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IN THIS ISSUE - November /December 2004

IMPORTANT NEWS: CDC to Correct Obesity Impact Figures

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: Childhood Obesity Reduction Act

RESEARCH NOTES: Perceptions of Neighborhood Environment for Physical
Activity; Focusing on Youth in PA Research

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES: Mean Streets 2004, Bone
Health in the Spotlight; Guidelines for Physical Activity
Instructors of Older Adults; PA Policy Resource Manual; Non-
Motorized Transportation Publications; Bicycling Promoted in UK;
Local Governments' Awareness of Active Living

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES: Americans Prefer Walkable
Neighborhoods; Nuestro Pueblo Newsletter Focuses on Active Living;
Built Environment and PA Evaluation

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS: TrailLink 2005 Biennial
Conference

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE: Recent Publications

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IMPORTANT NEWS:

CDC TO CORRECT OBESITY IMPACT FIGURES: In March 2004, the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published an article in
JAMA showing that a large proportion of the more than 2 million
deaths each year in the US are preventable through lifestyle
changes, such as tobacco cessation, better nutrition, and increased
physical activity. The CDC recently announced that it has discovered
an error in the computations, which resulted in an overestimation of
the number of deaths caused by poor nutrition and physical
inactivity. The CDC points out that, "The errors in the study's
calculations do not diminish the threat that obesity poses to public
health. CDC still considers obesity a leading cause of preventable
deaths and a major public health issue." Watch for a correction in
JAMA in the coming weeks.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

CHILDHOOD OBESITY REDUCTION ACT: In October, Senator Ted Kennedy,
introduced the Prevention of Childhood Obesity Act (S.2894). The
bill would coordinate Federal Government childhood obesity
prevention policies and activities and establish a grant program to
fund states, local governments, schools, communities and non-profit
organizations.


RESEARCH NOTES

PERCEPTIONS OF NEIGHBORHOOD ENVIRONMENT FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: One
thousand seventy-three African American (46.6%) and Caucasian
(53.4%) adults aged 18-65 in metropolitan St. Louis, Missouri
participated in a survey assessing what influences a person's
perception of physical activity opportunities in their neighborhood.
The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and
neighborhood characteristics (race, home values, use of public
transportation, etc.) were obtained from the 2000 US Census. Both
individual characteristics and neighborhood characteristics are
significant predictors of a person's perception of the physical
activity opportunities in their neighborhood. Regardless of the
neighborhood characteristics, African-Americans rated their
neighborhoods low in regards to safety and pleasantness for physical
activity opportunities suggesting a need to improve aesthetics and
safety of existing physical activity opportunities in addition to
introducing new opportunities. Boslaugh, Luke, Brownson, Naleid,
Kreuter. "Perceptions of neighborhood environment for physical
activity: is it 'who you are' or 'where you live' ?" J Urban Health,
81(4):671-81,2004.

FOCUSING ON YOUTH IN PA RESEARCH: Most of the physical activity and
community design research has focused on adult populations. This
being the case, the needs of youth are often overlooked in regards
to community design. Drawing from social and ecological models of
human behavior and utility theory, a schematic is presented to help
organize information about how and where youth spend their time and
how they travel to their destinations (walking, biking, motorized
vehicle). An understanding of spatial and behavioral aspects of how
youth spend their time provides a useful tool to further physical
activity and community design research to meet the needs of both
adults and youths. Krizek KJ, Birnbaum AS, Levinson DM. "A schematic
for focusing on youth in investigations of community design and
physical activity." Am J Health Promot, 19(1):33-8, 2004.

For additional summaries of recent research on promoting physically
active lifestyles, visit the Research Updates section of our website
at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/updates/index.htm.


REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES

MEAN STREETS 2004: Walking is the most dangerous mode of
transportation according to "Mean Streets 2004" from the Surface
Transportation Policy Project (STPP). Nearly 52,000 pedestrian
deaths occurred from 1994 to 2003. According to the report,
Orlando, Florida had the greatest increase in the number of
pedestrian deaths while Salt Lake City, Utah was most improved. The
report recommends specific actions that governments can take to
increase pedestrian safety. For more information and a link to the
full report go to:
http://www.transact.org/report.asp?id=235.

