QUARTER 3: July - September 2021 | USC-PRC Notes

"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

Topics in this issue

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR

UofSC 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:

  • Applications Open for National Recreation Trail Designation
  • Smart Growth America Champions Institute Leaders Selected
  • IJERPH Special Issue Call for Papers: “Physical Activity and Public Health: Addressing Gaps in Research for Special Population Subgroups”

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

  • October, November, December

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: 

  • Senate Passes ACSM-Supported Bill Promoting Physical Activity

RESEARCH NOTES:

  • The Association Between Neighborhood Public Transportation Usage and Youth Physical Activity
  • Cross-Sectional Study of Changes in Physical Activity Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among US Adults
  • Physical Activity 2021: The Lancet Paper Series
  • Interventions Using Wearable Physical Activity Trackers Among Adults with Cardiometabolic Conditions

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

  • Physical Activity Alliance Paper Series: Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and Adolescents
  • Benefits of Complete Streets Site and Online Tool Now Available
  • Global Observatory for Physical Activity Publishes 2nd Physical Activity Almanac
  • Investing in Health, Safety and Mobility: A Report on State Funding for Walking, Bicycling, and Safe Routes to School
  • Resources and Tools for Community-Engaged Research & Practice

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

  • Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources: Keeping Kids Safe and Active During COVID-19
  • City of Boulder, CO Releases 2020 Health Equity Fund Report
  • State Walking Colleges Take their First Steps in Georgia, South Dakota, and California

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

  • October, November, December

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR:

Greetings!

Writing this newsletter introduction feels a bit like Groundhog Day. COVID-19 was very bad, and then it seemed to be getting better, and now it is very bad again. Despite the current situation, I’ve had the good fortune of having some normalcy return to my life.  The University of South Carolina is open with in-person instruction and infection rates are low on campus, likely because of the mask mandate, moderately high rates of vaccinations, and mandatory COVID-19 testing for all.  I’m enjoying familiar sights and even sounds that I haven’t experienced in over a year – my favorite perhaps is hearing the marching band practice from my home (near campus). My children are in full-time in-person instruction (halleluiah!) with mask mandates in place in their school district – and their schools have also had low infection rates. 

I’m writing this introduction at the end of the Postgraduate Course on Research Directions and Strategies that the University of South Carolina hosted here in Columbia (led by Dr. Russ Pate). We hosted 28 early career research fellows from ~15 different states. Faculty from across the country also attended and interacted with the course fellows from 8 am to 8 pm each day. I hope I won’t forget how great it felt to be with colleagues again, to meet new and interesting people, and to have meaningful discussions about the field of physical activity and public health.  I learned, I (hopefully) facilitated learning, and I was left with the strong belief that the future of our field is in the hands of smart, engaged, and committed new researchers.

If you missed out on the course this year or are interested in the practitioner course (we had to cancel the practitioner course this year because many of the practitioners were unable to attend due to travel restrictions), we will offer it again in September of 2022!

I hope you are healthy and enjoy reading this quarter’s newsletter. We are happy to have Jasmin Parker-Brown, a new doctoral student in our Center, join as one of the newsletter writers. Welcome to Jasmin!

- Sara Wilcox

UofSC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the UofSC PRC

We are excited to announce that three PRC grants were funded in the past quarter. The first, led by PRC faculty affiliate Dr. Christine Pellegrini, is a CDC-funded special interest project (SIP) to evaluate a telephone-based delivery model of Walk With Ease, an arthritis-appropriate evidence-based physical activity intervention. Dr. Brie Turner-McGrievy, a PRC faculty affiliate, also received funding for two NIH R01 grants. The first project will target important behaviors for weight loss using social gaming and points. The second project aims to ensure the cultural relevance of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans diet patterns among African Americans to increase dietary quality and reduce type 2 diabetes risk.

We are continuing to enroll churches in the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) Online Training Program! Our next cohort will begin evaluation activities in January 2022. ​The free training includes eight self-paced weekly interactive lessons designed to teach churches how to create a healthier church environment along with 12-months of materials to support their efforts. 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

CPCRN Community Health Intervention Program (CHIP) recipients presented their mini-grant progress to the Community Advisory Council at the end of August and are wrapping up their work this month!

