QUARTER 3: July – September 2024 | 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 USC PRC Core Research Project

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

  • 2024 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day
  • TNew Key Indicators for Healthly Aging Data Snapshot
  • Physical Activity Alliance Hosts Physical Activity grant Funding Webinar

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES

  • October, November, and December

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

  • The 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Awardees
  • Bipartisan Senate FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill Provides Modest Increases for Key Public Health Agencies and Programs

RESEARCH NOTES:

  • National, Regional, and Global Trends in Insufficient Physical Activity Among Adults from 2000 to 2022: A Pooled Analysis of 507 Population-based Surveys with 5·7 Million Participants
  • Parks, Trails, and Greenways for Physical Activity: A Community Guide Systematic Economic Review
  • Cardiorespiratory Fitness Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Evaluation of the “15 Minute Challenge”: A Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

  • New Position Paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Council on Exercise Details Impact of Exercise and Nutrition on American Adults
  • Nearly 1.8 billion Adults at Risk of Disease from not Doing Enough Physical Activity

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

  • Portland, Oregon: Creating an Accessible Built Environment That Helps Residents Stay Active as They Age
  • Nationwide, 32 Local Schools Win NFL PLAY 60 Grants for Physical Activity

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

  • October, November, December, January, February, March 

A LETTER FROM OUR DIRECTOR:

As the vibrant colors of fall begin to emerge, we are reminded of the beauty of change and the opportunities it brings. This season, we hope you embrace the crisp, cool air and the natural splendor by incorporating more physical activity into your daily routine.

Physical activity has a profound impact on our physical and mental well-being. Yet, we are an underactive society. The Prevention Research Center just concluded hosting the Physical Activity and Public Health Practitioner’s Course. Faculty and 23 practitioners from across the U.S. (and beyond) spent four full days together focused on how to make our communities more physically active through policy, systems, and environmental changes. I learned and I was inspired! How lucky am I to have a job where I’m always learning and am surrounded by people who truly care about their communities and issues of equity? Very lucky!

I hope that this newsletter inspires you and provides ideas to make changes in your communities and/or your personal lives to improve health and well-being through physical activity.

– Sara Wilcox

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATES:

Update from the USC PRC 

We are very excited to share that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded the University of South Carolina funding for the next five years (2024-2029) to participate as a Prevention Research Center. The USC PRC’s core project over the next five years will be to study how African Methodist Episcopal (AME) churches implement a program known as Walk Your Heart to Health, an evidence-based walking intervention. The project will focus on African American adults ages 50 and older.

The USC PRC has been continually funded since 1993. Thanks to this new funding, the USC PRC can continue to engage with local, state, and national communities and partners to support community physical activity and healthy eating. We are also continuing to disseminate findings from the National Implementation Study of the Faith, Activity, and Nutrition (FAN) program, as we conclude our ongoing core research project from the 2019-2024 funding cycle.

In addition to this core funding, USC has also been funded to participate as a Collaborating Center in two CDC PRC thematic networks: The Arthritis Management and Wellbeing Research Network and the Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network.

Update from the USC PRC Special Interest Projects

Arthritis SIP Project 

The CDC-funded Special Interest Project, Walk with Ease, a phone-based research study, has completed its data collection. This study examined the effectiveness of the telephone-delivered version of the Walk with Ease program for adults with arthritis across the midlands here in South Carolina and followed them for 12 months. Recruitment began in April 2022, and final participant visits were completed in September 2024. Within the project, the study randomly assigned 267 adults with arthritis to the intervention or a wait-list control group.

Across the study follow-ups, 93.6% of the participants retained at 6 weeks, 87.6% at six months, and 83.9% at 12 months. Study results found that a telephone-delivered Walk with Ease program is effective at increasing physical activity, reducing fatigue, and improving arthritis management self-efficacy and function in adults with arthritis at 6 weeks. Dr. Christine Pellegrini will present these results at the American College of Rheumatology’s Convergence Annual Meeting in November 2024 in Washington, DC.

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

University of South Carolina CPCRN
On Wednesday, September 11, 2024, The University of South Carolina’s Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (SC-CPCRN) held a Community Health Interventions Program (CHIP) mini-grantees project update call. Halie Patterson from South Carolina Alliance of YMCAs and Pastor Jacqueline Talley from the South Carolina Witness Project presented project updates from the past two years. Ms. Patterson and Pastor Talley collaborated this past year to bring increased cancer screenings to Cherokee County for prostate and breast cancer. In addition, they screened for high blood pressure, A1C levels, and provided health education seminars. It was incredible to see the collaborative effort between our two CHIP mini-grantees!

