QUARTER 3: July - September 2017 | USC-PRC Notes
"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"
Topics in this issue
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Google Spin-off Deploys Wearables for Health Study
National Recreation and Park Association Launches Podcast: Open Space Radio
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Applications Due Nov. 3
Industry Leaders Rally to Grow Youth Sports Participation
Creating Active Outdoor Opportunities for All
Upcoming Events and Observances: October, November, December
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:
Recap: 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting 4
House Making Final Decisions on Cuts to TIGER, Transit Construction, and Rail
RESEARCH NOTES:
Large-Scale Physical Activity Data Reveal Worldwide Activity Inequality
The Motivational Impact of Wearable Healthy Lifestyle Technologies: A Self-determination Perspective on Fitbits With Adolescents
Increasing Walking in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: The Walk to Fly Study
Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in US Middle Aged and Older Adults: A National Cohort Study
The Impact of Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) Intervention on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Time: A Single-blind Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data
Getting Girls Active: Reducing Gender Inequality in Physical Activity
ChangeLab Workplace Wellness: Walk This Way
The State of Obesity 2017: Better Policies for a Healthier America
Health-Related Behaviors and Academic Achievement Among High School Students
Church Environment Audit Tool
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
2017 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sport Award Winners Announced
Building a Social Scene Around a Bike Path
Blowing Rock, NC Receives $2M Grant to Expand Middle Fork Greenway
How Seattle Morphed From Bikeshare Failure to Industry Leader
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
October, November, December
USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:
Update from the USC PRC Core Research Project
USC Researchers Receive $3.3 Million Grant for a Study to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among African Americans
Update from the National Physical Activity Plan
Update from the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network
Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network II
NEWS YOU CAN USE:
Google Spin-Off Deploys Wearable Electronics for Health Study
Project Baseline, led by Google spinoff Verily Life Sciences, is part of a broad effort by research institutes and corporations to harness the power of electronic health data in an effort to improve health. The project, a partnership between Verily and several research universities, is designed to track the health of over 10,000 participants for 4 years. Data for the project will be collected from wearable smart devices, genetic screenings, electronic health records, and clinical visits. Data from wearable devices will be collected using a wrist-worn watch measuring physical activity, heart rate, and sleep patterns. Learn more about the study and how you can participate here.
[Source: Nature]
National Recreation and Park Association Launches Podcast: Open Space Radio
The National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) has launched Open Space Radio, a free podcast. The podcast will expand on topics covered in the Open Space Blog and include additional information on current events including interviews with park and recreation leaders from around the country. Podcast episodes are posted weekly and listeners can download and subscribe to Open Space Radio through Apple Podcasts or Google Play. Archived episodes are also available online, and include tips and strategies to increase physical activity and outdoor recreation in diverse populations.
[Source: National Recreation and Park Association]
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Applications due Nov. 3
Applications for the 2018 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Culture of Health Prize are available online, and should be submitted by 3:00 PM EST on Nov. 3, 2017. The prize, established to recognize and bring attention to communities that are working toward better health for all citizens, is open to urban, rural, suburban, and tribal communities. Eligible applicants are those that prioritize health for all citizens, demonstrate a history of successful community partnerships, commit to sustainable programming, and have clear plans for measuring and sharing program progress and results. Up to 10 communities will receive a $25,000 cash prize and the opportunity to engage with other national and community leaders as ambassadors for building a Culture of Health. While communities can focus efforts on creating improvements in any health area, past winners such as the Oregon’s Columbia Gorge Region have increased physical activity by creating walking groups and revitalizing walking paths. Interested applicants can review stories about past award winners here and sign up to receive information and updates from RWJF.
[Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation]
Industry Leaders Rally to Grow Youth Sports Participation
The Aspen Institute has announced the launch of Project Play 2020, a partnership between sport leagues, healthcare organizations, media industries, and non-profit groups to promote and increase youth participation in sports. The goal of Project Play 2020 is to reverse the declining sport participation rates in children ages 6-12. Founding members include the U.S. Olympic Committee and the American College of Sports Medicine, along with several media and business organizations such as the NBC Sports Group and the National Basketball Association. These organizations will focus their efforts on two of Project Play’s eight strategies: 1) encouraging youth to participate in a variety of new sports and 2) training a higher number of quality coaches in sport safety and instruction. Program organizers hope that collaboration between diverse partners will provide innovative ideas to increase physical activity and childhood sports participation.
