QUARTER 4: October - December 2020 | USC-PRC Notes

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

Topics in this issue

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the UofSC PRC Core Research Project
Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network III

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Tennessee Department of Health Announces Funding Opportunities for Built Environment Projects
Distance Learning Makes it Harder for Kids to Exercise, Especially in Low-Income Communities
Active People, Healthy Nation Champions Institute Officials Selected
National Youth Sports Strategy Champions

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

January, February, March

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

President Trump Signs One Trillion Trees Executive Order, Promoting Conservation and Regeneration of Our Nation’s Forests
Physical Activity Legislation Update: PHIT Act

RESEARCH NOTES:

ParkIndex: Validation and Application of a Pragmatic Measure of Park Access and Use
Prescribing Physical Activity in Parks and Nature: Health Care Provider Insights on Park Prescription Programs
Worldwide Effect of COVID-19 on Physical Activity: A Descriptive Study Studies of Physical Activity and COVID-19 During the Pandemic: A Scoping Review
Identification of Effective Programs to Improve Access to and Use of Trails among
Youth from Under-Resourced Communities: A Review

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

Stigma Impacts Psychological, Physical Health of Multiracial People
Physical Activity Alliance 2021 Policy Memo
A Socially Distanced Discussion on How a Little Activity Goes a Long Way
The State of Obesity 2020: Better Policies for a Healthier America

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

West Virginia Mini-Grant Program Increases Local Physical Activity Opportunities
Why Do So Many Queer Folks Love Urbanism?
Aged Care Isn't Working, but We Can Create Neighborhoods to Support Healthy Ageing in Place
Pennsylvania Allocates $155K to 10 Communities to Improve Physical Activity Environments

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

January, February, March

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR:

Greetings from the University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center!

As 2020 draws to a close, I would like to extend my sincerest wish to you for Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year! For most of us, the holidays will certainly be different this year. If you will spend the holidays alone or if you are grieving the loss of family or friends, I send my hope that you will experience peace, despite these difficult times.

2020 has shown us that we have a lot of work to do as a country. Over the last couple of months, I’ve attended several webinars focused on issues of social justice and racism as related to physical activity. They’ve underscored that engaging the community and ensuring cultural competence in research and practice is not enough – our research and practice need to go further to study and advocate issues of equity, anti-racism, and access to physical activity opportunities for all. My goal for 2021 is to be more deliberate in this focus. I am ready to say goodbye to 2020 – wow, what a year it has been! I’m hopeful that 2021 will bring a reduction in COVID-19 infections, a vaccine, and healing from the many divisions in our nation.

See you in 2021!

- Sara Wilcox

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the USC PRC Core Research Project

National recruitment is ongoing for the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Online Training Program! The first cohort of the PRC’s FAN program recently completed training, and our next cohort will launch in January 2021. The training includes eight self-paced weekly interactive lessons designed to teach churches how to create a healthier church environment. Churches will learn how to increase opportunities, share messages, and create policies for physical activity and healthy eating at church, as well as how to enlist their pastor’s support in these initiatives. To learn more about the training or to sign up to participate, please visit the PRC website or contact the program coordinators.

As we close out the year, we give thanks for all who have contributed to our work. With support from many partners, the PRC has:

Co-hosted 2 webinars for churches focused on safe COVID-19 practices
Convened 4 Community Advisory Board meetings
Hosted 8 physical activity and public health professional development seminars
Provided training experiences for 6 students
Published 14 articles (Center & Special Interest Projects) and 4 plain language briefs
Disseminated 4 quarterly e-Newsletters
Launched our Facebook and Twitter accounts
Presented at the CDC PRC Network Kick-Off meeting and November webinar

Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network III

CHIP Mini-grant Program
In February 2021, the SC-CPCRN III Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP) intends to award two (2) $10,000 mini-grants to organizations in South Carolina to implement an evidence-based program that will improve health outcomes in rural communities.

The applicant group must have at least five (5) members and must identify a program leader who is willing to commit effort to implementing the program. Applicants also are encouraged to work with a clinical partner such as a federally qualified health center or rural health clinic. Please visit our website for the request, application, and webinar training! Please reach out to Sam Noblet at noblet@mailbox.sc.edu with questions.

CPCRN Scholars Workgroup
The CPCRN Scholars Workgroup, led by UofSC and Emory University, received 24 applications for the first cohort of the program. The workgroup is currently evaluating applications and hopes to begin the program in January 2021.

