Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Validation Of A Commercial Geographical Information Systems Database Of Walking And Bicycling Destinations, Heather A. Whitcomb, Ellen K. Cromley, Kosuke Tamura, Steven J. Melly, Sayali Kale, Francine Laden, Peter James, Robin Puett, Eran Ben-Joseph, Philip J. Troped

GIS Day

Background: Recent interdisciplinary studies in public health, transportation, and urban planning have shown that stores and other destinations such as banks, post offices, and physical activity facilities within close proximity to residences are positively related to recreational and transportation physical activity. The built environment has been measured several different ways, including conducting field audits and by surveying individuals’ perceptions of their neighborhood. Increasingly researchers are also using geographic information systems (GIS) software and commercially available data sources to create objective measures of the built environment. The advantages of commercial data are that they are relatively easy to access and are …

Appropriate Practices In College/University Physical Activity Instructional Programs, Bridget F. Melton, Michele M. Sweeney, Jared A. Russel, Carrie L. Moore

Community Health Faculty Presentations

This session will introduce the audience to a new NASPE document that supports basic instructional programming at the college and university level. Based on NASPE’s former K-12 Appropriate Practice documents, this document will serve as an advocacy document for the importance of quality programming at the college/university level. Come and preview this new document!

A Community-School District-University Partnership For Assessing Physical Activity Of “Tweens”, Robert J. Mcdermott, Jen Nickelson, Julie A. Baldwin, Carol A. Bryant, Moya L. Alfonso, Leah M. Phillips, Rita D. Debate

Moya L. Alfonso

Introduction: Obesity among youth is related to a decline in physical activity, and data on physical activity levels among children in elementary and middle schools are limited.
Methods: We leveraged a community–school district–university partnership in Sarasota County, Florida, in May of 2005 to assess physical activity levels among tweens (youth aged 9-13 years) and to measure the relationship between tweens’ awareness of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s VERB program and participation in physical activity, using a minimally obtrusive survey. After surveying participating schools (4 elementary schools and 3 middle schools), we obtained 1,407 responses from children in grades …

Physical Activity And Executive Function In Aging: The Mobilize Boston Study, Suzanne G. Leveille, Laura H.P. Eggermont

Suzanne G. Leveille

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between

physical activity and cognition, specifically executive function, and the possible mediating role of factors such as cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD risk factors, chronic

pain, and depressive symptoms.

DESIGN: Cross-sectional study.

SETTING: Population-based study of individuals aged 70 and older in the Boston area.

PARTICIPANTS: Older community-dwelling adults (n5

544; mean age 78, 62% female).

MEASUREMENTS: Presence of heart disease (self-reported

physician diagnosed), pain, and depressive symptomatology

were assessed using interviewer-administered questions.

Blood pressure was measured. Engagement in physical activity was determined using the Physical Activity Scale for

the Elderly (PASE). Cognitive function was …