Physical Activity Update | Eat Smart, Move More…NC

The November/December issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal is now available. This issue features 14 different commentaries dealing with the issue of arthritis from diverse perspectives. The NC Physical Activity and Nutrition Branch, Arthritis Program article opens the section describing arthritis as a public health issue. Other commentaries address arthritis from the perspective of healthy eating, physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight to prevent and manage arthritis symptoms.

For more information about arthritis and the North Carolina Arthritis Program, please visit http://www.ncarthritis.com

To access the Arthritis Issue of the North Carolina Medical Journal, click here http://www.ncmedicaljournal.com/nov-dec-07/toc1207.shtml

Programs, Projects and Initiatives

Active Living Research Secures $15M in Funding

Funding to explore ways to increase physical activity, reduce obesity among kids.

Active Living Research recently announced that the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has reauthorized its program for five years with a $15.4 million allocation for research on environments and policies that support physical activity among children and families. RWJF launched the Active Living Research national program with a $12.5 million grant in 2000.

Active Living Research will continue under the leadership of James Sallis, Ph.D., of San Diego State University. The new program will focus on identifying promising approaches to increasing physical activity and reducing obesity, especially among those at high-risk for obesity, such as ethnic minorities and children living in low-income communities.

RWJF approved the additional funding in October 2007, and Active Living Research will issue its next call for proposals in spring 2008. The grants will be open to researchers in a wide range of disciplines, including public health, public administration, law, economics, recreation, behavioral sciences, medicine, transportation, architecture, city planning, child care and education. Researchers can sign up to receive funding alerts and updates from Active Living Research at www.activelivingresearch.org.

Additionally, Active Living Research released a report on physical activity and academic performance in fall 2007- Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity & Academic Performance. The report states that available evidence shows that children who are physically active and fit tend to perform better in the classroom. To read the report, go to: www.activelivingresearch.org/alr/alr/files/Active_Ed.pdf
(From Safe Routes to School E-News: January 2008)

CDC’s Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) Training Network- PECAT Workshops

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH), has created the DASH Training Network, or “D-Train,” a national cadre of master trainers to provide workshops on how to use DASH school health tools. We are pleased to announce the availability of workshops designed to help those who work with schools to improve health policies, programs, and physical education curricula.

Comprehensive workshops on the School Health Index: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide (SHI) and the Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool (PECAT) are now available to be scheduled in 2008!

For a limited number of sites, CDC will pay for all of the expenses associated with the trainer (e.g., travel expenses, lodging, per diem, honorarium); the site will need to cover any costs associated with a facility, materials, and refreshments. Access to the CDC-supported workshops is first come, first serve. You are encouraged to schedule your workshop soon.

Workshops should be a minimum of 4 hours in length to ensure in-depth training. SHI workshops may be up to 8 hours in length, and PECAT workshops can be up to two days in length, depending on the needs and level of readiness of the participants. Most workshops will be held as part of a state professional development meeting or in conjunction with a state or regional conference.

To learn more about this initiative or to request a workshop, go to: www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/DTrain
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

CDC’s Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH)-Community-Based Strategies

REACH programs have produced significant improvements in reducing health disparities in communities across our nation. REACH U.S. communities will continue developing, implementing, and evaluating a broad range of community-based strategies. The following documents were developed to disseminate measurable health outcomes (including physical activity) from select REACH 2010 communities; and the population-specific strategies and lessons learned can be used by all U.S. communities who are interested in addressing health disparities.

See the following website for more information and community profiles: www.cdc.gov/reach/reach_2010/story_books.htm
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

Success Stories

Glade Creek Community Moves More

Read about how a local school finds a way to get students, faculty, staff and community members moving on the Eat Smart Move More Web site at: http://www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com/programs_tools/school/
success_stories/glade_creek.html

Featured Resources and Research

Regular Physical Activity Helps Teens Maintain Healthy Weight into Adulthood

A study in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that adolescents who engage in physical activity at least twice weekly are less likely than their non-active peers to become overweight in early adulthood, Reuters reports.

To read about the study, go to: www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?c=EMC-ND138&pid=1138&id=6999 (From RWJF News Digest: Childhood Obesity)

Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit

The Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit, produced by the Smart Growth Leadership Institute, is a set of practical tools to help your community grow smarter. It will help you untangle the thicket of policies and procedures that get in the way of smarter growth and sustainable development.