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Tennessee Department of Health Announces Funding Opportunities for Built Environment Projects

The Tennessee Department of Health has put in place several funding opportunities to help build and support healthy communities, named Healthy Active Built Environments grants. The Tennessee Department of Health plans for the funding to be a catalyst for creating publicly accessible physical activity and healthy eating resources. Research increasingly shows that built environments have an important impact on the physical and mental health of community members. This grant program has awarded more than $1.8 million in grants to 34 recipients across Tennessee, including both government and non-government entities. These grants have promoted health in the state by funding diverse projects including playgrounds, walking tracks, greenways, and other publicly accessible spaces that promote physical activity and social interaction. An online report outlines the accomplishments of this funding mechanism and its awardees. For more information on how to apply for future grants, please visit the Tennessee Department of Health website.
[Source: Tennessee Department of Health]

Distance Learning Makes it Harder for Kids to Exercise, Especially in Low-Income Communities

According to a report from the Center on Reinventing Public Education, about 25% of United States school districts started the year fully remote, and under-resourced school districts are more likely to be fully remote. Children who are not in school do not have access to recess, physical education classes, and school teams or clubs that promote physical activity. Further, remote learners miss out on opportunities to walk to school or the bus stop. Before the pandemic, children from low-income communities and communities of color already experienced fewer physical activity opportunities, were less likely to meet physical activity recommendations, and experienced safety issues with being physically active in their neighborhood environments. As more activities have moved outdoors to decrease the risk of virus spread, these inequities in child physical activity are increasing.
[Source: The Conversation]

Active People, Healthy Nation Champions Institute Officials Selected

Smart Growth America recently selected 21 elected officials nationwide to serve as part of the inaugural Active People Healthy Nation Champions Institute. The primary goal of the Institute is to train officials to advocate for complete and safe streets policies, particularly in light of recent increases in roadway fatalities. Institute officials will participate in six months of coursework and training to become Complete Streets champions. Smart Growth America is developing an online portal through which officials will share updates on their training process and plans for their communities.
[Source: Smart Growth America]

National Youth Sports Strategy Champions

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and the President's Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition are recognizing National Youth Sports Strategy (NYSS) Champions and their promotion of youth sports participation. The ODPHP website now features a searchable directory to help the public learn more about NYSS Champions and their work. The web page also features a map of the United States that shows where NYSS Champions are located and how many youth are served through their programs. Examples of NYSS Champions include Adaptive Sports Ohio, Every Kid Sports, Girls In the Game, and Move United.

[Source: Health.gov]

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

President Signs One Trillion Trees Executive Order, Promoting Conservation and Regeneration of Our Nation’s Forests

Earlier this year, President Trump announced that the United States would join the World Economic Forum's One Trillion Trees Initiative to plant, grow, conserve, and restore one trillion trees on American soil and around the world by 2030. A recent executive order (October 16, 2020), “Establishing the One Trillion Trees Interagency Council,” will actively manage forests and rangelands through partnerships with states, tribes, communities, non-profit organizations, and the private sector. Some climate change researchers and scientists are advocating against this initiative, as campaigns to plant huge numbers of trees are related to biodiversity loss and little to no climate change benefits.
[Source: The White House]

Physical Activity Legislation Update: PHIT Act

The Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) Act is a bipartisan bill that would allow individuals to use health savings account dollars to cover eligible fitness and sport-related expenses, including fitness equipment, youth sports league fees, and gym memberships. The current iteration of the bill gained traction in 2019 when it passed in the House of Representatives, and it now awaits a vote in the Senate. There has been renewed support and promotion of the bill in recent months, as many studies have projected that physical activity and sports participation have declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill would allow Americans to offset costs of physical activity through otherwise restricted health savings funds, which may in turn promote greater activity. The bill is also part of the Physical Activity Alliance’s strategic policy priorities.
[Source: IHRSA]

RESEARCH NOTES:

ParkIndex: Validation and Application of a Pragmatic Measure of Park Access and Use

Composite metrics integrating park availability, features, and quality for a given address or neighborhood are lacking. This study describes the validation and application of ParkIndex, a metric for predicting park use based on available park resources, in four diverse communities: Seattle (WA), Brooklyn (NY), Raleigh (NC), and Greenville County (SC). The number of parks, total park acreage, and average park quality score were all associated with park use among participants in each location. ParkIndex values across the study areas ranged from 0 to 100. Hypothetical additions of or renovations to study area parks resulted in substantial ParkIndex increases. ParkIndex has substantial value for park and urban planners, citizens, and researchers as a common metric to facilitate awareness, decision-making, and intervention planning related to park access, environmental justice, and community health.
[Source: Kaczynski, Hughey, Stowe, Wende, Hipp, Oliphant, & Schipperijn (2020). ParkIndex: Validation and application of a pragmatic measure of park access and use. Preventive Medicine Reports.]

