Hi all,

For interest, the following extracts from USC Prevention Research Center
Notes - March/April 2003 (for full version see
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/Newsletter/index.htm and, for research
updates, http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/updates/index.htm).

well wishes,

Kate
bicycle@...
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MOVE FOR HEALTH: The World Health Organization (WHO) has launched
"Move for Health" as an annual global initiative to promote physical
activity as essential for health and well-being. Move for Health is
part of a broader WHO initiative to address the growing burden of
chronic diseases through its Global Strategy on Diet, Physical
Activity and Health. WHO proposes Member States celebrate the annual
Move for Health Day on May 10th, but the timing of events will be
left to the discretion and resources of individual countries. For
more information, go to
http://www.who.int/hpr/physactiv/move.for.health.shtml.

PROMOTING PA IN SOCIALLY/ECONOMICALLY DEPRIVED COMMUNITY: A recent
study in Scotland assessed the impact of two physical activity (PA)
interventions on non-regularly active individuals in a socially and
economically deprived community. Participants volunteered to be
included in either a fitness assessment intervention or an exercise
consultation intervention. Within their chosen intervention group,
participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental
condition or a control condition. Participants in the fitness
assessment intervention received a personal exercise program based
on comprehensive fitness testing, and participants in the exercise
consultation intervention received counseling about physical
activity. PA significantly increased in both intervention groups at
4 weeks and was maintained at 6 months; however PA was maintained
after 1 year in only the exercise consultation group. These findings
suggest that non-regularly active participants who receive exercise
consultations have better long-term adherence to PA than those who
receive fitness assessments. In addition, the findings suggest that
socially and economically deprived populations respond favorably to
PA interventions. Lowther, Mutrie, & Scott. "Promoting physical
activity in a socially and economically deprived community: A 12
month randomized control trial of fitness assessment and exercise
consultation." Journal of Sport Sciences, 20:577-588, 2002.

FITTING IN FITNESS: A six-week physical activity intervention for
middle-aged women, called Fitting in Fitness for Life! (FIF), was
evaluated. FIF used a cognitive-behavioral approach, along with
empowerment techniques, and was aimed at increasing levels of
physical activity among middle-class, white women. The participants
significantly increased the number of light, moderate, and vigorous
physical activity sessions they participated in, as well as the
total number of physical activity sessions. Total physical activity
levels also increased from baseline to post-intervention and were
maintained at follow-up. The authors and Physical
Activity and $37 million fo conclude that a cognitive-
behavioral, empowerment-based physical activity intervention that
focuses on women's distinct barriers can be effective at increasing
physical activity levels for white, middle-aged women. Segar,
Jayaratne, et al. "Fitting Fitness into Women's Lives: Effects of a
Gender-tailored Physical Activity Intervention." Women's Health
Issues, 12(6):338-347, 2002.

CORRELATES OF PA: A cross-sectional survey was conducted to examine
urban-rural and socioeconomic status differences in physical
activity behavior, and various environmental and social influences
on that behavior. The results indicate that lower income residents
were less likely than higher income residents to meet physical
activity recommendations. Rural residents were the less likely to be
active than either urban or suburban residents. Among urban
respondents, there was an increase in the likelihood to meet
recommendations with an increase in the number of facilities
available for exercise (including neighborhood streets, parks, and
shopping malls). Parks, Housemann, & Brownson. "Differential
correlates of physical activity in urban and rural adults of various
socioeconomic backgrounds in the United States." Journal of
Epidemiology & Community Health, 57:29-35, 2003.

PA PERCEPTIONS OF OLDER ADULTS: A qualitative study was undertaken
to explore the perceptions, motivations, and barriers to physical
activity in adults 75 years of age and older. Interviews with 33
participants revealed that many viewed sedentary behavior as
harmful, were unsure of the proper amounts of physical activity to
perform, perceived themselves as relatively active, and wanted more
information from their physicians about physical activity. In
addition, participants were motivated to be physically active to
keep their independence, to stay healthy, to keep up their
appearances, and to maintain family relationships. Barriers included
lack of time, poor health, aging, and adverse environments. Grossman
& Stewart. "You aren't going to get better by just sitting around:
Physical activity perceptions, motivations, and barriers in adults
75 years of age and older." The American Journal of Geriatric
Cardiology, 12(1):33-37, 2003.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TOOLKIT: The National Highway and Physical
Activity and $37 million foTraffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA) has developed "Safe Routes to School," a
toolkit for use by educators and others to promote walking and
biking to school. The toolkit includes sections on mapping the
routes to school, activities and outreach, and classroom lessons. It
also includes sample Safe Routes to School forms, press releases,
posters, and other resources. The toolkit is available on the web at
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/pedbimot/ped/saferouteshtml.
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