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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

During the first few weeks of the Council’s 50th anniversary year, I have been reflecting on where we have been and where we would like to go as we begin a new era in our history.

In 1956, the mission of the first Council was to promote fitness for children as the President’s Council on Youth Fitness. Over the past 50 years, our mission has evolved to encompass all Americans as well as physical activity and sports. While it is important to encourage physical activity and fitness for Americans of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities, I believe that it is also important to remember our early roots and continue to stress the importance of physical activity and fitness for young people. As rates of childhood overweight and obesity continue to grow, it is essential to encourage our youth to find activities they enjoy beginning at an early age and to develop active habits to last a lifetime. Fifty years after the founding of the Council, our work is more important than ever. We know that work in the field of physical activity and fitness promotion and research needs to continue. Playing outdoors or building forts in the family room has been replaced by the opportunity to sit at the computer or in front of the television. What was once a short walk to school may be a long drive across town or a short drive in the car to a school that is just around the corner. We must promote physical activity for American youth and encourage all young people to find activities they love and will, subsequently, choose to do often.

We continue to put our health and fitness spotlight on special populations. On February 1, our vice-chair, Dr. Dot Richardson, testified (http://www.fitness.gov/speeches-richardsontestimony-02.01.06.htm) on Capitol Hill before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation on the Promotion and Advancement of Women in Sports. She talked about her experiences as a young girl struggling to find a sports team and the role of athletics in her life. We cannot overestimate the positive impact participation in sports and other activities can have on a young girl’s life, and I want to be sure that we stress this important topic in our future work.

As Dr. Doris Corbett’s article (http://www.fitness.gov/enewsletter/Winter06_sciencenotes.htm) outlines in this issue of our E-newsletter, we remain particularly challenged by health disparities in our nation, including the lack of regular participation in physical activity among African American girls and women. While the health implications of physical inactivity are great among every population, there is reason to be particularly concerned about what this is doing to this specific group of females.

As always, we are fortunate to be working with a group of outstanding partners as we strive to activate Americans. We are utilizing the occasion of our 50th Anniversary to honor the work of our partners during our first fifty years and to reach out to new 50th Anniversary Partners to Get America Moving (http://www.fitness.gov/50thanniversary/50th_partners_pages/50th_partners_list_alphabetical.htm). We call on individuals, groups and organizations in both the public and private sectors to join us in urging America to get moving for health.

Let the good work continue!

Melissa Johnson

Council Members' Activities

Vice Chair Dot Richardson, accompanied by PCPFS executive director Melissa Johnson, testified (http://www.fitness.gov/speeches-richardsontestimony-02.01.06.htm) on February 1, 2006, before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. During the full committee hearing on "Promotion and Advancement of Women in Sports," Richardson gave a riveting account of her early difficulties finding a team where a young female athlete could develop the talent that ultimately led her to win an Olympic gold medal in softball in 1996.

Derek Parra represents the United States at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Tornino, Italy, where he competed on February 21 in the 1500 meter long track speedskating event.

Katherine Cosgrove, will represent PCPFS, at Pittsburg University (Pittsburg, Kansas), where she will speak to the Health and Nursing department about the importance of physical activity for health and the President’s Challenge program.

Featured Activity: Paralympic Alpine and Nordic Skiing

The Olympic Creed states: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered but to have fought well." There are few athletes who better embody that message than the athletes of the 2006 Paralympics.

Don’t let the disability fool you; the athletes of the Winter Paralympics are just as competitive as able-bodied athletes. In the case of alpine skiing, they ski with the same speed as their Olympic counterparts.

Paralympic athletes are classified according to their disability: standing, sitting, and visually impaired. In alpine skiing, Paralympic athletes compete in the same events as those featured in the Olympics—the downhill, super-G, slalom, and giant slalom.

Ralph Green is a member of the alpine ski team. He competes in the super-G, slalom and giant slalom. He lost his leg a little more than a decade ago when, at the age of 16, he was shot while walking down the street with a friend in Brooklyn, NY. A year after his leg was amputated, he was introduced to skiing. A multi-sport athlete in high school (in addition to being the quarterback, he played baseball, basketball, tennis, and ran track), Green never lost his competitive spirit. Determined to excel at something, he went to Winter Park, Colorado, in 2000 to focus on skiing.