[Source: Markets Insider]
Creating Active Outdoor Opportunities for All
Environmental factors preventing access to outdoor areas are considered the most important barrier to using recreational space among adults and children with physical disabilities. To promote active lifestyles and reduce sedentary time in these populations, the National Center on Health, Physical Activity, and Disability and the National Recreation and Park Association suggest small changes that organizations and communities can make to create more inclusive and accessible recreation areas. Some examples of approaches for engaging people with disability in health promotion and physical activity programs include staff training, disability awareness, creating alternatives and modifications to activities, and providing adaptive equipment. This article also provides information about and links to organizations that promote accessible physical activity programs and resources.
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
October
Healthy Lung Month
October 1-31, 2017
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 1-31, 2017
National Physical Therapy Month
October 1-31, 2017
International Walk to School Month
October 1-31, 2017
National Child Health Day
October 2, 2017
Walk to School Day
October 4, 2017
Walk to Work Day [Australia]
October 6, 2017
World Food Day
October 16, 2017
World Osteoporosis Day
October 20, 2017
November
National Diabetes Month
November 1-30, 2017
Pulmonary Hypertension Awareness Month
November 1-30, 2017
World Diabetes Day
November 14, 2017
National Family Health History Day
November 23, 2017
December
World AIDS Day
December 1, 2017
WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:USC PRC UPDATES:
Recap: 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting 4
The Advisory Committee for the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (PAG) held its fourth meeting in July to discuss progress toward the release of the new guidelines. Subcommittees and workgroups at this meeting provided the full committee with updates on systematic literature reviews. Presentations included a review of the impact of physical activity on cancer prevention, reduction in weight gain over time, and reduction in weight gain during pregnancy. Videocast recordings of these presentations as well as meeting notes can be found here. Another meeting will be held the third week of October, 2017. For updates on the Committee’s progress and upcoming events, sign up online or submit a written comment.
[Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion]
House Making Final Decisions on Cuts to TIGER, Transit Construction, and Rail
Appropriations committees in the House and the Senate are currently debating and setting funding levels for 2018 transportation programs, including the competitive Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grants. The House version of the 2018 budget has eliminated TIGER funding, while the Senate bill increases funding requests compared to 2017 levels. The TIGER grant program provides the U.S. Department of Transportation with funding to invest in national projects, including bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways. With several communities across the country lacking the funds to address transportation needs, this program is one of the few ways that local communities can directly receive federal dollars for their priority transportation projects.
RESEARCH NOTES:
Large-scale Physical Activity Data Reveal Worldwide Activity Inequality
Worldwide, low levels of physical activity have been linked to increased rates of chronic disease. In this article, researchers used data from smartphones to measure the steps of 717,527 people from 111 countries over a year and a half to assess physical activity patterns. Among their major findings, researchers reported that activity inequality is associated with higher obesity levels and this measure of inequality is a better predictor of obesity than the average number of steps recorded. These data also revealed that more walkable cities had lower levels of activity inequality and that people in more walkable cities had higher levels of physical activity. While this research only measured steps and does not consider other types of physical activity, these results represent a significant resource for policy makers, researchers, and urban planners when considering how to increase access to environments that encourage active lifestyles.
[Source: Althoff, et.al. 2017. Large-scale physical activity data reveal worldwide activity inequality. Nature.]
The Motivational Impact of Wearable Healthy Lifestyle Technologies: A Self-Determination Perspective on Fitbits with Adolescents
Wearable physical activity trackers can be used as a tool to encourage physical activity and increase social support. In this article, researches explored the impact of wearable fitness trackers on physical activity motivation in a group of adolescents. Participants, aged 13-14 years, were asked to wear a commercially available electronic fitness tracker for 8 weeks. They completed questionnaires at the beginning and the conclusion of the study to measure physical activity motivation and participated in qualitative interviews to assess short-term processes and impacts of engaging with the wearable technology. Interview data were assessed using self-determination theory, which proposes that behavior should be self-determined for individuals to be optimally motivated. Researchers found that adolescents had short-term increases in motivation through feelings of guilt, competition with themselves and others, and internal pressure. Long-term consequences of the wearable technology were significant reductions in motivation after 8 weeks, partially attributed to an increase in competition that may undermine self-determined motivation for physical activity. The authors provide recommendations for developing and maintaining personal health targets to engage adolescents in healthy physical activity.
