QUARTER 2: April - June 2021 | USC-PRC Notes

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

Topics in this issue

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

  • Update from the UofSC PRC
  • Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network II

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

  • Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund
  • World Olympians Association Awards Five ‘Service to Society’ Grants
  • Recommended Exercise for Individuals with Parkinson’s: New Guidelines from the Parkinson’s Foundation and the ACSM

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

  • July, August, September

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: 

  • Presidential Proclamation on National Physical Fitness and Sports Month
  • Complete Streets Act of 2021

RESEARCH NOTES:

  • Physical Inactivity is Associated with a Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19 Outcomes: a Study in 48,440 Adult Patients
  • Occupational Physical Activity and Longevity in Working Men and Women in Norway: a Prospective Cohort Study
  • Improving Implementation of School-Based Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Policies, Practices, and Programs: a Systematic Review
  • Health Wearable Devices for Weight and BMI Reduction in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity and Chronic Comorbidities: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

  • Advancing Trails Resource Library
  • America Walks Webinar: The Collision Analysis You Want Your City to Do to Save Lives
  • Park and Recreation Month Toolkit

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

  • Seattle Mariners Announce Community Impact Grant Recipients to Advance Racial Equity and Promote Physical and Mental Health
  • Niagara Falls North-End Community Does ‘Zumba in the Park’
  • FitLot for Outdoor Circuit Training in Lincoln, NE
  • Oakland’s Queer Gym Celebrates LGBTQ+ Community through Exercise

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

  • July, August, September

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR:

Happy Summer!

As I write this introduction, the hot South Carolina sun is shining bright, and I am grateful that the semester is over, my kids finished up their school year, and life is beginning to feel quite a bit more normal. I hope that you are also having life return to some semblance of normalcy.

My words will be short… My wish for all our readers, and the people you serve, is that you take some time this summer to refuel and refresh. Take time to connect with friends and family (and take in how amazing this feels). Take time to do things that give you joy. Take time to care for yourself and your health (physical activity is a great way to do that!). And take time to enjoy nature and its beauty (visit a new park or trail!).

I hope to follow some of my own advice – we’ll see how that goes! I can’t wait to see (and HUG – we’re all vaccinated) family that I haven’t seen since pre-COVID, relax a bit at the beach, and explore new areas in my state and beyond (Niagara Falls is on this summer’s list of things to see).

I’ll catch up with you again at the start of Fall!

- Sara Wilcox

UofSC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the UofSC PRC

The UofSC PRC has partnered with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (SC-DHEC) to lead a CDC-funded initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccinations among underserved communities in South Carolina. The project will engage community stakeholders to understand barriers and facilitators to vaccine uptake, particularly in the Black community. Peer advocates will then work to share correct information about the vaccines, and professional navigators will address barriers to vaccination within communities. The project will be led by Dr. Shan Qiao from the Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior. PRC Director Dr. Sara Wilcox and Faculty Investigator Dr. Brooke McKeever will also participate in the project, along with additional investigators from the Arnold School of Public Health and SC-DHEC. To learn more about the project, please visit the Arnold School of Public Health website.

We are continuing to enroll churches in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Online Training Program! Our next cohort will begin evaluation activities in July 2021, and the following cohort in August. ​The training includes eight self-paced weekly interactive lessons designed to teach churches how to create a healthier church environment. Churches learn how to increase opportunities, share messages, and create guidelines for physical activity and healthy eating at church, as well as how to enlist their pastor’s support in these initiatives. For churches who are still meeting virtually, we also offer guidance on how to support safe and socially distanced physical activity and healthy eating. Please consider sharing information about FAN to others in your networks and communities.  To learn more about the training or to sign up to participate, please visit the PRC website.

Update from the South Carolina Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (SC-CPCRN) III

SC-CPCRN has funded two Community Health Intervention Program mini-grants to Upper Midlands Rural Health Network, focusing on physical activity promotion through use of walking trails, and to Trinity Baptist Church, focusing on Covid-19 vaccinations and catching up on health screenings. Both mini-grants are focused in rural areas and currently in-progress!

Researchers Dr. James Hebert, Dr. Daniela Friedman, and others from the Statewide Cancer Prevention and Control Program (CPCP) and the Office for the Study of Aging at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health recently published a paper on disability-free life expectancy. In this article, published in Quality of Life Research, they explore implications for health-related quality of life.