Green is a standing athlete who uses special poles when skiing. Sitting athletes compete with a monoski and specially designed poles. In the Nordic events, standing athletes use a prosthetic and sitting athletes use a sit ski, which has two “runners.” In both the alpine and Nordic events, athletes who are visually impaired compete with the help of a guide who also receives a medal.

Candace Cable is a sit skier who competes in middle and short distance Nordic events. Torino will be her fifth appearance at a winter Paralympics. Paralyzed after being hit by a car, she started her Paralympic career in alpine skiing. During the summer months, she built her strength and endurance competing in wheelchair marathons and triathlons (she competed at the Hawaii Ironman Triathlon in 2004 at the age of 50!).

As you watch these Paralympic winter games and read or hear about the athletes and their stories, we hope you will be inspired to challenge yourself to reach your own fitness, physical activity and sports goals.

Click here (http://www.paralympicgames.torino2006.org/ENG/ParalympicGames/home/index.html) to read more about the 2006 Paralympic Winter Games, which take place March 10-19 in Torino, Italy.

Mark Your Calendar

APRIL
11-14: ACSM Health and Fitness Summit (http://www.acsm.org/meetings/summit.htm)
17-20: International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health (http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/ICPAPH/index.htm)
23-29: National Volunteer Week (http://www.pointsoflight.org/programs/seasons/nvw/)
24-25: National Association for Health & Fitness 2006 National Conference (http://www.physicalfitness.org/)
25-29: AAHPERD National Convention (http://www.aahperd.org/convention/)
29-May 6: National SAFE KIDS Week (http://www.usa.safekids.org/tier2_rl.cfm?folder_id=3125)

MAY
National Physical Fitness and Sports Month (http://www.fitness.gov/)
National Bike Month (http://www.bikemonth.org/)
3: Project ACES Day (http://www.lensaunders.com/aces/aces.html)
12: National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day (http://www.fmaware.org/may12.htm)
13: Tennis Across America (http://uspta.com/index.cfm?MenuItemID=1648&MenuSubID=312&MenuGroup=New-USPTA-TennisA-Z)
14-20: National Women’s Health Week (http://www.4woman.gov/whw/)
15-19: Bike to Work Week (http://www.bikemonth.org/)
17: National Employee Health and Fitness Day (http://www.physicalfitness.org/nehf.html)
17-18: IHRSA Legislative Summit (http://cms.ihrsa.org/IHRSA/viewPage.cfm?pageId=1097)
19: Bike to Work Day (http://www.bikemonth.org/)
23-26: National Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education (http://www.dhpe.org/nationalconference/default.asp)
31: National Senior Health and Fitness Day (http://www.fitnessday.com/)
31-June 3: ACSM Annual Meeting (http://www.acsm.org/meetings/annualmeeting.htm)

JUNE
Great Outdoors Month (http://www.funoutdoors.com/)
3: National Trails Day (http://www.americanhiking.org/)
7-10: IHRSA Club Industry East (http://www.clubindustryshow.com/east/)
12-18: Men’s Health Week (http://www.menshealthweek.org/)

Save the Date:
October 26-28, 2006: Cooper Institute Conference Series Parks, Recreation, and Public Health: Collaborative Frameworks for Promoting Physical Activity, Dallas, TX (http://www.cooperinst.org/sciconf.asp)

Grant Applications
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH:

Improving Diet and Physical Activity Assessment
PAR06-104
New Applications Due: June 1, 2006; February 1, 2007; October 1, 2007; June 1, 2008; February 1, 2009 (alternating standard receipt dates)
Application Submission Dates (amended/revised; competing renewal applications): July 1, 2006; March 1, 2007; November 1, 2007; July 1, 2008; March 1, 2009
Peer Review Date(s): October-November 2006, June-July 2007, February-March 2008, October-November 2008; June-July 2009
Council Review Date(s): January 2007; October 2007, May 2008; January 2009; October 2009
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: April 2007; December 2007; July 2008; April 2009; December 2009

