HEARTS N’ PARKS PROGRAM CONTINUES TO HELP
PARTICIPANTS OF ALL AGES ADOPT HEART-HEALTHY BEHAVIORS
National community-based program focuses
on choosing heart-healthy foods and increasing physical
activity to reduce obesity and risk of heart disease
From eating more heart-healthy foods to being more
physically active, participants in Hearts N’
Parks programs across the country report significant
improvements in what they know, think, and do about
heart-healthy eating and physical activity, according
to the 2003 performance report. A collaboration between
the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA)
and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
(NHLBI) of the National Institutes of Health, Hearts
N’ Parks is a community-based program to reduce
the growing trend of obesity and to lower the risk
of coronary heart disease in the United States.
The performance report compares the scores of pre-test
and post-test questionnaires completed by 2,800 participants
from 48 Hearts N’ Parks sites (Magnet Centers)
across the country. For example, when asked whether
they choose healthier foods over less healthy foods,
children’s scores improved 14 percent, and adolescents’
scores increased by 15 percent. Furthermore, although
all age groups reported increasing their physical
activity levels, adults significantly improved by
15 percent; adults also reported reducing the number
of hours in a week spent being sedentary, such as
watching TV, by 2 to 4 hours.
“While obesity is clearly a national issue, the
solution lies at the local level,” says John
Thorner, NRPA executive director. “Community
park and recreation systems play a vital role in delivering
both education and public places for citizens to pursue
healthier lifestyles.”
NHLBI Acting Director Dr. Barbara Alving lauded the
partnership between the two organizations. “The
results of the Hearts N’ Parks program show
that when science-based public health agencies such
as NHLBI work closely with community-based organizations
such as park and recreation departments, we really
can have a positive impact.”
The impact of Hearts N’ Parks expanded significantly
during 2003: the number of participants more than
doubled (up from 1200 in 2002) as did the number of
programs (142 programs in 2003, compared to 68 in
2002). In addition, Magnet Centers significantly increased
participation by adolescents, adult males, and Hispanics
-- groups that traditionally are less likely to participate
in recreation programs.
Because the activities are offered as part of local
park and recreation programs such as summer day camps,
after-school and senior programs, they are readily
accessible to community members. NHLBI provides science-based
educational materials about lifestyle choices that
can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, such
as developing healthier eating habits and participating
in regular physical activity. For the second year,
more than 50 Hearts N’ Parks Magnet Centers
in 11 states are part of the program.
Additional performance results include:
- Children learned to identify healthy foods and
reported being more willing to choose healthier
foods over less healthy foods. On average, post-test
scores from 1,735 children increased 26 percent
for heart-healthy eating knowledge; 15 percent
for heart-healthy eating intention. Children also
increased their interest in various forms of physical
activity.
- Hearts N’ Parks programs for adolescents
expanded in 2003. Data from nearly 370 teens (up
from 93 teens in 2002) indicate significant improvements
in heart-healthy eating knowledge and attitude,
and overweight/obesity knowledge and attitude.
- Adult participants significantly improved their
knowledge of heart-healthy eating, overweight
and obesity health risks, proper ways to engage
in regular physical activity, causes of high blood
pressure, and ways to control blood cholesterol
levels. They also improved their heart-healthy
eating behavior and attitude toward heart-healthy
eating, overweight and obesity, and physical activity.
Dr. Alving adds, “We applaud the commitment of
NRPA and its members to increasing public awareness
about the need to eat healthy, participate in regular
physical activity, and maintain a healthy weight --
and to empowering individuals of all ages to adopt
these behaviors to lower their risk of obesity and
heart disease.”
The complete report of 2003 Hearts N’ Parks Magnet
Center Performance Data can be found on NRPA’s
website at www.nrpa.org (click on Programs &
Partnerships, Magnet Centers, Hearts N’ Parks)
and on the NHLBI
Web site at www.nhlbi.nih.gov (click on Networks
and Outreach, Hearts N’ Parks).
Hearts N’ Parks Magnet Centers are located in
the following locations:
- Arizona - Glendale, Phoenix, Sierra Vista;
- Florida - Largo, Lee County, Oldsmar, Tallahassee,
Tamarac;
- Georgia - Athens, Roswell, Savannah;
- Illinois - Decatur, Homewood, Rockford, Urbana;
- Indiana - Bloomington, Fort Wayne, Gary, Indianapolis,
Lafayette, South Bend;
- Maryland – Baltimore, Howard County, Montgomery
County, Prince George’s County, Queen Anne’s
County;
- Michigan – Adrian, Meridian Township, Monroe,
Muskegon;
- Missouri – Jefferson City, Kansas City,
Poplar Bluff, Rolla, Springfield, St. Louis County;
- Nevada – Henderson, Las Vegas, Reno;
- New Mexico – Albuquerque, Las Cruces, Rio
Rancho, Roswell;
- Ohio – Bowling Green, Elyria, Greene County.
Magnet Centers are also located in the following Marine
Corps. bases: Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii; Camp Pendleton,
California; Beaufort, South Carolina; and Cherry Point
and Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. A map of Magnet
Centers, with links to program descriptions, is also
available on the Hearts
N’ Parks Website (http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/prof/heart/obesity/hrt_n_pk/hnp_map.htm).
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
is part of the National Institutes of Health, the
Federal Government's primary agency for biomedical
and behavioral research and a component of the U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. NHLBI leads
the national research program in diseases of the heart,
blood vessels, lung, and blood; blood resources; and
sleep disorders. The NHLBI also conducts educational
activities for health professionals and the public
in these and related areas, including overweight and
obesity. Hearts N’ Parks is a program of the
NHLBI Obesity Education Initiative, established in
1991 to help reduce the prevalence of overweight,
obesity, and physical inactivity in order to lower
the risk, and overall morbidity and mortality from
heart disease and other conditions such as Type 2
diabetes and sleep apnea. For more information, visit
www.nhlbi.nih.gov.
National Recreation and Park Association
is a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated
to advancing park, recreation and conservation efforts
that enhance the quality of life for all Americans.
Through its network of 23,000 recreation and park
professionals and civic leaders, NRPA encourages the
promotion of healthy lifestyles, recreation initiatives
for youths in high-risk environments, and conservation
of natural and cultural resources. Headquartered in
Ashburn,Virginia, NRPA works closely with local, state
and national recreation and park agencies, citizen
groups and corporations in carrying out its objectives.
Priorities include advocating favorable legislation
and public policy, continuing education for park and
recreation professionals and citizens, professional
certification and university accreditation, increasing
public awareness of the importance of parks and recreation,
research and technical assistance. For more information,
visit www.nrpa.org.
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