CPCRN Scholars Program
The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) Scholars Program held an all-cohort wrap-up Zoom call on Monday, September 9, 2024, to celebrate the end of CPCRN Cycle 5. The all-cohort year focused on professional development and included all CPCRN Scholar Alumni who had participated previously in events such as writing retreats and webinars that focused on professional development topics determined by scholar feedback. They had a wonderful time reflecting on the program’s successes over the three cohorts consisting of a total of 62 scholars who completed the program from 2021-2023. Alumni scholars successes were also highlighted during the Zoom call with scholars entering new post-doc positions, graduating from their doctoral programs, starting and leading CPCRN interest groups, obtaining NCI awards, and starting new tenure-track faculty positions. We look forward to seeing where the program will go next in CPCRN Cycle 6!

NEWS YOU CAN USE:

2024 Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day

1960. Today, students around the country are encouraged to walk to school and participate in conversations focused on anti-racism, anti-bullying, and activism. Safe Routes to School hopes that Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day will motivate students to make changes that will have a positive impact on their health, schools, and communities. Safe Routes to School is offering grants of $500 and $1000 to those supporting Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day celebrations. Grants will be awarded by Friday, October 4, 2024. The Ruby Bridges Foundation website and SafeRoutes Partnership provide more information about Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day.
[Source: SafeRoutes Partnership]

New Key Indicators for Healthy Aging Data Snapshot

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has a new resource titled Key Indicators for Healthy Aging. This resource serves as a data snapshot, showcasing that Healthy People 2030 objectives based on the social determinants of health and health behaviors, like exercise and alcohol use, can impact healthy aging. Healthy People 2030 is a guide to evidence-based policies, programs, and actions that health workers and Americans can use to improve their health and well-being. The snapshot of Key Indicators of Healthy Aging recognizes focus areas specific to older adults and includes recommendations for health programs and activities that target this population.
[Source: ODPHP]

Physical Activity Alliance Hosts Physical Activity Grant Funding Webinar

The Physical Activity Alliance (PAA), Physical Activity Policy Research and Evaluation Network (PARPREN), and Physical Activity Section of the American Public Health Association collaborated on a sponsored webinar by the CDC and NIH focusing on grant funding for physical activity projects. The webinar featured esteemed speakers David Berrigan of the Behavioral Research Program (National Cancer Institute), Jennifer Matjasko, Senior Scientific Advisor (CDC), and Alan Beck, APHA Physical Activity Section Chair. You can view the webinar recording on PAA’s YouTube channel.
[Source: PAA]

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OBSERVANCES:

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

    WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON:

    The 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition Awardees

    The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) and the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) have announced the 2024 President’s Council on Sports, Fitness, and Nutrition (PCSFN) awardees. ODPHP and DHSS recognized 33 awardees for their contributions to the promotion of physical activity through sports, fitness, and nutrition within their local, state, and national communities. ODPHP recognizes the winners with one of three awards: 1) the Lifetime Impact Award, which celebrates end-of-career individuals’ lifetime work toward advancing PA nationwide; 2) the Community Leadership Award, which celebrates community leaders’ work toward advancing PA; and 3) the PCSFN Hero Award, which celebrates influencers and other high-profile PA champions. The ODPHP website provides more information about individual awardees.
    [Source: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion]

    Bipartisan Senate FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education Spending Bill Provides Modest Increases for Key Public Health Agencies and Programs

    The Appropriations Committee recently passed the Senate FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill. This bill will increase overall funding for the CDC and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) while also increasing funding for the CDC’s Public Health Infrastructure and Capacity Program and their Public Health Data Modernization Initiative, as well as helping to maintain a variety of other important public health programs and initiatives. Following this recent development, the focus now shifts to passing the strongest possible FY 2025 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill through both the Senate and the House. You can find more details about the Senate Appropriations Committee’s passage of the bill on the APHA website.
    [Source: APHA]

    RESEARCH NOTES:

    National, Regional, and Global Trends in Insufficient Physical Activity Among Adults from 2000 to 2022: A Pooled Analysis of 507 Population-based Surveys with 5·7 Million Participants