Dr. James Hebert was a part of a CHIP mini-grant panel on the CPCRN August Lunch and Learn, which had 56 attendees who learned more about the various mini-grant programs throughout the CPCRN network.

The CPCRN Scholars Workgroup, co-chaired by Dr. Daniela Friedman, will be presenting their abstract, “Implementation science capacity building through a national scholars program for researchers and practitioners in cancer prevention and control,” at the 2021 Virtual D&I Conference, December 14-16.

Congratulations to Dr. Jan Eberth and colleagues for their newly published manuscript, “Extent of Inclusion of “Rural” in Comprehensive Cancer Control Plans in the United States,” in Preventing Chronic Disease!

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

Applications Open for National Recreation Trail Designation

The National Recreation Trails (NRT) Program recognizes scenic trails and greenways of local and regional significance throughout the United States. Each year, the NRT designation is awarded to eligible trails and greenways by the Secretary of the Interior. To receive the NRT designation, trails must be open for public use, have no gaps, and be designed and maintained according to best practices. Water trails are also eligible for consideration in the program. Any public or private trail manager may apply for the program designation. The deadline to apply is November 1, 2021.
[Source: American Trails]

Smart Growth America Champions Institute Leaders Selected

The CDC’s Active People, Healthy Nation Champions Institute has announced the selection of 20 elected officials from 13 states across the U.S. for their second cohort. Participants will go through extensive training to become experts in planning and implementing Complete Streets in their local communities. The aim of the Champions Institute is to equip members with the resources to implement Complete Streets initiatives in their communities, and to achieve equitable reforms that focus on providing safe physical activity options for all people. The Champions Institute will share updates on their website as the leaders complete training across the next year.
[Source: Smart Growth America]

IJERPH Special Issue Call for Papers: “Physical Activity and Public Health: Addressing Gaps in Research for Special Population Subgroups”

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (IJERPH) is publishing a special issue titled, “Physical Activity and Public Health: Addressing Gaps in Research for Special Population Subgroups.” The issue will follow the research recommendations noted in the 2020 updates to the WHO physical activity and sedentary behavior guidelines, including a need for more research on dose-response relationships between physical activity and health outcomes. The issue will also center on the importance of incorporating cultural, social, and contextual factors in physical activity interventions. Guidelines for manuscript submission can be found on the IJERPH website and the deadline for submission is February 15, 2022.
[Source: IJERPH]

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

Senate Passes ACSM-Supported Bill Promoting Physical Activity

The U.S. Senate recently passed the Promoting Physical Activity for Americans Act, S. 1301. The legislation was first introduced in April 2021 and directs the Department of Health and Human Services to update national physical activity recommendations at least once every ten years based on the latest scientific evidence. The National Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans were first published in 2008 and updated in 2018, but there is no current administrative process for updating the guidelines on a set timeline. The legislation also calls for a 5-year midterm report following each update to the guidelines. The bill now moves to The House of Representatives and subsequently to the President, if passed without revisions.
[ Source: American College of Sports Medicine]

RESEARCH NOTES:

The Association Between Neighborhood Public Transportation Usage and Youth Physical Activity

For adolescents, engaging in physical activity is paramount to establishing a lifelong foundation for a healthier lifestyle. Lack of access to public transportation may be a barrier to accessing physical activity opportunities for many youth and has been associated with adolescent physical activity engagement in minority (Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic) communities. In this study, researchers reviewed a cross-sectional, national survey of 1,247 adolescents ages 12-17 years to examine associations between public transportation usage and individual moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). For all participants, there was a positive association between high public transportation usage and weekday or combined weekday/weekend adolescent MVPA. In stratified analysis, the magnitude of the association was strongest among Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adolescent girls. These results may inform future research to understand how accessible transportation can help reduce health disparities in adolescent physical activity.
[Source: Granados I., Haderer E. L., D'Agostino E. M., Neshteruk C. D., Armstrong S. C., Skinner A. C., & D’Agostino E. M. (2021). The Association Between Neighborhood Public Transportation Usage and Youth Physical Activity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine.]