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Kids Run the Nation Grant Fund

Applications are currently being accepted for the Kids Run the Nation grant program, which is funded by the Road Runners Club of America (RRCA). Since 2007, the RRCA has awarded over $300,000 to Kids Run the Nation grant recipients. The program assists running clubs, schools, and community organizations in coordinating and offering youth running programs. Eligible applicants include individuals working in schools, PTAs, or 501(c)(3) organizations. Awards range from $500 to $1000. Applications close on August 1, 2021, and winners will be notified by August 1, 2021. The application can be completed online.
[Source: Road Runners Club of America]

World Olympians Association Awards Five ‘Service to Society’ Grants

The World Olympians Association (WOA) has announced the five recipients of its 2021 Service to Society grants. The $5,000 grants will fund Olympian-led projects across the globe to promote sport and physical activity among all individuals. Among the five projects selected this year is an initiative titled, “Support for Refugee Children through Sport,” which will create sport centers at refugee camps in Mali to facilitate the integration of refugee children. Another project in Panama titled, “Sport as a Tool for Social Change” will organize events with Olympians for children in SOS villages with the goal of promoting physical activity and sport and creating life skills.
[Source: World Olympians Association]

Recommended Exercise for Individuals with Parkinson’s: New Guidelines from the Parkinson’s Foundation and the ACSM

The Parkinson’s Foundation and the American College of Sports Medicine recently released new exercise guidelines for individuals with Parkinson’s. The recommendations were formulated by leading experts, practitioners, and researchers in exercise science and Parkinson’s research. The new guidelines recommend 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous physical activity, but they also provide enhanced detail regarding type, intensity, volume, and progression of exercises that are safe and effective for people with Parkinson’s. It is also recommended that these individuals work with a physical therapist who specializes in Parkinson’s prior to beginning an exercise program.
[Source: PR Newswire]

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

Presidential Proclamation on National Physical Fitness and Sports Month

On April 30, 2021, President Biden issued a proclamation that designated May 2021 as National Physical Fitness and Sports Month. In the statement, President Biden acknowledged how the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequities in physical activity and he urged local communities to provide safe physical activity opportunities for all individuals. The President also encouraged Americans to pursue daily physical activity and cited the well-known physical and mental benefits of an active lifestyle.
[Source: White House]

Complete Streets Act of 2021

Leaders in the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives have introduced a bill called the Complete Streets Act of 2021. Complete Streets initiatives aim to prioritize pedestrian and cyclist safety through thoughtful design of street networks (or modifications to existing networks). If passed, the bill would require 5% of annual federal highway funds to be earmarked for Complete Streets projects. The legislation would also require states and localities to set up policies and funding mechanisms to promote Complete Streets in communities. The Complete Streets Act framework is borrowed from a Massachusetts law that funded over 100 pedestrian safety projects over three years, resulting in safer roads for non-motorists. The bill is currently under review by the House Subcommittee on Highways and Transit.
[Source: Smart Growth America]

RESEARCH NOTES:

Physical Inactivity is Associated with a Higher Risk for Severe COVID-19 Outcomes: A Study in 48,440 Adult Patients

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified several conditions that put individuals at an increased risk of severe COVID-19, including comorbidities such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. However, it is unknown how behaviors related to these conditions, such as physical inactivity, impact risk of severe COVID-19. Researchers in this study used data from 48,440 participants who had a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis between January – October 2020. All participants also had three exercise vital sign measurements (a self-reported measure of exercise frequency) taken between March 2018-2020. The researchers then looked at associations between participant physical activity (meeting physical activity guidelines) and risk of hospitalization, admission to ICU, and death following a COVID-19 diagnosis. They found that inactive patients were at a greater risk of hospitalization, admission to the ICU and death due to COVID-19 than patients who reported regularly meeting physical activity guidelines or those who reported at least some physical activity. These findings may warrant an increased effort to promote physical activity as a protective measure against COVID-19.
[Source: Sallis, Robert, Deborah Rohm Young, Sara Y. Tartof, James F. Sallis, Jeevan Sall, Qiaowu Li, Gary N. Smith, and Deborah A. Cohen. "Physical inactivity is associated with a higher risk for severe COVID-19 outcomes: a study in 48 440 adult patients." British Journal of Sports Medicine (2021).]

