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This information was printed from The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
located at http://www.fitness.gov
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From the Executive Director
Melissa Johnson

We’ve been very active at the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS). I had the pleasure of presenting our Lifetime Achievement Award to two of the honorees who were announced at our Council meeting in May – Joe Weider and Judi Sheppard Missett.  Governor Schwarzenegger hosted Joe Weider Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento, a perfect venue to present this award (http://www.fitness.gov/photos-07lifetimeachievementawardwinnerjoeweider-07.09.07.htm). It was great honoring Mr. Weider alongside a former Chairman of the President’s Council!  It is evident that Mr. Weider has made an indelible mark on the field of fitness and strength training.  Following that, I visited Chicago to present Judi Sheppard Missett with her award at the Jazz Dance World Congress (http://www.fitness.gov/photos-07judisheppardmissett-laa_award-08.05.07.htm).  It was particularly special to conduct the presentation in front of hundreds of Judi’s Jazzercise fans who were there to take her energizing class.

We hope you all had the chance to submit your nominations for the 2008 PCPFS Lifetime Achievement Award (http://www.fitness.gov/about_lifetime_award.htm) or Community Leadership Award (http://www.fitness.gov/about_community_award.htm).  We will announce the winners in 2008!

We worked closely with our friends at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/) on their “A Healthier US Starts Here” (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MyHealthMyMedicare/02_HealthierUS.asp#TopOfPage) Prevention Bus Tour. The bus traveled across the country with HHS representatives spreading the message about the HealthierUS Initiative (http://www.healthierus.gov/): nutrition, physical activity, preventive screenings and avoidance of risky behaviors. CMS informed thousands of Americans about the preventive benefits of Medicare. Many of our council members participated in the stops:  Indiana with Governor Daniels, Vermont with Governor Douglas, Trek Bikes in Wisconsin, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, and also California.

We have great updates on our council members.  Governor Crist appointed Dr. Dot Richardson, PCPFS Vice Chair, to the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.  Dr. Catherine Baase has been busy speaking on the benefits of worksite health promotion. Dr. Ed Laskowski spoke to a group of recreational trail leaders at a trails conference in Minnesota.  John Burke was a keynote speaker at the HERO conference in New Orleans on Oct. 4th. Jerry Noyce and Bill Greer led the PCPFS team at the HERO Forum. Donna-Richardson Joyner joined HHS Secretary Leavitt as a member of the delegation representing the United States at the Pan American Games in Brazil.  Fortunately, she took some time to answer some questions for PCPFSNews (http://www.fitness.gov/enewsletter/Fall07-cm_activities.htm).

This Fall promises to be just as exciting, as work continues on the development of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.  The next meeting of the federal advisory committee charged with developing the guidelines is scheduled to take place December 6 and 7. The third meeting is scheduled for February 28 – 29. Both meetings are open to the public and will be held in Washington, D.C. Public comments are welcomed at both meetings. Use this link for Physical Activity Guideline Updates (http://www.health.gov/PAguidelines/).

Our next Council meeting is scheduled at the Mayo Clinic on Nov. 7th. If you’re interested in attending, please contact Tynetta Dreher at tynetta.dreher@hhs.gov for further info. We also look forward to launching our new President’s Challenge Adult Fitness Test and an on-line toolkit to help implement worksite physical activity programs.  A partnership with the National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (http://www.ncpad.org/) will result in a series of new fact sheets targeting the importance of physical activity for individuals with disabilities. 

All my best,

Melissa Johnson, M.S.
Executive Director

Council Members' News and Activities

Council Member News:
Donna Richardson-Joyner is a woman on the move. At the request of Oprah Winfrey, she recently spent time teaching young girls about mental, physical, and spiritual wellness at Oprah’s Leadership Academy in South Africa (although she admits learning more from the girls than she taught them). She will be returning to the academy in November to continue her work. In July, President Bush asked Ms. Richardson-Joyner to be a part of the delegation representing the United States at the Pan American Games in Brazil, a place she last visited twelve years ago when she competed in the International Aerobics Championships.

PCPFSNews was able to steal a few moments from Mrs. Richardson-Joyner to ask her about her health and wellness ministry and inactivity in this country.