The tools are designed to help communities that are committed to (or are exploring) smart growth. The tools will check if your community’s policies and regulations are creating safer, healthier, more livable neighborhoods.

Each tool may be used by itself or in combination with others. You can also extract and use specific sections of each tool. You can also customize the tools to make it fit your community’s needs.

The tools include:

▪ Quick Diagnostic
▪ Policy Audit
▪ Audit Summary
▪ Project Scorecard
▪ Incentives Matrix
▪ Strategy Builder

Smart Growth Leadership Institute, through a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), developed the tools to help communities untangle the thicket of policies and procedures that get in the way of implementing smart growth strategies. Get started with the Smart Growth Implementation Toolkit at the resource link: www.smartgrowthtoolkit.net/
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

Annie E. Casey Foundation’s Guide to Measuring Advocacy and Policy

The Annie E. Casey Foundation of Baltimore, Maryland commissioned a guide to help determine meaningful ways to measure and evaluate the impact of its advocacy and public policy grantmaking.

The guide also serves as a broad call to grantmakers to build and advance the field of evaluation in this area. For the “Guide to Measuring Advocacy and Policy,” visit the Foundation’s website at www.aecf.org. To see the “policy advocacy” go to: http://www.aecf.org/upload/PublicationFiles/DA3622H5000.pdf.
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

Online Physical Activity Programs

Two online activity/adventure programs are available on the AARP website,
“Get Fit on Route 66”. Users can virtually trace the legendary highway that runs from the shores of Lake Michigan to the California coast by recording their exercise minutes online; minutes convert to highway miles.

“Up to Better Health” incorporates a step counter to help users build up to walking 10,000 steps per day by virtually traveling along one of four famous trails: Lewis & Clark, Alaska Highway, Highway 50, or the Appalachian Trail.

You may register to participate at: http://aarp.getfitonroute66.com/ or
http://aarp.stepuptobetterhealth.com/default.asp.
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Dog Ownership and Physical Activity

Data from the first phase of a RESIDentail Environmental (RESIDE) project in Australia was used to investigate the association between dog ownership and physical activity (PA) levels, of 1813 adults surveyed, 44% were dog owners.

Dog owners perceived their environments to be more attractive and accessible compared to non-dog owners. Self-reported PA data indicated that dog walking accounted for 65% of all walking, and 93% of all walking-for-recreation within the neighborhood. Dog ownership was found to be independently associated with physical activity and walking, Cutt, Giles-Corti, Knuiman, et al. “Understanding Dog Owner’s Increased Levels of Physical Activity: Results From RESIDE.” American Journal of Public Health, 98(1): 66-69, 2008.
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/newsletter/2008/
2008_jan_feb.htm#dogownership
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Mortality Predictors in Older Adults

In a study (from 1979-2001) to determine the association among cardiorespiratory fitness, adiposity, and mortality in older adults, low fitness predicted higher risk of all-cause mortality (after adjustment for potential confounding factors). Fit individuals had greater longevity than unfit individuals, regardless of body composition or fat distribution.

Data provide evidence regarding the complex long-term relationship among fitness, body size, and survival. It may be possible to reduce all-cause death rates among older adults, including the obese, by promoting regular physical activity, LaMonte, et al. “Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Adiposity as Mortality Predictors in Older Adults.” JAMA, 298(21): 2507-16, 2007. For more information go to, http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/short/298/21/2507Sui
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Trail-Building Toolbox

A new feature of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy’s Trail building Website is a trail building toolbox. This resource, which is still under development, is designed to “fit the needs of all involved in trail development, from first-time citizen advocates to more experienced planners and trail managers.”

The website includes sections on corridor research, rail-banking, acquisition, outreach, planning/construction, and management/maintenance. For details, go to: http://www.railtrails.org/whatwedo/trailbuilding/technicalassistance/
toolbox/toolbox_index.html [Source: Centerlines, Dec. 2007]
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Promoting PA Among Those 50+: AARP’s Active for Life (AFL) Campaign

The Campaign funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focused on getting sedentary older adults to engage in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week. AFL tested this directive’s effectiveness by conducting targeted physical activity campaigns in Madison, Wisconsin and Richmond, Virginia. These local campaigns employed various interventions to educate residents about physical activity, provide information about local physical activity programs, and advocate for environmental changes that would make it easier for the 50+ population to walk and bike. A collection of five AFL guides is presented here: www.aarp.org/health/fitness/leaders/
promoting_physical_activity_among_those_50.html
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Healthy Land Use Plans

A new toolkit details various strategies for creating healthy communities, from building relationships and assessing existing conditions, to creating policy language for implementation of these strategies. It is designed for training
advocates in the relationship between the built environment and public health, such as improving community health by ensuring that farmers’ markets and neighborhood grocery stores are supported, or by promoting sidewalks, parks and other environmental components that encourage physical activity.