Occupational Physical Activity and Longevity in Working Men and Women in Norway: a Prospective Cohort Study

There is mixed evidence regarding the health benefits of high occupational physical activity: some research has found an increased likelihood of all-cause mortality for men who have physically demanding jobs, while other research has found a decreased likelihood of cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. Researchers in this study used prospective cohort data from over 430,000 individuals living in Norway to examine associations between self-reported occupational physical activity and mortality. They found that moderate to high occupational physical activity was associated with a longevity benefit among men, but not among women. These results may have implications for future research in occupational physical activity and may also inform public health recommendations.
[Source: Dalene, Knut Eirik, Jakob Tarp, Randi Marie Selmer, Inger Kristine Holtermann Ariansen, Wenche Nystad, Pieter Coenen, Sigmund Alfred Anderssen, Jostein Steene-Johannessen, and Ulf Ekelund. "Occupational physical activity and longevity in working men and women in Norway: a prospective cohort study." The Lancet Public Health (2021).]

Improving Implementation of School-Based Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Policies, Practices, and Programs: a Systematic Review

While best practice recommendations exist for school-based healthy eating and physical activity interventions, studies of interventions indicate that implementation is poor overall. This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of strategies to improve the implementation of school-based healthy eating and physical activity programs. The review included 30 studies of programs to improve implementation of healthy eating (n=16), physical activity (n=11), or both (n=3). The effect sizes of implementation improvement strategies were highly varied overall. The researchers did find evidence to support the effectiveness of strategies to improve the nutritional quality of foods served at schools, to create policies for school canteens, and to schedule time for physical education. Overall, the authors concluded that more research is needed, especially studies that use validated and consistent measures of implementation.
[Source: Barnes, Courtney, Sam McCrabb, Fiona Stacey, Nicole Nathan, Sze Lin Yoong, Alice Grady, Rachel Sutherland et al. "Improving implementation of school-based healthy eating and physical activity policies, practices, and programs: a systematic review." Translational Behavioral Medicine (2021).]

Health Wearable Devices for Weight and BMI Reduction in Individuals with Overweight or Obesity and Chronic Comorbidities: Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis

Numerous wearable devices have been used in physical activity research to objectively measure activity; however, it remains unclear if any device is superior for weight and BMI reduction specifically. This systematic review of 31 studies aimed to examine the effectiveness of wearable devices used across physical activity promotion interventions, including device-only interventions as well as multicomponent interventions that combined device usage with additional education or counselling. The researchers found that for body weight reduction, device-only (either research-grade or commercial) intervention strategies were most effective. For BMI reduction, multicomponent accelerometer/pedometer interventions were most effective. These results may assist researchers and primary care physicians in selecting intervention strategies for individuals with overweight or obesity. 

[Source: McDonough, Daniel J., Xiwen Su, and Zan Gao. "Health wearable devices for weight and BMI reduction in individuals with overweight/obesity and chronic comorbidities: Systematic review and network meta-analysis." British Journal of Sports Medicine (2021).]

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

Park and Recreation Month Toolkit

The National Recreation and Park Association has created a toolkit in celebration of Park and Recreation month in July. The toolkit is designed to help organizations share messages in their community about Park and Recreation month activities and promotions. Materials include a poster, social media posts, fact sheets, and how to invite the local media to promote events around the city. All materials are free and publicly available for download.
[Source: National Recreation and Park Association]

Advancing Trails Resource Library

The American Trails organization has built out an extensive online resource library for public use. The library features trail resources by category including advocacy, funding, planning & design, trail construction & maintenance, and management. Within each category, there are recommended resources and webinars as well as a searchable database. Users can also search by publication type, such as studies or guidebooks/manuals. The library is intended for use by any individuals interested in trail advocacy or by community officials who seek to expand trail offerings.
[Source: American Trails]

America Walks Webinar: The Collision Analysis You Want Your City to Do to Save Lives