PCPFSNews: How did you get involved in a health and wellness ministry?
DRJ: My father is diabetic, hypertensive, and has had three strokes. My mom, who is the family caregiver, neglected taking care of herself and paid a price for that. She decided she needed to take care of her “temple,” her body, in order to continue to help others. She became faithfully fit and fabulous and wanted to spread the good news to others. She started the ministry knowing that many of the members at her church needed to learn the same lessons. Initially, the ministry focused on strengthening the mind, body, and spirit. However, I realized that faith was the missing ingredient and is generally not a part of any weight loss or fitness plans. My mom and I began spreading our message to help Christians become better stewards of their bodies. We’ve been successful at showing people how to use their faith to gain control over their eating and exercise behaviors.

PCPFSNews: In the past year, you turned your attention to youth through a new program, “Sweating with Purpose.”
DRJ: The goal of “Sweating in the Spirit” is to increase awareness of the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle through education, encouragement, and empowerment, but the program targets adults. Our children are experiencing the same issues with overweight and obesity. This is why I started “Sweating with Purpose.” We need to instill the virtues of a healthy lifestyle in children when they are young with the hope that they will carry these values with them as they age.  Proverbs 22:6 states, “Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.” Now is the time to intervene and teach our children good physical activity and nutrition habits in the places where they learn, play, and worship.

PCPFSNews: What are some of the barriers or challenges you most often hear people say prevent them from being active, and what do you tell them?
DRJ: 1) I’m too old: You are never too old to start being physically active. 2) I’m too tired: You have to expend energy to get energy. Being active lessens fatigue and decreases stress. 3) I can’t afford it: The last time I checked, walking, dancing, and calisthenics were free. Making a small investment provides an excellent return. 4) I might mess up my hair: Pin it up, braid it, weave it, twist it, go natural, or wear a hat or wig. 5) I don’t have the time: many Americans spend hours watching television yet they don’t take the 20 or so minutes to do some type of physical activity. We need to stop making excusing for ourselves.
 
PCPFSNews: What do you think about the recent research that suggests that your size and ability to gain or lose weight may be a reflection of the company you keep?
DRJ: I believe it’s important to surround yourself with positive people. There are people who add value to your life and people who don’t. We can’t always wait for people to inspire us or make us feel better. We can’t worry about how we got where we are. It’s time to be excited about where we’re going from here. I’m so appreciative to have the opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives and be a leader for change. Life is about change.  Embrace it!

Feature Article:
Assessment of Physical Activity Behavior

The importance of physical activity assessment
The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association recently issued updated health-based physical activity recommendations (1).  It is indisputable that an association between physical activity and health exists and the measurement of physical activity behavior is central to defining this relationship and clarifying the nature of the dose-response relationship.  Additionally, physical activity assessment is useful for evaluating the effectiveness of programs and interventions designed to increase physical activity as well as for monitoring population trends and providing individuals with feedback on their current level of physical activity.

Measuring physical activity behavior, where are we and what are some of the challenges?
While the accurate assessment of physical activity is possible in the laboratory, the measurement of physical activity in a free-living environment over a period of several days poses challenges and it is in that context that the measurement of physical activity is essential. 

Subjective methods such as interview or questionnaire based recall have widespread use for estimating physical activity in a free-living environment.  From small studies to large epidemiological studies and national surveys such as the National Health Interview Survey and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), physical activity assessment instruments are used to gather information about self-reported physical activity behavior.  For example, the NHANES includes questions about physical activities over the past 30 days.  On an international level, the International Physical Activity Questionnaires provide a means of obtaining comparable estimates of physical activity behavior across nations.  The validity of these instruments is limited however, as self-report methods often suffer from errors associated with respondent recall, cognitive development (in young children) and social desirability bias.  These errors can be reduced or eliminated by the use of objective measures, but these methods are subject to other limitations.

Objective methods of assessment include direct and indirect calorimetry, doubly-labeled water, accelerometers, heart rate monitors, pedometers and more recently multi-sensor devices, which measure two or more variables (e.g., heart rate and acceleration).  Accelerometer-based methods of physical activity assessment are generally preferred to other established objective methods of assessment in a free-living environment as accelerometers provide information about the pattern, amount and intensity of activity and unlike heart rate, they are not influenced by factors other than activity such as stress or environmental conditions.  Moreover, accelerometers are reasonably priced and can be used over an extended period with minimal subject burden and reactivity.  In fact, accelerometers were used in the NHANES 2003-2006 data collection cycle to obtain population-based objective data on physical activity behavior. 

