-------- Original Message --------
Subject: USC Prevention Research Center Notes - 01/2005
Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 16:24:28 -0500
From: USCPRC USCPRC <USCPRC@...>
Reply-To: USCPRC USCPRC <USCPRC@...>
To: PRCNEWS@...

****UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER NOTES****
"Promoting Health through Physical Activity"

The best way to increase physical activity in children is to
implement a structured, daily K-12 Physical Education program with
qualified teachers. One of the great tragedies in our time is the
major reduction in school-based PE. Is it any wonder that more kids
are overweight, restless in class, and lacking in self-confidence?
Physical activity via daily PE class would help with these and other
issues. Exercising the mind without exercising the body is a shame.
Running, jumping, and other basic movements are natural for kids (as
well as for most adults). I say, "Let them play!" I'm sure you'll
agree that it just makes sense.

Steven P. Hooker, PhD, Director

Delores Pluto, PhD, Newsletter Editor (dmpluto@...)
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu
******************************************************************
IN THIS ISSUE - January/February 2005

NEWS YOU CAN USE: National Public Health Week, Project ACES Makes
Fitness Fun.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON: New Dietary/PA Guidelines Released;
Local School Wellness Policy

RESEARCH NOTES: CDC Obesity Mortality Correction; Physical
Education's Contribution to PA; Fitness vs. PA Patterns in
Predicting Mortality in Men.

REPORTS, SURVEYS, GUIDELINES, RESOURCES: Women, CVD and PA; FDA's
Obesity Website.

PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES: Complete Streets Report; "How To"
Guide for Bicycle Advocates; Status of National Bicycling And
Walking Study

UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS: 2005 Health and Fitness Summit
and Exposition; TrailLink 2005

USC PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER UPDATE: Recent Publications, Post Doc
Opportunity

******************************************************************
NEWS YOU CAN USE

NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK: With the theme of "Empowering Americans
to Live Longer, Stronger," National Public Health Week 2005, April
4-10, will focus on the health of older Americans. The observance
will promote the three "P's" of healthier and longer living:
prevent, promote and plan. A tool kit and planner's guide and other
materials will soon be available at www.nphw.org.

PROJECT ACES MAKES FITNESS FUN: Project ACES (All Children
Exercising Simultaneously) will be held Wednesday, May 4, 2005. The
goal is to educate children about the importance of physical
activity, show children physical activity can be fun and end the
stereotype that children are physically unfit. Visit the Project
ACES website at www.projectaces.com for information about starting
you own ACES club, planning your event in May and free downloadable
materials.

For a list of PA related observances and events, visit the PA links
section of our website at
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/PAlinks/index.htm.


WHAT'S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON

NEW DIETARY/PA GUIDELINES RELEASED. The new Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2005 were released January 12. This is the federal
government's science-based advice to promote health and reduce risk
of chronic diseases through nutrition and physical activity. The PA
guidelines recommend adults should be active at least 30 minutes
most days and children should be active at least 60 minutes a day.
They also mention that more activity (60 minutes per day) may be
needed to control body weight. Go to
http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/ to read the press
release, full report, executive summary, and consumer information.

LOCAL SCHOOL WELLNESS POLICY. In 2004, Congress passed a law
requiring each local educational agency participating in USDA's
school meals programs to establish a local wellness policy by the
2006-2007 school year. Schools must set goals for nutrition
education, physical activity, and other school-based activities
designed to promote student wellness. The school's physical activity
component should provide opportunities for every student to develop
the knowledge and skills for specific physical activities, maintain
physical fitness, regularly participate in physical activity, and
understand the short- and long-term benefits of a physically active
and healthful lifestyle. For more information, go to
http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/wellnesspolicy.html.

RESEARCH NOTES

CDC OBESITY MORTALITY CORRECTION: A recent review of an article
published by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the March
10, 2004 issue of the Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA)
showed an overestimation of the numbers of deaths caused by poor
nutrition and lack of physical activity. Revised figures estimate
the number of deaths in 2000 caused by poor diet and physical
inactivity increased to 365,000 instead of the 400,000 previously
estimated. This is roughly 15.2% of the total number of deaths
instead of the 16% reported in March. Despite this error, CDC
maintains that obesity is a leading cause of preventable death and a
major public health issue. Mokdad, Marks, Stroup, & Gerberding.
Correction: Actual causes of death in the United States, 2000. JAMA,
293:293-294, 2005.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION'S CONTRIBUTION TO PA: In Mercyside, England, a
randomly selected sample of 62 boys and 60 girls, ages 11-14, wore
heart rate telemeters during physical education class over a 12 week
period. The students' competence in PE activities were categorized
by their teacher as high, average, or low. High ability students
participated in more moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA)
and vigorous physical activity (VPA) than average and low ability
students. Boys participated in MVPA and VPA more than girls. Team
sports provided higher levels of MVPA and VPA compared to individual
or movement activities (although these activities provide other
benefits such as flexibility, motor skills, etc.). Physical
education classes can contribute to a young person's PA level if the
curriculum is geared towards MVPA. Fairclough & Stratton. "Physical
education makes you fit and healthy." Physical education's
contribution to young people's physical activity levels. Health
Education Research, 20(1):14-23, 2005.

