of the city's trail connections.
[Source: Journal Star]
Go West, We Can!
Community partners in Adams County, Idaho are leading the way in their city to collaborate locally and effectively implement a national program. The Adams County Health Center is working with local partners to implement the National Institutes of Health’s We Can!® (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) program, an education program designed to provide families and communities with science-based strategies that they can use to help children eat right, move more and reduce screen time. The group in Adams County is doing an exceptional job of taking the national materials and tailoring them to their local situation, through developing community partnerships and soliciting the feedback of families in their community throughout the entire planning and implementation process. For more information about the Let’s Move! Faith & Communities and We Can! partnership, and to register for a We Can! webinar training, visit the HHS Partnership Center’s website.
[Source: Let’s Move]
SC Schools Honored by Alliance for a Healthier Generation for Fighting Childhood Obesity
Eleven South Carolina schools were among the 267 schools selected for recognition for healthy changes by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, an organization that was founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation. The SC schools were acknowledged for their work to transform their campuses into healthier places for students and staff. The National Recognition Award is given to schools where the improved nutrition services and physical activity programs meet or exceed the strict standards set by the Alliance for a Healthier Generation’s Healthy Schools Program. “We applaud the achievements of our 2013 honorees,” said Howell Wechsler, Chief Executive Officer of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “Their successful efforts to get students and staff eating better and moving more prove that schools are great environments to promote both health and academics.”
[Source: Eat Smart Move More SC]
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
JANUARY 2014
None
FEBRUARY
Thirteenth Annual Partners for Smart Growth: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities
February 13-15, 2014
Dever, CO
Cardiovascular Disease Prevention: Twelfth Annual International Comprehensive Symposium
February 6-9, 2014
Miami Beach, FL
MARCH
National Bike Summit
March 3-5, 2014
Washington, DC
Active Living Research Conference
March 9-12, 2014
San Diego, CA
Aging in America Conference
March 11-15, 2014
San Diego, CA
Sustainable Trailbuilders Conference
March 30- April 5 2014
Stonewall, WV
USC PRC UPDATES:
USC PRC Researcher Awarded CDC SIP Grant for Smoking Cessation Project
Drs. James Thrasher (USC PRC Faculty Affiliate and Associate Professor in the Arnold School of Public Health) and Scott Strayer (Professor, USC School of Medicine) were recently awarded CDC funding for the project “Design, implementation and evaluation of a national quitline registry to enhance smoking cessation in the United States.” The registry, called QuitConnect, will be comprised of an information technology infrastructure developed to capture data from smokers who call toll-free telephone numbers for smoking cessation support (i.e., “quitlines”), so that smokers can be proactively engaged in ongoing cessation interventions and research. This project is carried out in partnership with the North American Quitline Consortium, which promotes quitline effectiveness by facilitating information exchange among all 50 states and US and Canadian territories.
USC PRC Researchers Participate in Healthy Aging Forum
Drs. Sara Wilcox and Daniela Friedman presented an overview of the CDC Healthy Aging Research Network and the brain health initiatives of this network at the USC Healthy Aging Forum on December 3. The program featured Emmy Award winning talk show host, Leeza Gibbons, a USC alumna and founder of Leeza’s Place. Ms. Gibbons spoke about the needs of caregivers providing support to loved ones with memory disorders or progressive illnesses. Other speakers were South Carolina Lt. Governor Glenn McConnell, Beth Sulkowski from the Alzheimer’s Association, and Sue Levkoff, Endowed Chair of the USC SeniorSMART Center of Economic Excellence. The Forum was hosted by the USC School of Journalism and Mass Communication and was moderated by Dr. Andrea Tanner. To read more about the forum, visit the USC PRC website here.
Writer: Danielle Schoffman
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This publication was supported by Cooperative Agreement Number U48-DP-001936 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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