    Since 2016, there have been no updates to the global trends of insufficient physical activity (PA). This new paper examines global physical inactivity for 197 countries using population-based surveys from 2000 to 2022. The aim was to examine progress in meeting the 2030 global goal of reducing inadequate PA. Self-reported PA data from adults 18 years and older who were nationally representative of the country were collected. This assessment quantified insufficient PA as not meeting the WHO-recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous PA per week or 75 minutes of vigorous to intense PA per week. Estimates of insufficient PA were stratified by sex and age group. Researchers collected data from a variety of sources, including data shared with the WHO, 2021 WHO Country Capacity Surveys, and a systematic literature review. The data included 507 surveys from 163 (out of 197) countries, representing approximately 93% of the global population. Results found that about one-third of adults (31.3%, or 1.8 billion) were insufficiently active in 2022; this was a noted increase from the 23.4% of insufficiently inactive adults in 2000. Overall, the prevalence of insufficient PA increased in 52% of the countries, with females having 5% higher insufficient PA percentages than men, and increased insufficient PA in adults aged 60 and older in both sexes. Researchers have determined that current trends will not meet the WHO goal of reducing insufficient PA by 2030.
    [Source: Strain, T., Flaxman, S., Guthold, R., Semenova, E., Cowan, M., Riley, L. M., Bull, F. C., & Stevens, G. A. (2024). National, Regional, and Global Trends in Insufficient Physical Activity Among Adults from 2000 to 2022: A Pooled Analysis of 507 Population-based Surveys with 5·7 Million Participants. The Lancet Global Health, 12(8), e1232–e1243. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2214-109X(24)00150-5]

    Parks, Trails, and Greenways for Physical Activity: A Community Guide Systematic Economic Review

    The Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recently recommended initiatives that focus on improving community engagement and access, along with parks, greenways, and trails, which have led to more people using these outdoor spaces and increasing PA. Combining community engagement and infrastructure proved particularly effective. This new study utilized cost-benefit and cost-effectiveness to examine the systemic economics of infrastructure interventions and their impact on PA and infrastructure usage. Potential publications spanning through 2022 were included and were limited to studies that reported U.S. and other high-income countries’ cost-benefit or cost-effectiveness data. The study included eight studies, with only one reporting cost-effectiveness (from the United Kingdom) and others reporting cost-benefit. The analysis compared cost-benefit estimates to the monetary value of overall improved health, community wealth, and enhanced environment after the cost of infrastructure interventions. However, none of these studies reported the cost and benefit of additional interventions used to increase engagement or access within these greenspaces and parks. Overall, the review found that societal benefits exceeded the cost of establishing these greenspaces and parks, which can be useful for policymakers and stakeholders in decision-making around infrastructure projects and their relationship to improved public health.
    [Source: Jacob, V., Reynolds, J. A., Chattopadhyay, S. K., Hopkins, D. P., Brown, D. R., Devlin, H. M., Barrett, A., Berrigan, D., Crespo, C. J., Heath, G. W., Brownson, R. C., Cuellar, A. E., Clymer, J. M., & Chriqui, J. F. (2024). Parks, Trails, and Greenways for Physical Activity: A Community Guide Systematic Economic Review. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 66(6), 1089–1099. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2024.01.021]

    Cardiorespiratory Fitness Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial

    Stroke affects over 100 million people worldwide, and reducing its burden requires effective secondary prevention strategies. Cardiovascular risk factors such as high blood pressure, obesity, low cardiorespiratory fitness, and emerging biomarkers like arterial stiffness contribute significantly to stroke risk, with modifiable behaviors like low physical activity increasing this risk. Improving cardiorespiratory fitness (V̇O2peak) through exercise is significant since even small gains can substantially lower stroke risk. High-intensity interval training (HIIT), particularly short-interval HIIT, has shown promise in increasing V̇O2peak more effectively than moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and may offer prolonged benefits in stroke survivors. This recent multi-site randomized controlled trial out of Canada found that in 82 individuals, short-interval HIIT 3 days per week for 12 weeks resulted in greater improvements in V̇O2peak compared to MICT. The benefits of short-interval HIIT persisted at the 8-week follow-up, underscoring its potential as an effective strategy for poststroke cardiovascular health and fitness.
    [Source: Moncion, K., Rodrigues, L., De Las Heras, B., Noguchi, K., Wiley, E., Eng, J.J., MacKay-Lyons, M., Sweet, S., Thiel, A., Fung, J., Stratford, P., Richardson, J., MacDonald, M., Roig, M., Tang, A. (2024). Cardiorespiratory Fitness Benefits of High-Intensity Interval Training After Stroke: A Randomized Controlled Trial. American Heart Association, 55(9). https://doi.org/10.1161/STROKEAHA.124.046564]