[Source: Kerner, et. al. 2017. The motivational impact of wearable healthy lifestyle technologies: A self-determination perspective on Fitbits with adolescents. American Journal of Health Education.]
Increasing Walking in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: The Walk to Fly Study
Many airports offer motorized transportation for travelers throughout airport terminals, but with extended layover times between flights many travelers have an opportunity for light physical activity. In this study, researchers tested the effectiveness of placing four point-of-decision walking prompts throughout the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to increase light physical activity. Researchers used infrared sensors to measure traveler counts and observed an increase from 580 to 810 walking trips per day when comparing trips before and after the placement of the prompts. These findings support the use of simple point-of-decision prompts and signage as a relatively cost efficient way to increase light physical activity.
[Source: Fulton JE. et al. 2017. Increasing walking in the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport: The Walk to Fly Study. American Journal of Public Health]
Patterns of Sedentary Behavior and Mortality in US Middle Aged and Older Adults a National Cohort Study
Sedentary time has been linked to increased risk of chronic disease, but less is known about how patterns of sedentary time may impact health. Using hip-mounted accelerometers, researchers collected data on total sedentary time as well as mean sedentary bout time, a measure of overall prolonged, uninterrupted sedentary behavior. These data were assessed in relationship to measures of all-cause mortality in close to 8,000 US adults. Results from a median follow-up of four years revealed greater total sedentary time and longer sedentary bout duration were associated with a higher risk for all-cause mortality. The study authors recommend that the upcoming physical activity guidelines include a focus on reducing sedentary time and also interrupting sedentary time among adults to decrease health risk.
[Source: Diaz, KM. et al. 2017. Patterns of sedentary behavior and mortality in U.S. middle-aged and older adults: A national cohort study. Annals of Internal Medicine.]
Impact of the Supporting Physical Activity in the Childcare Environment (SPACE) Intervention on Preschoolers’ Physical Activity Levels and Sedentary Time: A Single-blind Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
Childcare settings represent a potential partner for programs and environmental change to increase physical activity and decrease sedentary time among preschool children. In this cluster randomized controlled trial researchers investigated the impact of an intervention aimed at increasing preschoolers’ physical activity by making environmental and organizational modifications in childcare facilities. To increase activity at intervention sites, researchers trained staff members on the importance of play, provided age-appropriate portable play equipment, and restructured outdoor activity time; no changes were made at control facilities. Activity levels were measured using accelerometers. Children at the intervention schools had significantly higher levels of activity and lower levels of sedentary time than children at the control schools after the eight-week intervention. No significant differences between groups were observed at the 6- and 12-month follow-up. The authors offer suggestions for increasing program sustainability through site-specific modification and continued support.
REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:
2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Data
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Population Health has announced the release of the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) data. Data were collected from adults in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and Puerto Rico using both landlines and cellphones. BRFSS data and documentation include an overview on the background, design, data collection procedures, and statistical analysis. The BRFSS question codebook, state- and nation-level comparisons, and analyses are provided. BRFSS questions are designed to collect information about physical activity, diet, clinical health data, and health care access. Archived data from previous years are also available.
[Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention]
Getting Girls Active: Reducing Gender Inequality in Physical Activity
The University of Bristol has released a report with recommendations for strategies to increase physical activity among girls. The report outlines four areas of focus when developing physical activity programs targeting girls and suggests policy implications for each area. The four areas include: 1) identifying and training girls to be peer-supporters for physical activity, 2) empowering parents to motivate their daughters to be active, 3) promoting active travel to and from school, and 4) shifting after-school programs from competition and team environments to enjoyment of a range of activities.