Community-Responsive Interventions to Reduce Cardiovascular Risk in American Indians and Alaska Natives
RFA-HL-06-002
Letters of Intent Receipt Date(s): February 10, 2006
Application Receipt Dates(s): March 10, 2006  
Peer Review Date(s): June-July 2006
Council Review Date(s): August 2006
Earliest Anticipated Start Date: September 1, 2006  
Additional Information To Be Available Date (URL Activation Date): Not applicable.
Expiration Date: March 11, 2006

Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents
(R01) PA-06-097
Closing Date(s) for Application: February 1, 2006, June 1, 2006, October 1, 2006
Peer/Council Review
Earliest Start Date(s): December, 2006; April, 2007; July, 2007

Parenting Capacities and Health Outcomes in Youths and Adolescents
(R21) PA-06-098
Closing Date(s) for Application: February 1, 2006, June 1, 2006, October 1, 2006
Peer/Council Review
Earliest Start Date(s): December, 2006; April, 2007, July, 2007

NATIONAL COUNCIL ON DISABILITY:

Improving Educational Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
NCD-06-02
Closing Date for Applications May 1, 2006

ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION:

The Healthy Schools Program is an initiative of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  The program, which received a grant from RWJF, will set standards for schools, help schools meet those standards, and recognize and reward those schools that meet the standards. The standards will include goals to improve the nutritional value of food served in and out of cafeterias; increase physical activity during and after the school day; implement classroom lessons on healthy lifestyles; and develop programs for staff wellness.

All schools will be eligible to apply; however, in the first year of the program, the Alliance expects to focus on 300 schools in about 12 states with emphasis on schools with limited means.

Applications for the program will be available beginning July 1, 2006, at www.healthiergeneration.org or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.

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

President's Challenge Report*

Registered individuals: 286,025
Number of groups: 17,930
Fitness File Groups: 12,979
Top activities (ranked by points): 1. Walking, 2. Running, 3. Biking
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award: 35,241
Presidential Champions Bronze award (20,000 points): 24,330
Silver (45,000 points): 11,443
Gold (80,000 points): 6,250
Advanced Performance Bronze (40,000 points): 6,022
Advanced Performance Silver (90,000 points): 3,134
Advanced Performance Gold (160,000 points): 1,878
Remember: You're it, Get fit!

*Numbers current as of January, 2006

Science Board News and Notes

The PCPFS is pleased to announce Barbara Ainsworth, Ph.D., San Diego State University, Maureen Weiss, Ph.D., University of Virginia, and Weimo Zhu, Ph.D., University of Illinois as the newest members of the PCPFS Science Board. Read more about these and the other members of the Science Board.

Former Science Board member and chairman, Chuck Corbin, Ph.D., FACSM, will be speaking at the ACSM Health and Fitness Summit. Dr. Corbin will speak at a special pre-conference session on “Innovations in PE: Collaborative Opportunities for Health/Fitness Professionals.” His conference presentation, “What Every Professional Needs to Know about Physical Activity for Youth,” will look at creative programming and collaborations professionals can undertake to get our nation’s youth moving. The ACSM Health and Fitness Summit will take place April 11-14 at the Buena Vista Resort in Orlando, FL.

Physical Activity
Challenges Facing African-American Girls and Women

Dr. Doris R. Corbett, Sport Sociologist
Dr. Denyce Calloway, Health Educator
Howard University
Washington, DC

African American girls and women are at high risk for developing health conditions related to a sedentary lifestyle, especially overweight and obesity. Because of their increased susceptibility, African American girls and women should be targeted as a key audience to receive health messages that stress the benefits of active living and encourage regular, preferably daily, participation in  physical activity. 

Based on the National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey ( NHANES, 1999-2000),  77.7% of African American women between the ages of 20-74 surveyed  were overweight compared to 57.2 % of white women in the same age group. About half (50.4%) of the African American women aged 20-74 were obese compared to 30.4% of white women.

Physical activity is bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that results in an expenditure of energy.  According to Physical Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General (1996), engaging in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on 5 or more days a week has significant health benefits for adults. Youth aged 6 to 17 need 60 minutes of daily activity for significant health benefits. 