BONE HEALTH IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The US Surgeon General has released a
report on the nation's bone health warning that by 2020 half of all
American citizens older than 50 will be at risk for fractures from
osteoporosis and low bone mass. The report calls for immediate
action among individuals at risk, doctors, health care systems, and
policymakers. The "2004 Surgeon General's Report on Bone Health and
Osteoporosis: What It Means To You," is available by calling toll
free 1-866-718-BONE or visiting www.surgeongeneral.gov.

GUIDELINES FOR PA INSTRUCTORS OF OLDER ADULTS: Human Kinetics has
published the "International Curriculum Guidelines for Preparing
Physical Activity Instructors of Older Adults." The document
outlines each major content area that should be included in entry-
level training programs preparing physical activity instructors to
work with older adults. Visit at www.isapa.org/guidelines/index.cfm
for a free pdf version. [CDC PA Listserv 10/22/2004]

PA POLICY RESOURCE MANUAL: The National Coalition for Promoting
Physical Activity (NCPPA) has developed a legislative reference
manual containing a comprehensive inventory of the enacted policies
at the federal and state levels over the last five years. The
manual is divided into the six policy areas covered at their policy
conference in June 2004 in Washington DC - transportation,
trails/environment, sports/recreation, obesity prevention/wellness,
school programming and access/disparity issues. An in depth summary
paper of the conference is also available. The fee for both
publications is $50 and includes shipping. If you would like to
place an order, visit http://www.ncppa.org/ to download an order
form or contact Sheila Franklin at sfranklin@... or (202) 454-
7521.

UPDATED NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION PUBLICATIONS: The Victoria
Transport Policy Institute has updated versions of several documents
that investigate and evaluate the use, funding, policies, laws, etc.
relating to roadways used by both motorists and non-motorized modes
of transportation. These include "Quantifying the Benefits of Non-
motorized Travel For Achieving TDM Goals" (http://www.vtpi.org/nmt-
tdm.pdf),
"Whose Roads? Defining Bicyclists' And Pedestrians' Right To Use
Public
Roads" (http://www.vtpi.org/whoserd.pdf), and "Economic Value of
Walkability" (http://www.vtpi.org/walkability.pdf).

BICYCLING PROMOTED IN UK: The UK Department of Health and the House
of Commons have both released reports promoting bicycling and
walking as a means to be fit and healthy. The Dept. of Health White
Paper, "Choosing Health: Making Healthy Choices Easier" was
published in November and includes information on promoting a number
of healthy behaviors, including physical activity. The report can be
found at
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/Publications/Publicat
ionsPolicyAndGuidance/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidanceArticle/fs/en?CON
TENT_ID=4094550&chk=aN5Cor. The House of Commons committee report on
obesity released in May discussed means to promote nutrition and
physical activity to reduce obesity. To increase physical activity,
the report discusses cycling and walking for exercise and
transportation as key methods to curb the growing problem of
obesity. This report can be found at
http://www.bikebiz.co.uk/daily-news/article.php?id=4899.
[Centerlines]

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS' AWARENESS OF ACTIVE LIVING: The National
Association of Counties (NACo) Center for Sustainable Communities
and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA)
surveyed local government leaders to assess their level of awareness
and their perception of their role in active living in their
communities. Respondents consider providing opportunities for
physical activity in their communities to be an important public
duty. The top two barriers to active living communities were limited
staff and resources and the existing built environment, which makes
driving a necessity. The most helpful tools to enable local leaders
to assert leadership in active living are sample policies/programs
and best practices or case studies. To view the report go to:
http://www.icma.org/main/ld.asp?ldid=18337&hsid=1&tpid=31. [Smart
Growth Resource Library]


PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

AMERICANS PREFER WALKABLE NEIGHBORHOODS: According to the 2004
American Community Survey sponsored by the National Association of
Realtors ?and Smart Growth America, when searching for a home,
Americans are looking for walkable neighborhoods, shorter commutes,
and shops, restaurants, libraries, etc. within walking distance.
Almost 90% of those surveyed want their states to fund improvements
in existing communities over incentives for new development in
outlying areas. The survey report can be found at
http://smartgrowthamerica.org/nrasgareport.html.

