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Health Promotion Research: Research Areas

Physical Activity



Physical activity has been linked to decreased risks of various cancers and improved physical and emotional functioning among cancer survivors, whereas sedentary lifestyle has been associated with increased risk and poorer prognosis for various cancers. Thus, better understanding and improving physical activity behavior in the U.S. population are major goals of the Health Promotion Research Branch. Research topics relevant to the HPRB portfolio include: physical activity interventions and programs, behavioral assessment of physical activity and/or sedentary activity, physiological assessment of physical activity (e.g., physiological fitness), mechanisms of physical activity behavior change, multiple health behaviors associated with exercise, information technology and physical activity, environmental aspects of physical activity, policy and physical activity, and genetic aspects of physical activity and physical fitness.

In 2008, HHS released of the first HHS Federal Physical Activity Guidelines (please visit http://www.health.gov/paguidelines). These guidelines provide not only recommendations for participants, but also identify research and dissemination areas of interest. Towards the end of furthering physical activity and health promotion research, there are currently 52 active NIH PAs and RFAs targeting physical activity/exercise research and training in FY2009. The NCI is the primary sponsor on approximately a quarter of those announcements and a co-sponsor on approximately 65% of the announcements.

Contact:
Audie Atienza, PhD
atienzaa@mail.nih.gov

Frank M. Perna, EdD, PhD
pernafm@mail.nih.gov

View all Health Promotion Funding Opportunities

Projects

Major Initiative: Mechanisms of Physical Activity Behavior Change (RFA CA-04-009)
http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/rfa-files/RFA-CA-04-009.html
Co-sponsors: NCI, NIDDK, OBSSR, ORWH

The purpose of this RFA is to increase the knowledge base necessary to develop effective physical activity interventions in children, adolescents, adults, and older adults. Specifically, this RFA seeks to elucidate the psychosocial, environmental, and physiological factors involved in the mechanisms of physical activity behavior change to better understand the factors involved in the causal pathways that lead to physical activity behavior change.

Ten (10) grants were funded under this RFA: 3 R21s, 7 R01s
http://maps.cancer.gov/overview/map/initiative/index.jsp

Dr. Amanda Birnbaum: R21 CA109846
Montclair State University in New Jersey
Title: Involving adolescents in physical activity promotion

Dr. Yvonne L. Michael: R21 CA109920
Oregon Health & Science University
Title: Environmental influences on change in elderly walking

Dr. Heather Patrick: R21 CA109961
University of Rochester
Title: On the move: A self-determination exercise intervention

Dr. Aaron Deborah (Dr. Robert Robertson): R01 CA109895
University of Pittsburgh
Title: Psycho-physiological influences on physical activity

Dr. Karen Basen-Engquist: R01 CA109919
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Social Cognitive
Title: Theory and physical activity after endometrial cancer

Dr. Angela Bryan: R01 CA109858
University of Colorado at Boulder
Title: Mediators and moderators of exercise behavior change

Dr. Kelly R. Evenson: R01 CA109804
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Title: Understanding change in physical activity postpartum

Dr. Claudio R. Nigg: R01 CA109941
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Title: Testing the Transtheoretical model of behavior change

Drs. Barry M. Popkin/Penny Gordon-Larsen: R01 CA109831
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Title: Young adult environmental and physical activity dynamics

Dr. Paul A. Estabrooks: R01 DK070553
Kaiser Foundation Research Institute
Title: Individual and environmental mechanisms of physical activity change

Reports and Publications

Special Journal Issue forthcoming: Psychology of Sport and Exercise

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Last Updated: April 20, 2009

 

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