The connection between regular physical activity and positive health benefits is well established. Physical activity helps build and maintain healthy bones, muscles, and joints, helps control weight, builds lean muscle, reduces fat, prevents or delays the development of high blood pressure and helps reduce blood pressure in some adolescents with hypertension.  Conversely, physical inactivity contributes to 300,000 preventable deaths a year in the United States. Some 40% of deaths in the United States are caused by behavior patterns that could be modified. A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor across the spectrum of preventable diseases that lower the quality of life and result in premature illness and death (USDHSS, 1996). 

Current Status of Physical Activity in African American Girls and Women
The limited numbers of studies that address the level of activity in different ethnic groups and by gender suggest that African American youth between the ages of 9 and 13 were less likely than white youth to participate in organized physical activity;  more African American males than females  aged 9-13 reported participating in free-time physical activity (Duke, 2003).  While there has been a slight decline in leisure time inactivity among African American women between 1994 and 2004, African American women are still more sedentary than white women  (Kruger, J. et. al., 2005; Behavior Risk Surveillance System, United States, 1994-2004). 

Barriers to Physical Activity for African-American Girls and Women
A physically inactive or sedentary lifestyle is one in which a person does  not engage in any regular pattern of physical activity beyond daily functioning (USDHSS, 1996). In the sociology of physical activity, research studies have contributed useful information about social perceptions of physicality, exercise, fitness, body ideals, and health practices specific to the African-American girl and woman.  Despite considerable evidence confirming the preventive value of physical activity, African-American girls and women report uneasiness about the dominate culture’s intentions regarding their health concerns and practices. 

Barriers to regular physical activity for both African-American girls and women  include:

• Lack of motivation, poor perception of health, lack of self-efficacy, lack of support from employers.
• Lack of time due to family responsibilities, including child care, cooking, cleaning and other household-related responsibilities.
• Lack of social support by parents, family and friends. According to The Wilson Report: Moms, Dads, Daughters and Sports  (1988), African-American girls were more likely than to have parents who believed sports were more important for boys than for girls, were more likely to feel that boys make fun of girls who play sports, and had fewer financial resources for lessons, equipment and transportation to games than their white counterparts.
• Cultural barriers to participation among African-American women may include lack of knowledge of the importance of exercise, differing value ascribed to physical activity, health problems, acceptance of larger body size and differing social norms.
• Being overweight and obese may be barriers to physical activity, and African American girls and women may not recognize their weight problem as a health condition until complications develop.  Self-consciousness about body type and tight-fitting clothing (including shoes) are impediments to engaging in various types of physical activity, such as walking.
• Socio-economic status is associated with physical activity for African-American girls and women. Economic factors seriously impede participation and may include: tiredness due to physically demanding jobs, limited access to affordable or adequate facilities, and lack of both community resources for equipment and gender-sensitive programs.
• Environmental factors influencing African-American physical activity levels include a lack of resources such as an appropriate neighborhood environment that is a safe place for girls to play. Family environment (family intimacy) was found to be significantly associated with physical activity in a sample of urban African-American adolescent girls (Kuo, J., Mekos, D., Haythornthwaite, J., and Rohm Young, D., 2003).
• African-American girls more often attend schools where the teaching of life-time physical activities in physical education classes is not a high priority.
• Schools which African-American girls often attend place greater emphasis on competitive sport than on the acquisition of physical skills for the health and fun of active participation.
• The desire to reject the dominate culture’s “white identity” leads many African-Americans to resist the practice of a healthy lifestyle that would include exercising and eating healthy foods.  Nutritional foods are often associated with being “white.”

Overcoming Obstacles to Physical Activity

Barriers to an active life-style for African-American girls and women are multi-dimensional.  What is needed is national attention and efforts to reduce the prevalence of inactivity particularly in light of the National Healthy People 2010 objectives for reducing the substantial health disparities among ethnic groups in the United States.  Reducing educational and economic disparities  could reduce both obesity and physical activity disparities. 

Ultimately, programs and policies can only accomplish so much in motivating people to become active.  It is clear that for individuals, taking the first step is difficult. Attempts to help African American women and girls gain fuller understanding of the health benefits of physical activity along with public and private sector efforts to remove barriers to physical activity for African American girls and women  are necessary. 