NUESTRO PUEBLO NEWSLETTER FOCUSES ON ACTIVE LIVING: "Active Living
by Design" is the theme for the Fall/Winter 2004 issue of Nuestro
Pueblo, published by 1000 Friends of New Mexico. This issue of the
newsletter focuses on promoting cycling and walking and designing
walkable cities and neighborhoods. Check it out at:
http://www.1000friends-nm.org/newsletter/fall_2004.pdf. [Smart
Growth Online]

BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND PA EVALUATION: The National Institute of
Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) and the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation's Active Living by Design Program are partnering for a
five-year, $2.8 million evaluation of communities located across the
U.S. to examine how better community design encourages people to be
more physically active in their daily lives. The Active Living by
Design Program is supporting 25 community partnerships to develop
and implement collaboration among a variety of organizations in
public health and other disciplines concentrating on land use,
public transit, non-motorized travel, public spaces, parks, trails,
and architectural practices that advance physical activity. NIEHS is
paying for the five-year evaluation to assess the impact of these
programs on physical activity and obesity. To read the press
release, go to http://www.niehs.nih.gov/oc/news/actlife.htm [NIH
press release].


UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

ACTIVE LIVING RESEARCH: 2nd Annual Active Living Research
Conference, Coronado CA. February 25-26, 2005,
http://www.activelivingresearch.org/index.php/Conference/7. Active
Living Research grantees will present study plans and findings;
authors of commissioned papers will present reviews and propose
research agendas on newly-emerging issues; invited keynote speakers
will stimulate new thinking; and poster and paper presentations will
present innovative studies from diverse investigative teams.

CHRONIC DISEASE CONFERENCE: "Health Disparities: Progress,
Challenges, and Opportunities Accelerating the rate of progress in
improving lives," March 1-3, 2005, Atlanta, Georgia.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/conference/

TRAILLINK 2005 BIENNIAL CONFERENCE: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
(RTC), a Washington, D.C. nonprofit working to create a nationwide
network of public trails from former rail lines, is holding its
biennial conference, TrailLink 2005, July 27-30, 2005 in
Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota. The conference will feature
workshops on public health, trails policy, design and management
plus opportunities to network with experts from around the globe.
Visit www.railtrails.org/traillink2005 for more conference
information. Please contact Katie Magers, RTC media coordinator, by
e-mail at katie@... or by phone (202-974-5115) for
additional information.

For a more complete list of conferences and workshops, visit the PA
links section of our website at
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/PAlinks/index.htm.

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE

RECENT PUBLICATION: Sharpe, P.A., Granner, M.L., Hutto, B.,
Ainsworth, B.E., Cook, A. (2004). Association of body mass index to
meeting physical activity recommendations. American Journal of
Health Behavior, 28(6):522 530.
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Writers: Lara Peck, Delores Pluto

This and past issues of the "University of South Carolina Prevention
Research Center Notes" are available on our website at
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/Newsletter/index.htm. To submit an
item, please e-mail Delores Pluto at dmpluto@....

To subscribe or unsubscribe to this newsletter, e-mail the
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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/Listserv/index.htm.

The USC Prevention Research Center is a member of the CDC Prevention
Research Center's National Network, consisting of 28 Centers in the
U.S. For more information about the PRC National Network, visit
http://www.cdc.gov/prc.
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Prevention Research Center, University of South Carolina
730 Devine Street, Columbia, South Carolina 29208
803-777-4253

Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Cooperative agreement number U48/DP000051
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