Prescribing Physical Activity in Parks and Nature: Health Care Provider Insights on Park Prescription Programs

Park prescription programs, such as ParkRx, have gained traction in recent years as a viable means of engaging health care providers (HCPs) in physical activity (PA) promotion. However, little is known about HCPs’ knowledge and attitudes toward park prescription programs. Researchers in this study engaged 278 HCPs in an e-survey to explore PA counseling practices, knowledge and interest in ParkRx, and barriers and resources for implementing PA counseling and ParkRx. Most providers reported asking patients about PA habits and offering counseling, but the majority did not prescribe park usage or were unaware of ParkRx. Secondary HCPs were more likely than primary HCPs to offer patients written PA prescriptions. Both primary and secondary HCPs cited time constraints as a barrier to prescribing PA and indicated that access to park information and community partnerships would facilitate park prescription.
[Source: Besenyi, Hayashi, & Christiana (2020). Prescribing physical activity in parks and nature: Health care provider insights on park prescription programs. Journal of Physical Activity and Health.]

Worldwide Effect of COVID-19 on Physical Activity: A Descriptive Study

Social distancing measures have been an omnipresent part of the COVID-19 pandemic, although they have varied in type and intensity between countries. One noted effect of quarantine measures, in which individuals are largely restricted to their homes, has been a decline in physical activity. Researchers in this study looked at step counts, a proxy measure for physical activity, among over 455,000 unique users of the Argus app (a free wellness app available for Apple/Android devices) located across 187 countries. Within 30 days of the pandemic declaration worldwide, there was a 27.3% decrease in mean daily step counts, although the timing and rate of step decreases varied by country. Among countries with few to no quarantine or social distancing mandates, sustained decreases in step counts were still observed during the study period.
[Source: Tison, Avram, Kuhar, Abreau, Marcus, Pletcher, & Olgin (2020). Worldwide effect of COVID-19 on physical activity: A descriptive study. Annals of Internal Medicine.]

Studies of Physical Activity and COVID-19 During the Pandemic: A Scoping Review

While social distancing is important to prevent coronavirus transmission, it may have other undesirable health effects. For example, prolonged homestay during quarantine might increase sitting time and screen time and decrease overall physical activity levels. This scoping review aimed to identify the available evidence related to physical activity and the COVID-19 outbreak published since the World Health Organization declared the pandemic. A total of 41 studies addressing physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified and evaluated. Most studies showed that physical activity levels decreased due to social distancing measures. Physical activity was also shown to decrease the mental health burden related to the COVID-19 outbreak.
[Source: Caputo & Reichert (2020). Studies of physical activity and COVID-19 during the pandemic: A scoping review. Journal of Physical Activity and Health]

Identification of Effective Programs to Improve Access to and Use of Trails among Youth from Under-Resourced Communities: A Review

This article identified and reviewed studies evaluating the effectiveness of programs to increase access to trails and trail use among youth from under-resourced communities. Studies were identified that evaluated physical activity and neighborhood characteristics prospectively among adolescent girls, the effects of the path or trail development on physical activity behaviors of children, youth, and adults, marketing or media campaigns, and wayfinding and incremental distance signage to promote increased trail use. Barriers to trail use included costs, crime, lack of transportation, lack of role models using trails, and institutional discrimination. This evidence may inform the development of programs that support trail use by youth from under-resourced areas. Despite this, research addressing the underrepresentation of trail use by youth from under-resourced communities is lacking.
[Source: Reed, Ballard, Hill, & Berrigan (2020). Identification of effective programs to improve access to and use of trails among youth from under-resourced communities: A review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health]

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

Stigma Impacts Psychological, Physical Health of Multiracial People

Multiracial individuals who report frequent denial of racial identity also report more depressive symptoms, more stress, impaired motivation, and lower self-esteem compared to those who experience denial less frequently. This report outlines research showing that policy changes can help fight stigmas experiences by multiracial Americans, one of the fastest growing minority groups in the United States according to Census data. This report also outlines policy changes that would allow for better distribution of educational and health care resources and improve health care delivery for multiracial populations.
[Source: Science Daily]

Physical Activity Alliance 2021 Policy Memo

The Physical Activity Alliance has released their 2021 policy memo. The memo outlines strategic priorities, legislation, and initiatives that the Alliance supports, with the goal of enabling physical activity among Americans. The Alliance aims to “amplify the important work of others across the policy landscape and incorporate additional sectors of the National Physical Activity Plan.” Initiative areas include active transport, youth physical activity, physical activity guidelines, physical activity tax incentives, and chronic disease prevention, management, and treatment. The Alliance also supports several key pieces of physical activity legislation, including the Physical Activity Recommendations for Americans (PAR) bill and the Personal Health Investment Today (PHIT) act.
[Source: Physical Activity Alliance]