[Source: University of Bristol]
Changelab Workplace Wellness: Walk This Way
Organizations and companies have recognized the connection between healthy workers, productivity, and decreased health care costs. The Walk This Way report outlines state and local policies supporting physical activity in and around the workplace such as complete streets, paid time for physical activity, and workplace wellness programs. The report outlines a cyclical 5-step process for companies interested in creating their own workplace policies for physical activity. These 5 steps include: 1) identify needs, 2) start the conversation, 3) select, develop, and adopt the policy, 4) implement the policy, and 5) evaluate the policy. The report also includes an infographic listing suggestions for creating policies to encourage physical activity in government agencies, businesses, and communities.
[Source: ChangeLab]
The State of Obesity 2017: Better Policies for a Healthier America
The Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation have released The State of Obesity 2017: Better Policies for a Healthier America. Data in the report present major trends in obesity from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The report is organized into sections including policy analysis, state briefs, rates and trends, fast facts, and resources. Current obesity trends are also presented graphically and include a leveling off of adult and childhood obesity rates across the US, though obesity rates remain high in most states and physical activity rates among adults and youth across the US remain low. The authors provide recommendations for obesity prevention including investing in community-based prevention programs and creating evidence-based policies to improve physical activity at the federal, state, and local levels.
[Source: The State of Obesity 2017]
Health-Related Behaviors and Academic Achievement Among High School Students – United States, 2015
A new report published by the CDC provides continued support of the association between student health and academic achievement among high school students. The report presents information from the 2015 Youth Risk Behavior Survey exploring the relationship between 10 physical activity and dietary health behaviors and academic achievement. Compared to students reporting lower grades, students who reported greater academic achievement were more likely to participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity 5 or more days per week and to play on at least 1 sports team. High achieving students were less likely to engage in more than three hours of screen time a day. Student grades were also positively associated with healthy eating behaviors including eating breakfast, eating fruits and vegetables, and drinking less sugar sweetened beverages. The report also covers the associations between academic achievement and substance abuse, violence, and suicide risk.
PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:
2017 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sport Award Winners Announced
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Sports Award recognizes the ways sports create healthy changes in communities by facilitating safe play environments and expanding opportunities for physical activity for all children. The 2017 prize has been awarded to three organizations: the San Francisco Giants Community Fund, the Moyer Foundation, and PeacePlayers International. Each organization will receive a $7,500 cash prize in recognition for their work with underserved populations. These award winners have a history of collaborating with communities and neighborhoods to enhance sports programming and encourage healthy lifestyles for underserved children. A brief video highlighting previous award winners can be found online.
[Source: RWJF]
Building a Social Scene Around a Bike Path
The Lafitte Greenway, a multi-use walking and cycling path in New Orleans, is an example of how a large and culturally diverse city has incorporated several aspects of community planning into the development of spaces to encourage physical activity. Lafitte Greenway transects neighborhoods with diverse income levels, racial composition, and historical significance. The Greenway’s popularity has also attracted business developers who have opened coffee shops, bodegas, and playgrounds along the path, which has attracted more active commuters and recreational users. City planners, community activists, and non-profits continue to work together to plan for expansions and development along the path that will remain inclusive of diverse populations and encourage a physically active lifestyle.
[Source: CityLab]
Blowing Rock, NC Receives $2M Grant to Expand Middle Fork Greenway
Blowing Rock, NC has received a federal grant through the Eastern Federal Lands Access Program. This grant will aid in the construction of the Middle Fork Greenway, a multi-use path that will connect Blowing Rock to the neighboring city of Boone, and expand opportunities for active commuting. The Greenway project has been underway for several years and will connect existing portions of the trail from both communities to create a continuous, 10 mile multi-use path. The Middle Fork Greenway will also connect to the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Mountains-to-Sea Trail, and several parks and outdoor recreation areas along national park service property. The pathway will be open to walkers, bikers, and will be wheelchair accessible. In addition to the newly awarded federal funding, the Greenway project is funded by public and private partners with the goal of increasing physical activity and outdoor access for residents and tourists.
[Source: High Country Press]
How Seattle Morphed From Bikeshare Failure to Industry Leader
City planners in Seattle have revamped their city’s struggling bikeshare program. Under the new system, bikeshare users can pick up and return bikes without having to locate sometimes scarce parking stations or docks. Instead, users can park on sidewalks or streets and locate nearby bicycles using their smartphones. Since making changes to the program, the city now has more available bikes, more rides are being taken, and users can take advantage of a lower cost per ride. Seattle’s department of transportation and bikeshare companies continue to analyze common routes to inform future development plans and identify popular riding areas. They hope to increase the number of available bicycles and encourage active transportation among residents.