The toolkit was developed by the Planning for Healthy Places program at the Public Health Institute in California.

For details, visit
http://www.healthyplanning.org/toolkit_healthygp.html.
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Legislation

Council of State Governments-Healthy States Initiative-Mid-Year Legislation Report

The 2007 Mid-Year State Legislation Report includes January through June 2007. The report includes a legislative summary, list of bills introduced and the status of each. Physical activity bills are found within a variety of sub-sections (e.g. Health Promotion and Wellness, Obesity etc).

To read the report, go to: www.healthystates.csg.org/

Also, see “Preventing Diseases Through Physical Activity “tools at: www.healthystates.csg.org/NR/rdonlyres/BEE2060B-CB0B-4EF2-B830-E361D928B17C/0/PreventingDiseasesThroughPhysicalActivityFINAL.pdf

Talking Points for Legislators is at:
http://www.healthystates.csg.org/NR/rdonlyres/E5036D96-E4BF-48CD-A053-757545049C53/0/TPPhysical.pdf
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

Grants

National Association of Chronic Disease Director’s (NACDD) -Funding Opportunities Portal

NACDD links chronic disease program directors in every US state and territory and provides a national forum focused on efforts to reduce the impact of chronic diseases and their risk factors on states and communities nationwide.

NACDD’s funding opportunities page includes open deadlined announcements as well as those with deadlines. If you would like to submit a funding opportunity for posting or provide feedback on this resource, please contact David Yum: dyum@chronicdisease.org. The page is available at:
www.chronicdisease.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3574
(From CDC’s and NSPAPPH Physical Activity One-Way Listserv, January 14, 2008)

Training and Professional Development

ECU Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatments Center’s 5th Annual Pediatric Healthy Weight Summit

March 6-7, 2008

Greenville, North Carolina

The East Carolina University (ECU) Pediatric Healthy Weight Research and Treatment Center invites you to attend its 5th Annual Pediatric Healthy Weight Summit at the Greenville Hilton in Greenville, North Carolina on March 6 & 7, 2008.

The theme is “When Environment and Biology Collide: What Everyone Needs to Know about the Impact on Obesity from Pregnancy through Adolescence and Beyond.” The purpose of the summit is to understand the role various environmental factors play in the development of obesity. The first day of the conference will offer new insights into how elements of the built and community/school environment, exposures to common environmental compounds, and manipulation of the in-utero environment may predispose us to develop obesity and obesity-related complications across the lifespan. The second day will feature workshops on ways to assess and mitigate the effects of these potentially obesogenic environmental influences.
The program brochure includes the two-day agenda and registration information. Register before February 28, 2008 to get the early bird registration rate!
Down load the brochure and registration form now

Active Living Research Annual Conference

April 9-12, 2008

Washington, DC

Active Living Research Annual conference will hold their annual conference this year in Washington DC on April 9-12. Registration will be available in mid-January at: http://www.activelivingresearch.org/conference/2008.

Training on Assessment of the Built Environment

June 15th- 20th, 2008

Atlanta, Ga.

The BEAT (Built Environment Assessment Training) Institute will offer training at Emory University in Atlanta, GA from June 15th - 20th, 2008, to prepare investigators and practitioners to use both observational and self-report measures of nutrition and activity environments and related behavioral assessments.

If you wish to attend, go to http://www.sph.emory.edu/BEAT/ for information on how to apply.
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

Physical Activity and Public Health (PAPH) COURSES (US)

September 16-24, 2008

Park City, Utah

The CDC and the USC PRC will sponsor an 8-day postgraduate course on Research Directions and Strategies, and a 6-day Practitioner’s Course on
Community Intervention, in Park City, Utah, September 16-24, 2008.
The goal: to give more researchers and practitioners expertise in
the relationship between physical activity and health.

Approximately twenty-five fellows will be accepted for each course.
Acceptance criteria include professional credentials, experience, and potential to enhance public health research and practice. PAPH courses received the 2004 CDC PRC Award for Excellence in Training and Technical Assistance. Details: http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/seapines/
(From USC Prevention Research News - Jan-Feb 2008)

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