In spite of their extensive use, accelerometer-based methods of physical activity assessment have inherent shortcomings.  Accelerometers are generally worn on the hip, which limits their ability to detect upper body movements and during walking they can not detect grades or whether an individual is carrying a load.  Additionally, in the original and widely used method of data analysis, one regression equation is used to estimate energy expenditure from activity monitor output.  The prediction of energy expenditure for different kinds of activities using an equation developed on specific activities such as walking and running often results in the misclassification of intensity level.      

Comparisons among studies that use different activity monitors can also be challenging or impossible due to the use of proprietary software and lack of disclosure about monitor specifications.  Additionally, inconsistent practices among researchers can thwart comparisons among studies and the end points selected as boundaries between intensities can influence the interpretation of the data.  

Opportunities for improving the assessment of physical activity behavior
To address some of the challenges associated with current methods, best practices and research recommendations on the use of accelerometers to measure physical activity have been published (2).  The areas addressed included monitor selection and use protocols, monitor calibration, analysis of accelerometer data and the integration of accelerometry with other data sources.  As self-report methods have widespread use, the standardization of procedures for these methods is important and should not be overlooked. 

Attempts to improve the original regression approach have resulted in more equations but no single equation is accurate across all activities.  The use of a two-equation regression model that utilizes variability in counts to determine whether to employ the locomotion or lifestyle equation should improve the accuracy of energy expenditure estimates (3).

While the regression model approach has been used extensively to characterize and quantify physical activity, the emergence of new methods made feasible by technological advances offer exciting possibilities to advance the field of physical activity assessment.  One of the newer approaches is the integration of accelerometers with other data sources.  The addition of global positioning systems (GPS) provides information about the context of physical activity and the integration of heart rate and accelerometry has been shown to improve the prediction of energy expenditure (4, 5). 
   
The accuracy of physical activity estimates may also be enhanced by employing a classification approach that focuses on determining the mode of physical activity.  Intelligent data processing methods similar to those used for speech recognition could be used to determine mode of activity (6).  The use of statistical techniques to model and correct for measurement error is also under investigation and could lead to improved estimates of physical activity at the population level using self-report instruments.

An important consideration in the development of new physical activity assessment methods is the promotion of open-source technology.  The use of “off-the-shelf” software and disclosure of instrument specifications would facilitate comparisons and could promote rapid growth of an extensive database. 

Self-monitoring of physical activity behavior
An additional area where assessing physical activity can be is useful is self-monitoring.  Previously the interest in self-monitoring was primarily limited to the athlete who was interested in quantifying activity during exercise training sessions.  Today many individuals use self-monitoring to establish activity goals and evaluate success in attaining those goals.  The advent of the relatively inexpensive pedometer and the slogan “10,000 steps/day” have played a major role in promoting self-monitoring and motivating individuals to increase physical activity.

Summary
Physical activity behavior is assessed with many different types of instruments for a variety of reasons. Assessment of whether public health recommendations for physical activity are being met and to clarify how the amount and intensity of physical activity influence health outcomes have driven efforts to improve upon existing objective methods for assessing physical activity behavior in a free-living environment at the population level.  Monitoring physical activity level also has broad appeal in the health and wellness arena for individuals who use devices such as pedometers to provide immediate feedback, which can be used to establish and evaluate personal physical activity goals.

References
1.  Haskell WL, Lee IM, Pate RR, Powell KE, Blair SN, Franklin BA, Macera CA, Heath GW, Thompson PD, and Bauman A. Physical Activity and Public Health. Updated Recommendation for Adults From the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Circulation, 2007.
2.  Ward DS, Evenson KR, Vaughn A, Rodgers AB, and Troiano RP. Accelerometer use in physical activity: best practices and research recommendations. Med Sci Sports Exerc 37: S582-588, 2005.
3.  Crouter, SE, Clowers, KG, Bassett, DR Jr.  A novel method for using accelerometer data to predict energy expenditure.  J. Appl. Physiol. 100: 324-331, 2006
4.  Brage S, Brage N, Franks PW, Ekelund U, and Wareham NJ. Reliability and validity of the combined heart rate and movement sensor Actiheart. Eur J Clin Nutr 59: 561-570, 2005.
5.  Crouter SE, Churilla JR, and Bassett DR, Jr. Accuracy of the Actiheart for the assessment of energy expenditure in adults. Eur J Clin Nutr (epub), April 18: 1-8, 2007.
6.  Pober DM, Staudenmayer J, Raphael C, and Freedson PS. Development of novel techniques to classify physical activity mode using accelerometers. Med Sci Sports Exerc 38: 1626-1634, 2006.