FITNESS VS. PA PATTERNS IN PREDICTING MORTALITY IN MEN: From a
group of 6213 men (mean age of 59) referred for exercise testing, a
convience sample of 842 participated in a detailed evaluation of
past and current physical activity patterns. Exercise capacity and
energy expenditure were signifcant predictors of mortality and were
stronger predictors compared to other risk factors such as smoking,
hypertension, obesity and diabetes. Overall, fitness was a greater
predictor of mortality than PA patterns. Myers, Kaykha, George, et
al. Fitness versus physical activity patterns in predicting
mortality in men. American Journal of Medicine, 117(12):912-918,
2005.

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

WOMEN, CVD AND PA: The December issue of the President's Council on
Physical Fitness and Sports Research Digest focuses on women,
cardiovascular disease and physical activity. The digest entitled
Preventing Cardiovascular Disease in Women: How Much Physical
Activity is "Good Enough"? is available at
http://www.presidentschallenge.com/misc/news_research/research_diges
ts/dec04.pdf.

FDA'S OBESITY WEBSITE: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has
developed a new website to help address the epidemic of obesity in
America. The home page is
http:///www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/obesity.html. The site
provides tools for consumers to achieve and maintain a healthy
weight and lifestyle, as well as information about the FDA's
recently announced program to combat obesity. The site also serves
as a gateway to information on obesity and weight loss from other
government agencies, such as the National Institutes of Health and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [CDC PA listserv,
1/14/05]


PROMOTING ACTIVE COMMUNITIES

COMPLETE STREETS REPORT: The first nationwide analysis of laws and
policies that create streets to accommodate pedestrians and bicycles
is available from the Thunderhead Alliance. The report inventories
and analyzes complete street policies from around the country (most
enacted since 2001). It also discusses language and elements used in
the policies and issues surrounding process and implementation of
these policies. For the full report, go to
http://www.thunderheadalliance.org. [BikeLeague News]

"HOW TO" GUIDE FOR BICYCLE ADVOCATES: The Massachusetts Bicycle
Coalition has published "Your Guide To Forming a Bike Advisory
Committee" for advocates of bicycle safety and transportation. The
guide focuses on how to efficiently and effectively advocate for
change and improvements for bicyclists. Visit
http://www.massbike.org/resources/bacguide.pdf to download this
helpful guide. [Centerlines #111]

STATUS OF NATIONAL BICYCLING AND WALKING STUDY: "The National
Bicycling and Walking Study: Ten Year Status Report" summarizes the
Department of Transportation's recent activities and progress toward
the study's goals and action plans over the last 10 years, as well
as the latest walking and bicycling data available. For the full
report, go to
http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/pdf/NBWS_10yr_Progress_Report.pdf.
[Centerlines #111]


UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

2005 HEALTH AND FITNESS SUMMIT AND EXPOSITION: The American College
of Sports Medicine will host the 2005 Health and Fitness Summit and
Exposition in Las Vegas, NV on March 29 - April 1, 2005. For Summit
information call 317-637-9200 ext. 135 or go to
http://www.acsm.org/meetings/summit.htm

TRAILLINK 2005: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's international trails
and greenways conference will be held in Minneapolis/St. Paul, MN
July 27 - 30, 2005. TrailLink 2005 will examine new trends in trail
design and management; explore the public health impact of trails;
provide the latest policy and legal updates; and examine other core
issues affecting national and international trails, all with a focus
on improving communities through expanding trail networks. For more
information go to http://www.railtrails.org.

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 PUBLICATIONS: Williams, Evans, Kirtland, et al. Development
and use of a tool for assessing sidewalk maintenance as an
environmental support of physical activity. Health Promotion
Practice. 2005;6(1):81-88. A copy of the tool is available at
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/tools/sidewalk.htm.

POST DOC OPPORTUNITY: The USC PRC is seeking a post-doctoral fellow
to plan, manage, and provide oversight of measurement and data
collection related activities for a 5-year school-based trial,
"Self-Determination for Increasing Physical Activity" The project
(described in more detail at http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/sips/self-
determ.htm) will evaluate the effects of an innovative intervention
on increasing physical activity in adolescents. For more information
about the position, go to
http://prevention.sph.sc.edu/positionannouncements/openings.htm.

******************************************************************
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
Prevention Research Center at USCPRC@.... When subscribing,
please include your name, e-mail address, title, and organizational
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addresses, please add uscprc@... to your approved list.

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.
******************************************************************
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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