    Evaluation of the “15 Minute Challenge”: A Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program

    Since many adults spend a significant portion of their time at work, it is necessary to increase physical activity during the workday. This is especially important as regular exercise can help prevent chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This retrospective cohort study gathered data from 11,575 participants from 73 companies across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK to determine whether an app-based, gamified “15 Minute Challenge” can help promote physical activity and well-being during the workday. The 15 Minute Challenge is a workplace wellness program that uses mHealth technology, user behaviors, and social accountability to promote physical activity. By only requiring 15 minutes, this program can help decrease barriers associated with physical activity and can help create physical activity routines. The primary goal of this study was to determine whether employee participation in physical activity and perceived health impacts would improve after 6 weeks of using this mobile app program. At the end of the 6 weeks, the researchers found that through self-report surveys, participants said that their physical activity levels increased and participants also reported significant improvements in their overall health, including their fitness level, energy, sleep quality, and mood. These findings present encouraging evidence that shows how using programs like the 15 Minute Challenge in workplaces can increase physical activity, improve health outcomes, and increase workplace productivity and job satisfaction.
    [Source: Singh, B., Ferguson, T., Deev, A., Deev, A., Maher, C. (2024). Evaluation of the “15 Minute Challenge”: A Workplace Health and Wellbeing Program. Healthcare, 12(13), 1255. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12131255]

    REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES:

    New Position Paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Council on Exercise Details Impact of Exercise and Nutrition on American Adults

    A new paper from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Council on Exercise found that receiving individualized physical activity and nutrition interventions can decrease the risk of developing non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, in Americans. These comprehensive interventions are most effective when developed and maintained by an interprofessional collaborative practice (IPCP), which includes doctors, nurses, psychologists, mental health counselors, social workers, and physical therapists. Additionally, collaborations between qualified nutrition and exercise practitioners can provide clients with personalized recommendations, making it easier for them to achieve their health goals. However, there are barriers to this type of intervention, for both the clients and the practitioners. The purpose of this paper was to identify these barriers, as well as suggest solutions on how these physical activity and nutrition interventions can further improve overall health and prevent non-communicable diseases in adults.
    [Source: Robinson, J., Nitschke, E., Tovar, A., Mattar, L., Gottesman, K., Hamlett, P., Rozga, M. (2024). Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions for Adults in the General Population: A Position Paper of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Council on Exercise. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.]

    Nearly 1.8 billion Adults at Risk of Disease from not Doing Enough Physical Activity

    The WHO led two webinars with featured speakers and panelists discussing newly released estimates of global physical inactivity. Both webinars focused on the new estimates of global inactivity in adults and featured insight from the authors of the new report, who provided details of the study, methods used, and overall implications for the current trend of inactivity through 2030. Both webinars can be found on the WHO website located here and here.
    [Source: WHO]

    PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES:

    Healthy South Fulton Day Motivates All Residents to Get Active and Lead Healthy Lifestyles

    South Fulton, GA encourages all its residents to get active during Healthy South Fulton Day. Held on July 27th, this event featured activities aimed at youth and senior citizens that included health services and other cultural and recreational programs. Councilwomen Dr. Rowell and Gumbs support the annual event, which encouraged all residents to engage in social interaction within the community by reducing barriers, providing access to local health services, and supporting overall healthy lifestyles and practices.
    [Source: City of South Fulton]

    CDPH Launches Annual PlayStreets Program to Promote Healthy Activity for Youth and Families

    The Chicago Department of Public Health hosted 14 community events during this year’s PlayStreets Week, which was July 22-28. PlayStreets is an initiative by the Chicago Department of Public Health to get children and their families out and playing in prioritized neighborhoods. The Chicago Department of Public Health created PlayStreets as a holistic approach to enhance the physical and mental health of Chicago’s youth, while simultaneously establishing safe spaces for play. These safe spaces allow children and their families to spend more time together, improving their mental and physical health and social skills. Typical PlayStreets events include games, sports activities, dancing, fitness classes, bounce houses, healthy snacks, and other fun activities. Last summer, over 30,000 residents participated in 180 PlayStreets events across Chicago. This year, the city was expected to have over 200 PlayStreets events.
    [Source: Chicago.gov]

    UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS:

    OCTOBER

    NOVEMBER

    DECEMBER

    JANUARY

    FEBRUARY

      Writers: Jasmin Parker-Brown and Jenna Dzwierzynski

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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.

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