Mark Your Calendar

OCTOBER
International Walk to School Month (http://www.iwalktoschool.org/)
1: National Child Health Day (http://mchb.hrsa.gov/childhealthday/guide.htm)
1: Nominations due for PCPFS Lifetime Achievement Award (http://www.fitness.gov/about_lifetime_award.htm) and Community Leadership Award (http://www.fitness.gov/about_community_award.htm)
3: Walk to School Day (http://www.walktoschool.org/)
27: Make a Difference Day (http://www.usaweekend.com/diffday/)

NOVEMBER
American Diabetes Month (http://www.diabetes.org/communityprograms-and-localevents/americandiabetesmonth.jsp)
7: PCPFS Council Meeting, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
15: Nominations due for PCPFS Science Honor Award (http://www.fitness.gov/news-honorawardprocess.htm)
15: Great American Smokeout (http://www.cancer.org/docroot/subsite/greatamericans/Smokeout.asp)
27-29: National Prevention & Health Promotion Summit (http://www.cdc.gov/cochp/conference/)

DECEMBER
1: World AIDS Day (http://www.worldaidscampaign.info/)
6-7: Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee Meeting (http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/)

Grant Applications:
National Institutes of Health
Health Promotion Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Males (R21)
(PA-07-421)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-421.html).

Health Promotion Among Racial and Ethnic Minority Males (R01)
(PA-07-422)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-422.html).

Reducing Health Disparities Among Minority and Underserved Children (R21)
(PA-07-391)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-391.html).

Reducing Health Disparities Among Minority and Underserved Children (R01)
(PA-07-392)
Application Receipt/Submission Date(s): Multiple dates, see announcement (http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-07-392.html).

More information on grants and other governmental funding mechanisms can be found on Grants.gov (http://www.grants.gov/). In addition, the NCPPA E-newsletter (http://www.ncppa.org/enewsletters.asp) lists grants available from a variety of national organizations.

President's Challenge Program Updates

New School Materials
The President’s Challenge educator materials for the 2007-08 school year have a new look!  The materials were redesigned using characters and colors based on feedback from school-aged children. All of the program information is available on the educator’s section of the President's Challenge website (http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/).  The yearly President’s Challenge brochure can be found on the “downloads” section (http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/downloads.aspx).

The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) Power of Prevention through Nutrition and Fitness (POPTFN) Program
The President’s Challenge is pleased to partner with AACE on its Power of Prevention (POP) program.  One arm of the program, POPTFN, targets children through a school-based curriculum developed by AACE.   In many cases, AACE members visit a classroom to launch the program and to speak to students on the importance of physical activity and good nutrition.  One component of the curriculum challenges students to complete the 6-week Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA).  Get more information on the POPTFN initiative and review the materials AACE has available (http://www.powerofprevention.com/pop/healthykids.php).

Science Board News and Notes

The Science Board is accepting nominations for the 2008 President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Science Honor Award.  The award is given annually to an academic or research professional who has made significant contributions to the advancement and promotion of the science of physical activity.  Nominations must be received by November 15, 2007.  The winner will be recognized in the spring of 2008. Get more information on the award and a nomination form (http://www.fitness.gov/news-honorawardprocess.htm) . Completed nominations can be emailed to pcpfsawards@hhs.gov.  Please include Science Honor Award in the subject line of your email.

Incoming Science Board Chair Dr. Maureen Weiss is now on faculty as a Professor of Education (Kinesiology) at the University of Minnesota (http://www1.umn.edu/twincities/index.php).  She is also serving as Co-Director of the Tucker Institute for Research on Girls and Women in Sport (http://education.umn.edu/tuckercenter/).

Many thanks to outgoing Chair, Dr. Deborah Rohm Young, who will complete her term at the end of November.

Remembering a Visionary
On July 9, 2007, the field of exercise and fitness research lost a long-time champion and leader when Ralph S. Paffenbarger, Jr., Ph.D. died of congestive heart failure.  He was 84 years old. 