[Source: CNN]
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:
October
Annual ASHA School Health Conference
October 11-13, 2017
St. Louis, MO
International Council on Active Aging Conference
October 12-14, 2017
Orlando, FL
November
European Public Health Association (EUPHA) Annual Conference
November 1-4, 2017
Stockholm, Sweden
American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Exposition
November 4-November 8, 2017
Atlanta, GA
December
10th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health
December 4-6, 2017
Arlington, VA
USC PRC UPDATES:
Update from the USC Core Research Project
On July 27, 2017, The University of South Carolina hosted a symposium entitled “Implementing and Sustaining Physical Activity and Nutrition Programs in Faith-based Settings: Insights from Faith, Activity and Nutrition (FAN).” Representatives from several sectors including public health, academia, and faith-based settings attended the symposium, which focused on evidence-based public health programming implementation. Speakers included Dr. Sara Wilcox from USC and a panel of faith-based partners, Ms. Barbara Martin, Ms. Queen Davis, Ms. Yolanda Dodd, and Ms. Sarah McMaster, who have experience implementing FAN in local SC churches. A video of the FAN program overview and panel discussion can be found online.
USC Researchers Receive $3.3 Million Grant for a Study to Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk Among African Americans
USC researchers, Dr. Brie Turner-McGrievy (PRC Faculty Affiliate and Associate Professor of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior), along with co-investigators Edward Frongillo (Professor; Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior), Sara Wilcox (PRC Director and Professor of Exercise Science) and Angela Murphy (Assistant Professor, USC School of Medicine), have received a nearly $3.3 million grant to research nutrition-based approaches to reducing heart disease among overweight African Americans. Funded through the National Institutes of Health’s National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, the five-year, R01 grant will be used to examine the use of healthy soul food diets (plant-based vs omnivorous) to address cardiovascular disease in this population. African Americans are disproportionately affected by cardiovascular disease (CVD), having the highest death rates from CVD as compared with other racial/ethnic groups. More African American adults die from CVD than any other chronic disease condition. AAs also have the highest rates of obesity compared with whites and Hispanics. The study will partner with local, soul food restaurants that serve southern-style food to ensure the recipes used in the study are culturally appropriate. See the full story here.
Update from the National Physical Activity Plan
This quarter the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance released:
- The 2017 United States Report Card on Walking and Walkable Communities – This report is the first comprehensive national assessment of walking and walkable communities in the U.S. The report card grades 9 key factors assessing both individual and community level data. The baseline data indicates significant room for improvement across factors.
- Objectives Added for Healthcare Sector - The objectives indicate specific actions that can and should be taken to implement plan tactics, along with a timeline for implementation.
In July the NPAPA Board of Directors held an in-person meeting in Alexandria, Virginia. The full day work session allowed members to reflect on the accomplishments and growth of the NPAPA over the last 10 years and brainstorm a strategic plan for the future.
Update from the South Carolina Healthy Brain Research Network
Scholars and team members were very active this past quarter. Kristie Kannaley, recent master’s graduate in the Arnold School of Public Health and SC-HBRN Scholar, presented her innovative work entitled, “A Thematic Analysis of Dementia Blog Narratives: Perspectives from Caregivers and Care Recipients” at the 2017 Alzheimer's Association International Conference in London, England. She received travel funding from the Alzheimer’s Association and from the Arnold School. SC-HBRN Scholar and MPH graduate Kate Olscamp took a leadership role in conducting research on caregivers’ perceptions of the connection between physical activity and brain health. She also examined the content of messages about this connection being published online by physical activity organizations. Kate developed a one-pager summarizing results for study participants.
Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network II
Dr. Daniela Friedman, SCPCRN II principal investigator, is currently serving as the co-lead for the South Carolina Cancer Alliance (SCCA) Prostate Cancer Workgroup. The workgroup delivered a prostate health education program in the Midlands for African-American men over the age of 40. The program focused on sexual dysfunction and quality of life issues associated with the development and treatment of prostate cancer.
Writers: John Bernhart and Caroline Dunn
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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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