America Walks recently hosted a webinar titled, “The Collision Analysis You Want Your City to Do to Save Lives,” presented by Oregon Walks. Between 2017-2019, volunteers in Portland, Oregon collected detailed data surrounding pedestrian fatalities. They found that most incidents occurred on wide, poorly lit, and high-speed roads, and that individuals of color, those experiencing houselessness, and those who lived in disadvantaged communities were disproportionately impacted. They also found that smartphone or device usage by pedestrians was not a contributing factor to crashes in most cases. The report recommends prioritizing pedestrian safety improvements in affected communities, as well as new traffic calming initiatives and heavier fines for speeding or reckless drivers. The webinar recoding is available on the America Walks website.
[Source: America Walks]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

FitLot for Outdoor Circuit Training in Lincoln, NE

The city of Lincoln, Nebraska recently constructed a large outdoor workout area, or FitLot, with funding from an AARP grant initiative to construct one FitLot per state. The lot features equipment for both resistance training and aerobic exercise, such as cable machines, elliptical trainers, and stair-climbing machines. To promote the FitLot, the city is hosting free circuit training courses through the spring of 2022. The lot is open to individuals of all ages, and a QR code is attached to each machine that provides detailed instructions on how to use the equipment.
[Source: Lincoln Journal Star]

Niagara Falls North-End Community Does ‘Zumba in the Park’

The Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Western New York, Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative, and the Niagara Falls Peacemakers have jointly organized a summer-long effort to promote physical activity through outdoor fitness classes, one of which is Zumba in the Park. The Zumba dance class is accessible to all ages and abilities and is led by certified instructors. The weekly class has been popular among Niagara Falls residents, with as many as 40 attendees at each class. The organizers of the event acknowledged the benefits of promoting physical activity in the community, as well as the opportunity to encourage fun and playfulness, particularly after the isolation and stress of the COVID-19 pandemic.
[Source: Niagara Frontier Publications]

Seattle Mariners Announce Community Impact Grant Recipients to Advance Racial Equity and Promote Physical and Mental Health

Mariners Care, the Seattle Mariners charitable foundation, recently announced the three recipients of its new Community Impact grants. The grant program is focused on improving physical and mental health among youth and advancing health equity in BIPOC communities. Among the awardees was the King County Play Equity Coalition, which received $20,000 to improve access to physical activity resources and sports among underserved youth. The Mariners Care foundation plans to continue awarding funding to Washington state-based organizations who are working to promote physical activity and mental health among BIPOC youth. The next round of grant recipients will be announced in July 2021.
[Source: PR Newswire]

Oakland’s Queer Gym Celebrates LGBTQ+ Community through Exercise

Opened in 2010, Oakland, CA-based Queer Gym is the oldest LGBTQ+ gym in the country. Owner Nathalie Huerta started the gym while working as a personal trainer due to the lack of inclusive fitness spaces for queer and transgender individuals. Queer Gym aims to operate as a community space for its members; beyond traditional fitness classes, the gym also offers social and volunteer opportunities to support the greater LGBTQ+ community in Oakland. Since opening, the gym has served hundreds of members in the Oakland community, and has expanded its reach through online offerings during the COVID-19 pandemic.
[Source: Thrillist]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

Society for Nutrition Education and Behavior Annual Conference
August 8-10, 2021
Virtual

Annual International Conference on Kinesiology and Exercise Sciences
July 26-29, 2021
Athens, Greece

Writers: Kelsey Day

To submit an item, please e-mail the USC PRC at uscprc@mailbox.sc.edu.

To subscribe to this newsletter, send an email to listserv@listserv.sc.edu. In the body of the e-mail type: SUBSCRIBE PRCNEWS yourfirstname yourlastname,  as in: "SUBSCRIBE PRCNEWS  Joe H. Smith".  Alternatively, if you want to subscribe anonymously, send the command:  "SUBSCRIBE PRCNEWS Anonymous". Your subscription will then be hidden automatically.

NOTE: Do not include any other text in the message, including any electronic signature. Once you have subscribed to the newsletter, you will be e-mailed a welcome message. Please save the e-mail for future reference.

To unsubscribe to this newsletter, send an email to listserv@listserv.sc.edu. In the body of the e-mail type: SIGNOFF PRCNEWS.  Again, do not include any other text in the message. 

There is no subscription cost for the newsletter. If you have an e-mail filter in place that only allows messages from approved email addresses, please add uscprc@mailbox.sc.edu to your approved list.

For continuing discussions about physical activity, join the Physical Activity and Public Health On-Line Network listserv. Instructions are located on our website, at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/newsletter/commands.htm.

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

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.