Dr. Paffenbarger grabbed national attention for his work on the College Alumni Health Study and for leading the study on death from coronary heart disease and stroke among San Francisco Bay Area longshoremen.  Among longshoremen, the study showed that workers with more sedentary jobs had higher death rates due to coronary heart disease compared to workers who were more active (e.g., cargo handlers).

In 1960, Dr. Paffenbarger started the College Alumni Health study to identify causes and predictors for chronic diseases that were, at that time, largely unknown.  One of the key findings of this study was the protective effect of exercise even if it was established later in life.  For instance, Dr. Paffenbarger and his team of researchers found that alumni who might have been characterized as lazy when in college had a lower risk of developing coronary heart disease if they started exercising regularly later in life.  Their risk was lower compared to the college “jocks” or intramural players who became less active as they aged.  This finding was true for all age groups that were studied.

Dr. Paffenbarger’s work was a precursor to the development of the 1996 Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/sgr/contents.htm) and to the development of the American College of Sports Medicine/ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention exercise guidelines issued that same year.   

Debbie Young, Ph.D., professor at the University of Maryland and chair of the PCPFS Science Board noted, “Dr. Paffenbarger was a gifted researcher who was one of the first to establish a causal link between physical inactivity and increased risk of mortality.  He was also a kind man who delighted in the success of young researchers.  We will all miss him—as a colleague, friend, and mentor.”

Dr. Paffenbarger is survived by his wife, JoAnn and four children.

What's New at HHS

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
“Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” is an initiative that offers information about concussions—a type of traumatic brain injury—to coaches, parents, and athletes involved in youth sports.  It provides vital information on preventing, recognizing, and responding to a suspected concussion to help ensure the health and safety of young athletes.

As many as 3.8 million sports- and recreation-related concussions are estimated to occur in the United States each year. 

The “Heads Up: Concussion in Youth Sports” tool kit contains:

• Fact sheet for coaches on concussion;
• Fact sheet for athletes on concussion;
• Fact sheet for parents on concussion;
• Clipboard with concussion facts for coaches;
• Magnet with concussion facts for coaches and parents;
• Poster with concussion facts for coaches and sports administrators; and
• Quiz for coaches, athletes, and parents to test their concussion knowledge.

The tool kit can be ordered or downloaded at this link (http://www.cdc.gov/ConcussionInYouthSports/).

Get more detailed information about concussions and traumatic brain injury (http://www.cdc.gov/injury).

The CDC released Advancing the Nation’s Health: A Guide to Public Health Research Needs, 2006-2015 (http://www.cdc.gov/OD/science/PHResearch/cdcra/index.htm).  The document highlights critical research areas that should be addressed within the next decade by the CDC and its partners.  The chapter, “Promote Health to Reduce Chronic Diseases and Disability,” which begins on page 45, includes references to healthy behaviors such as physical activity. Download the document and review information pertinent to this effort here.

The CDC’s Behavioral Surveillance Branch in the Division of Adult and Community Health released the 2006 SMART BRFSS data and prevalence tables (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/brfss-smart/index.asp) and the BRFSS maps (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/gisbrfss/default.aspx).

SMART BRFSS (Selected Metropolitan/Micropolitan Area Risk Trends from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System) includes data from 2002 through 2006, with prevalence estimates for over 170 metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas (MMSAs), as well as many counties within those areas.

The Web site includes pre-set Quick View charts which compare county, MMSA, and state data for seven select risk factors in an easy-to-print PDF format.  One of the featured risk factors is a question asking respondents if they participated in any leisure-time exercise or physical activity in the past 30 days. 

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)

Bright Futures for women's health and wellness young women's physical activity and healthy eating guide and wallet card are now available free of charge from the HRSA Information Center (1-888-ASK-HRSA) and online (http://www.hrsa.gov/womenshealth/mybrightfuture/menu.html). Provider tools have also been updated.  Get all of the Bright Futures materials (community resources and information for adult women) (http://www.hrsa.gov/womenshealth).

National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Diabetes Education Program
Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel is a comprehensive guide to empower school personnel, parents, and students to create a safe learning environment and equal access to educational opportunities for all students with diabetes.