A Socially Distanced Discussion on How a Little Activity Goes a Long Way

This article outlines a (virtual) discussion with authors of recent American Heart Association reports (including a science advisory and a policy statement) on barriers that inhibit active lifestyles in the U.S. Authors involved in this discussion are Dr. Deborah R. Young, Mark Fenton, and Dr. Laurie Whitsel. They discuss three important levels of active transportation policies: the macroscale of land use, the mesoscale of pedestrian and bicycle networks and infrastructure, and the microscale of design interventions and placemaking. Issues of equity are also highlighted, as the need for built environment improvement is the greatest in low-income communities. An American Heart Association internal working group has been tasked with talking with the experts to understand the details of how active transportation projects can have the greatest health impacts, and they will employ an evidence-based approach to support health-promoting policy campaigns across the United States.
[Source: American Heart Association]

NACDD Webinar Recording: Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Physical Activity in the Black Community

The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) recently sponsored a webinar titled, “Identifying and Addressing Barriers to Physical Activity in the Black Community,” in support of the CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation initiative. The webinar featured a keynote presentation by Charles T. Brown, MPA, CPD and a panel discussion with Black leaders in community and transportation planning. Presentations explored restrictions to Black mobility in the U.S., including effects of over-policing, and highlighted the need for national physical activity initiatives that address the specific activity barriers faced by Black and Indigenous People of Color. Presenters also offered strategies to ensure racial equity and justice in the development of physical activity programs. A recording of the webinar is now available online.
[Source: NACDD]

The State of Obesity 2020: Better Policies for a Healthier America

Approximately 42.4 percent of adults in the United States were experiencing obesity in 2019, an increase of 26 percent since 2008. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BFRSS) shows that rates of overweight and obesity nationwide differ by age, gender, race, income-level, and even geographic location. For example, Black adults have the highest rate of adult obesity nationally at 49.6 percent, with even higher rates among Black women (56.9 percent). Informative maps displaying geographic disparities according to demographic groups nationally can be found on the CDC website.

[Source: Trust for America’s Health]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

West Virginia Mini-Grant Program Increases Local Physical Activity Opportunities

The West Virginia Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease launched a mini-grant program in February 2020 through the Center for Active WV. The goal of the program is to increase physical activity opportunities in local communities across West Virginia. Thirteen community projects received funding, and despite challenges and barriers imposed by COVID-19, the projects have been very successful. One project, WVU Medicine’s Walk with a Future Doc, has adapted to the pandemic by promoting 60-minute virtual walking groups, during which community members can talk with medical students and physicians. The Center is now evaluating projects to fund in 2021.
[Source: Dominion Post]

Why Do So Many Queer Folks Love Urbanism?

For many queer people, cities or metropolitan areas serve as settings that offer relative safety and acceptance. There is a growing public narrative that individuals identifying as queer often leave rural spaces for more accepting urban spaces. The author of this article, who identifies as a queer urbanist, notes that queer urbanists are generally marginalized and experience systemic inequities of racism, sexism, and transphobia. Black women are often characterized as the nation’s most dedicated voters despite the dual discrimination they face, and now queer people make up a particularly visible segment of the U.S. urbanism movement despite their continued lack of equal rights and protections.
[Source: Greater Greater Washington]

Aged Care isn't Working, but We Can Create Neighborhoods to Support Healthy Ageing in Place

Planning for an increasing ageing population is a critical issue that has been neglected in our society, despite the importance of environments that facilitate ageing in place. Research shows that many features that benefit older populations also benefit younger individuals, such as good walkability, public open spaces, public transport, affordable housing, local services, and access to health care services. Age-friendly communities enable older people to continue to live their lives independently and allow them to continue to make significant economic and social contributions to families and communities. The authors contend that post-COVID-19 recovery plans should include a broader approach to healthy ageing that extends beyond residential aged care.
[Source: Medical Xpress]

Pennsylvania Allocates $155K to 10 Communities to Improve Physical Activity Environments

Pennsylvania (PA) Governor Tom Wolf and the WalkWorks program at the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health awarded $155K to 10 PA communities to support the development and improvement of physical activity infrastructure. Communities applied for the funding by submitting plans to create or enhance community-wide opportunities for walking, bicycling, and active transport, in line with the WalkWorks objectives. For example, Lower Saucon Township received $20,000 to expand walkability within the town and to promote the development of complete streets. Facilitators of the grant program noted the importance of promoting physical activity and its health benefits, particularly in light of activity decreasing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[Source: PA Media]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

JANUARY

Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Mental Health Conference
January 12-15, 2021
Virtual

FEBRUARY

National Bike Summit
February 28 - March 3, 2021
Virtual

MARCH

State of Black Health Conference
March 2-4, 2021
Charlotte NC

American Academy of Health Behavior Annual Scientific Meetin
March 9 & 12, 2021
Virtual

2021 Hispanic Health Conference
March 18-21, 2021
Washington, DC. (National Hispanic Medical Association)

Chronic Disease Prevention Symposium
March 25-27, 2021
Virtual

Writers: Kelsey Day and Marilyn Wende

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

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

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