Cross-Sectional Study of Changes in Physical Activity Behavior During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among US Adults

Despite the known protective benefits of physical activity (PA) relevant to COVID-19, there is concern that PA levels decreased across the U.S. during the pandemic. Researchers in this study analyzed cross-sectional data from 3,829 adults living in the U.S. who responded to the SummerStyles survey. The survey included PA measures adapted from the National Health Interview Survey as well as demographic questions. Half of respondents reported no PA or no change to their PA during the pandemic; 30% reported less PA. Further, non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic adults reported less PA than their white counterparts. Concern over exposure to the virus was the most common reason for not participating in PA. As minority groups have experienced a disproportionate burden of COVID-19, continued public health efforts are needed to ensure that all adults have access to safe supports for PA in the context of the ongoing pandemic.
[Source: Watson, K. B., Whitfield, G. P., Huntzicker, G., Omura, J. D., Ussery, E., Chen, T. J., & Fanfair, R. N. (2021). Cross-sectional study of changes in physical activity behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic among US adults. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity, 18(1), 1-10.]

Physical Activity 2021: The Lancet Paper Series

In July 2021, The Lancet published its third series on physical activity. The goal of the series is to highlight gaps in public health initiatives to improve physical activity worldwide, particularly in the wake of COVID-19. The issue also calls for efforts to promote physical activity in key underserved populations, including adolescents and people living with disabilities. Drawing inspiration from the 2021 Olympics, the issue also explores the intersection of sport and public health. For example, one paper in the series examines how global sporting events like the Olympics may impact population physical activity. The complete series is now available online.
[Source: The Lancet]

Interventions Using Wearable Physical Activity Trackers Among Adults with Cardiometabolic Conditions

While it is understood that wearable physical activity (PA) devices may encourage PA among adults, little is known about whether the use of these devices is related to improvements in PA among people with cardiometabolic conditions. In this systematic review, researchers analyzed data from 4,203 participants in 38 randomized or cluster randomized clinical trials. All included trials examined associations between interventions using wearable PA trackers and PA levels among adults with cardiometabolic conditions. The researchers found that there was a significant association between wearable tracker usage and increased PA levels overall during an approximately 15-week follow up period among individuals in the intervention groups, compared to individuals receiving usual care. In an analysis of moderating variables, interventions that used consultations with a healthcare professional, pedometer-based interventions, steps per day as the outcome variable, and interventions with predominantly male participants were associated with improved PA levels. These results demonstrate the potential of wearable device interventions to improve PA among individuals with cardiometabolic conditions and may offer insight into how to tailor interventions for subgroups within the population.
[Source: Hodkinson A., Kontopantelis E., Adeniji Ca., van Marwijik H., McMillian B., Bower P., & Panagioti M. (2021). Interventions Using Wearable Physical Activity Trackers Among Adults With Cardiometabolic Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Network Open]

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

Physical Activity Alliance Paper Series: Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and Adolescents

The Physical Activity Alliance has released a new paper series titled, “Physical Activity Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: More Important than Ever.” The paper series highlights physical activity and sport recommendations for each childhood development and education level from K-12. It also includes key takeaways from COVID-19, namely disparities in youth physical activity that have been exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic. The series aims to mobilize schools, communities, and public leaders to change the landscape of physical activity in youth. It also provides a foundation grounded in scientific evidence to amplify physical activity promotion, awareness, and opportunities. Access to each paper in the series is available online.
[Source: Physical Activity Alliance] 

Benefits of Complete Streets Site and Online Tool Now Available

The National Complete Streets Coalition and Smart Growth America recently launched a site and series of online tools called “The Benefits of Complete Streets.” The goal of the site is to provide simple tools that local leaders and community advocates can use to quantify the benefits of Complete Streets projects in their communities. The tools measure a number of factors, including economic, health, environmental, equity, and safety benefits, which can help community leaders create a strong case for Complete Streets to their local officials. The site and tools are free to use and publicly available.
[Source: Smart Growth America]