NDEP’s School Guide contains user-friendly tools, copier-ready action plans, a diabetes primer, and a review of school responsibilities under federal laws.  Developed in response to problems faced by students with diabetes, their parents, and school personnel, the guide addresses typical problems such as students who have no one to help them with daily diabetes care tasks (such as checking blood glucose levels or administering insulin) or what to do during a diabetes emergency.

For a free copy of the National Diabetes Education Program’s Helping the Student with Diabetes Succeed: A Guide for School Personnel, visit NDEP's Web site (http://www.ndep.nih.gov/) and click on “Resources for Health, Education, and Business Professionals” and then select the link for “School Personnel.”  You can also call 1-800-438-5383.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
View the redesigned Prevention Report (PDF) (http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/Volume21/Iss4Vol21.pdf), a quarterly publication for public health professionals that provides updates on prevention programs, services, and information developed by HHS and its stakeholders.

Subscribe to receive the Prevention Report electronically (http://odphp.osophs.dhhs.gov/pubs/prevrpt/SignUp/default.asp).

And elsewhere…

Get Outdoors USA!
Get Outdoors USA! (http://www.getoutdoorsusa.org/) is a campaign to encourage kids (and families) to engage in outdoor activities on the nation’s public lands and waters.  The campaign, lead by the American Recreation Coalition (http://www.funoutdoors.com/) and the Coleman Company (http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/newsrelease.asp?releasenum=421), seeks to bring public and private partners together to promote outdoor recreational activities among children in an effort to turn the tide on the increasing prevalence of overweight and obesity.  One of the initial resources of the campaign is the release of 10 Ways to Unlock the Fun of the Great Outdoors with Your Kids this Fall (http://www.getoutdoorsusa.org/news/10things.html), a list of activities children, parents, and grandparents can do in the great outdoors!

Outdoor Industry Foundation (OIF)
OIF (http://www.outdoorindustryfoundation.org/) released The Next Generation of Outdoor Participants Report-2007 (http://www.outdoorindustryfoundation.org/resources.research.nextgeneration.html), a result of responses to an on-line survey among Americans aged six and older regarding their participation in 114 outdoor and recreational activities. 

Trust for America’s Health (TFAH)
TFAH (http://healthyamericans.org/) released F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 (http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2007/).  The report provides an update of State obesity and overweight rates, along with physical inactivity, diabetes and hypertension rates among adults. The report also examines a range of Federal and State policies designed to address obesity and provides assessments of different approaches and strategies successful in reducing obesity that were conducted in various community-settings.

El Paso Takes Physical Activity to the Streets
In May 2007, El Paso, Texas made history becoming one of the first American cities to take the parks to the streets with Ciclovia.  Ciclovia is a temporary urban space of public streets closed to motor vehicles that allows pedestrians, cyclists, rollerbladers and walkers to experience the outdoors through free movement on a road that is usually congested with automobile traffic.  It is different than a race, parade, trail or bike lane. 

El Paso City Leadership developed Ciclovia as a response to quality of life issues facing the community.  El Paso struggles with severe poverty.  Downtown and South Central El Paso are among the poorest neighborhoods in the United States. (US Census Data)  Additionally, El Pasoans suffer from obesity and diabetes in remarkably high rates.  Nearly 68% of El Paso women and 77% percent of El Paso men are obese and over 10% of the population has diabetes.  (Pan American Health Organization)  Furthermore, El Paso is experiencing severe declines in outdoor recreation.  El Paso only has 25% of the parkland that the average US city its size has.  The majority of El Pasoans live more than half a mile from their nearest park. (Halff and Associates)

City Representative Beto O’Rourke saw Ciclovia as the perfect project to provide free outdoor recreation to an underserved portion of the community.  His office teamed up with City of El Paso Lead Planner, Chuck Kooshian, to pilot the program.  O’Rourke collected nearly $100,000 dollars in private sector donations to bring Ciclovia to El Paso every Sunday in May. Over 5,000 people took part in El Paso’s Ciclovia- not including all the 4-legged participants.

Community fitness is a hot topic throughout the United States because of the physical health benefits and the dialogue it encourages among neighbors.  Ciclovia is a perfect example of the social benefits of outdoor recreation. “People got to meet their neighbors and make new friends,” Ciclovia Coordinator, Shamori Whitt, said.  “At the beginning of Ciclovia, people were walking by themselves.  By the end, they were in groups.”