Friday, October 27, 11:00
a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Moderator
Melissa Johnson, M.S.
Executive Director, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports,
Office of the Secretary
Presentations
WOMAN CHALLENGE: EFFECTIVELY PROMOTING HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Michelle D. Hoersch, M.S.; Angeline Widmer, M.P.H., M.B.A.; Amy Dolgin; Lesley J. Craig
Office on Women's Health – Region V, Chicago, Illinois
An estimated 127 million American adults, 64.5 percent of the adult population, are overweight or
obese. More than 9 million children and teens, age 6 to 19, are considered overweight. Research
has demonstrated that small improvements in nutrition and physical activity, especially
pedometer-based walking programs, can significantly improve health.
Responding to this national epidemic, the Office on Women's Health in the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services – Region V created and implemented the W.O.W. (Women and Girls
Out Walking) Challenge, a regional pedometer-based physical activity challenge in 2004 and
2005. Launched on Mothers' Day to kick off National Women's Health Week 2006, this year's
expanded program, the WOMAN Challenge (Women and Girls On the Move Across the Nation),
encourages women and girls to increase their physical activity as part of a healthy lifestyle.
The first 6,500 participants were provided a free pedometer. Furthermore, to be inclusive of
those with mobility impairments, 138 arm-band pedometers were provided to people with disabilities.
Participants also received a tracking log, motivational emails, and age-appropriate health
information on nutrition, physical activity, disease prevention, and health promotion. The
Challenge is free and operates through an interactive Web site, enabling participants to track
their progress on one of six virtual routes. To date, more than 17,600 women and girls have
registered for the 2006 Challenge.
Based on previous years' successes, it is anticipated that data analysis of the 2006 Challenge,
once completed, will demonstrate an increase in physical activity by participants and success
in achieving physical activity goals. In addition, the evaluators will evaluate the Challenge
using the participant feedback, overwhelmingly positive, received throughout the program. The
National Prevention Summit provides a valuable opportunity for sharing the successes of the
WOMAN Challenge, and tools for adapting and replicating it in diverse settings to assist
people in achieving healthy lifestyles.
PEOPLE AND PETS EXERCISING TOGETHER (PPET): THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOW OWNERS REPORTED
THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE AND THAT OF THEIR DOGS DURING WEIGHT LOSS
Dennis E. Jewell, Ph.D.1; Robert F. Kushner, M.D.2,3
1Hill's Pet Nutrition, Topeka, KS;
2Northwestern University Feinberg School of
Medicine, Chicago, IL;
3Wellness Institute, Chicago, IL
It was hypothesized that pairing overweight owners with their overweight pets in a
combined weight loss program would be more effective than treating them individually.
This component of the study investigated how owners perceived their own quality of life
(QOL) and that of their pets in this weight loss program.
To participate, dogs had to be at least 20 percent over ideal body weight. Owners losing
weight had to have a body mass index greater than 25. One study group contained 35 dogs
whose overweight owners also participated in a weight loss program (PPET group). The
dog-only (DO) group consisted of 53 dogs whose owners did not participate in a weight
loss program. The success of the pet in losing weight and the owner's view of the pet's QOL were compared to a self-reported evaluation of the owner's QOL. The QOL of the owner
and pet were evaluated by the owners rating their dogs and their own change in QOL using
a 7-point scale.
Pets and owners were successful in losing weight and keeping it off for 12 months.
Among completers, owners lost an average of 5.5 percent and dogs 15.9 percent of initial
body weight. Both the owners in the PPET and the DO groups reported improvement in their
QOL and their pets, although the PPET group reported a greater improvement in their QOL
(p < 0.05). The owners self-reported change in their own QOL was correlated (p < 0.05)
to the change in the pet's QOL, change in pet mobility, and change in exercise time.
The combined dog/owner weight loss program was found to be an effective approach for
both participants. This study shows the positive relationship the owners developed with
their pets as well as the benefit to the pet in being a partner during weight loss.
GET FIT WITH US
Kristen Nelson, M.S.
National Forest Service, Washington, DC
The National Forest Service is using Get Fit With US as a communication campaign to
promote outdoor recreation as a natural and fun solution to inactivity and obesity.
Research suggests that the greatest potential to increase physical activity is through
leisure activities and contact with nature. Children who have positive outdoor
experiences are more likely to adopt a recreation activity and maintain it over their
lifetime. Get Fit With US projects introduce youth to outdoor recreation, using concepts from
A Guide for Community Action and other research. Get Fit With US represents a new
approach for the National Forest Service to engage local communities. For example, in
Salt Lake City, a project conducted by the National Forest Service and partners provides
snowshoeing experiences during a winter ecology field trip for Hispanic fourth graders.
This presentation will (1) highlight the diverse recreation opportunities and the
important role they play in promoting health; (2) identify partnerships between various
sectors; (3) expand the definition of "exercise" to include outdoor recreation
activities; and (4) heighten environmental stewardship of public lands through active volunteerism.
MOTIVATING TOWARD HEALTHY LIVING
Margaret C. Rivello, M.B.A.
Chester County Health Department, West Chester, PA
Activate Chester County, a collaborative effort committed to fostering healthy lifestyles by
changing the culture and environment within Chester County, Pennsylvania, is working to educate
and empower residents to move more, eat smart, and create supportive environments. A 15-person
steering committee and eight grassroots, community-based groups are guiding the initiative and
are committed to making physical activity an integral part of every resident's daily routine.
This presentation will provide an overview of Activate Chester County since its inception and
outline the events held to promote increased physical activity and the adoption of healthy lifestyles.
Events included two countywide summits; a "Super" Steps walking challenge involving
the superintendents from the county's 12 school districts; an interactive Web site where residents
can track their activity, earn prizes, and find health events in their communities; technical
assistance to local businesses to show them how to help their employees increase their physical
activity; an elected official Steps challenge; a countywide walking event during America on the
Move Week; presentations to business and civic groups; and the promotion of partners' packages
to get non-profit agencies, ad hoc groups, families, and businesses to pledge to live more active
lifestyles. Activate Chester County also is recognized by the YMCA as a Pioneering Healthy Communities site.
For questions or more information, please contact
summit@hhs.gov.