Global Observatory for Physical Activity Publishes 2nd Physical Activity Almanac

The Global Observatory for Physical Activity has published its second Physical Activity Almanac and Country Cards. The Almanac provides a summary of physical activity surveillance in 217 countries, and includes data collected through 2020. The almanac also assesses physical inactivity and sedentary behavior indicators, along with country capacity for physical activity promotion. The country cards, which were published alongside the almanac, depict physical activity snapshots of each country including: prevalence, percentage of deaths attributable to physical inactivity, policy and surveillance status, physical activity research, sedentary behavior, and physical activity promotion capacity. The almanac and the country cards are available for download on the Global Observatory for Physical Activity website.
[Source: Global Observatory for Physical Activity]

Investing in Health, Safety and Mobility: A Report on State Funding for Walking, Bicycling, and Safe Routes to School

Safe Routes Partnership has released its 2021 report that analyzes each state’s funding for walking and bicycling infrastructure as well as Safe Routes to School. The aim of the report is to provide state-level data on pedestrian-friendly infrastructure and to highlight promising funding opportunities for safe routes programs. The report provides case studies and innovative strategies to benefit individuals and organizations working toward safer routes projects. It also provides resources to help individuals and organizations identify unique funding streams to support these initiatives.
[Source: Safe Routes Partnership]

Resources and Tools for Community-Engaged Research & Practice

The University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center has published a collection of training resources titled, “Resources and Tools for Community-Engaged Research & Practice.” The site is intended to serve as a library of training materials and a guide for community members, practitioners, and applied researchers. It compiles resources from a number of key topic areas including advocacy, community-based participatory research, grant-writing, and evaluation. There are a variety of resources available for each topic area, such as toolkits, webinars, guides, and videos, most of which are free and publicly available.
[Source: University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center]

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources: Keeping Kids Safe and Active During COVID-19

Despite cancelling all regular sports programming due to COVID-19 in 2020, the Raleigh Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources department in North Carolina continued to offer local children safe opportunities to be active. Throughout the pandemic, the Raleigh parks department has offered sports programs and other after school activities for school-aged children who attend classes virtually. Following local, state, and national guidelines, the department was also able to safely bring back baseball and softball leagues in the Spring of 2021. The city has served as a model in addressing community physical activity needs while continuing to implement COVID-19 protocols to keep children safe, as no reported COVID exposures have been linked to the parks department programming.
[Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion]

City of Boulder, CO Releases 2020 Health Equity Fund Report

The city of Boulder, Colorado, has released its annual Health Equity Fund report for 2020. The program, which is funded by a city-wide sugar-sweetened beverage tax, funds health equity initiatives to increase healthy food access, physical fitness, and health and wellness services/education. The report highlights the impact of these programs, namely the thousands of Boulder residents who have benefitted from them. These residents have reported increased physical activity and food security, as well as reduced consumption of sugary drinks and greater access to holistic health care. More details about the health equity fund are available on the city’s website.
[Source: City of Boulder, CO]

State Walking Colleges Take their First Steps in Georgia, South Dakota, and California

Through support from the AARP’s Livable Communities program, America Walks has expanded their intensive Walking College training program to Georgia, South Dakota, and California. Fifteen fellowships have been awarded to local leaders and volunteers in each state who are working to increase walkability in their communities. Through mentoring from local advocacy leaders, other Walking College graduates, and experienced mentors, the new fellows will undergo coaching on developing Walking Action Plans, toolkits, and equitable community organization in their specific states. The fellows will also focus on leadership and strategies that will help them create a foundation for tackling problems in their communities and implementing their walking action plans. More information about the Walking College, applications, and students/ mentor projects can be found here.
[Source: America Walks]

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention (P2P) Workshop Program
October 12 - 14, 2021
Virtual Event

American Public Health Association Annual Meeting & Exposition 
October 24- 27, 2021
In-person & virtual event

International Council on Active Aging Leadership Summit and Exposition
November 9 - 10, 16-17, 2021
Virtual event

European Public Health Association (EUPHA) Annual Conference
November 10-12, 2021
Virtual event

14th Annual Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation in Health
December 14-16, 2021
Virtual event

Writers: Kelsey Day and Jasmin Parker-Brown

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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.