It is important for all girls to be encouraged to maintain the habit of physical activity throughout the school years and in adulthood.  Since the problem of over-weight and obesity among African-American girls and women is especially grave, prevention should become a public health priority for this population. Individuals and groups within the public and private sectors should join together to prepare an effective public health communications strategy to stress prevention and early treatment of overweight and obesity among African American women and girls. 

The message that needs to be targeted at and disseminated to African American girls and women is that if they are more physically active, they will be (1) less likely to develop health problems related to overweight and obesity (diabetes, heart disease); (2) have a decreased risk of heart attacks and stroke, and  (3)  are more likely to experience clear thinking and emotional well-being.

References

Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, (1999-2000).

Duke, J., Huhman, M., & Heitzler, C. (2003). Physical Activity levels among children aged 9 to 13 years: United States, 2002. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 52(33);785-788. 

Kruger, J., Ham, S.A.., and Kohl, H.W. III (2005).  Trends in leisure-time physical inactivity by age, sex, and race/ethnicity: United States, 1994- 2004. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports. 54(39);991-994. 

Kuo, J., Mekos, D., Haythornthwaite, J., and Rohm Young, D. (2003).  Associations among family and neighborhood environment with physical activity in urban adolescent girls.  Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 35(5), S65.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (1996). Physical Activity and Health: A report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta,GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Wilson Sporting Goods and the Women’s Sports Foundation (1988). The Wilson Report: Moms, Dads, Daughters and Sports.  River Grove, IL: Wilson Sporting Goods.

What's New at HHS

National Institutes of Health
The Weight-control Information Network (WIN) (http://win.niddk.nih.gov/) wants consumers to know about the availability of its materials. A targeted distribution of postcards delivered earlier this year focused on the brochure, Como Alimentarse y Mantenerse Activo Durante Toda La Vida: Consejos para la future mama (http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/index.htm#spanish). Originally developed in 2003, the brochure provides information on women’s nutritional needs during pregnancy and the benefits of physical activity for an expectant mother. A free copy can be obtained by calling 877.946.4627.

The National Cancer Institute released Theory at a Glance: A Guide for Health Promotion Practice (Second Edition) (http://www.cancer.gov/theory). The monograph can help health education professionals apply proven concepts to communications program planning and design. This version includes findings from recent health behavior research, theoretical approaches to using emerging technologies, and ideas on developing programs for diverse populations.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Updated Health-Related Quality of Life Website Now Available
http://www.cdc.gov/hrqol/ provides prevalence estimates and trend charts and updated information and documentation on related surveillance measures and resources, including several new state and community program links, validation study abstracts, and 23 new references that use or discuss the Healthy Days measures.

In January 2006, the CDC started a revamp of the 40 health hotlines, toll-free numbers, clearinghouses, and automated response systems currently available in an effort to streamline the way public health emergency and other information is conveyed to the public. CDC-INFO will use trained customer service representatives available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to answer public health questions. English and Spanish information will be available with plans to include other languages over time.

January 13, 2006 MMWR available: Overweight Among Students in Grades K-12, Arkansas, 2003-04 and 2004-05 School Years (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5501a2.htm?s_cid=mm5501a2_e).

Health Resources and Services Administration
HRSA released the publication, "The Health and Well-Being of Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation 2005." (http://www.nschdata.org/DesktopDefault.aspx) The report provides an overview of broad health characteristics for children. Data is based on the responses of parents of 102,353 children ages 0-17 given on the 2003-04 National Survey of Children’s Health. Information is presented for each state in easy-to-follow bar graphs and includes a breakdown analyses by ethnic and racial group.

Office of Public Health and Science
Dr. John Agwunobi, MD, MBA, MPH, was sworn in as the Assistant Secretary for Health on January 18, 2006. Prior to taking the post, Dr. Agwunobi served as Secretary of the Florida Department of Health for Governor Jeb Bush.

The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports held its 3rd annual sports clinic in conjunction with the SnowSports Industry of America’s (SIA) Winter Feels Good (http://www.winterfeelsgood.com/index.php) campaign.  This year’s event took place on Winter Trails Day (January 7) at Liberty, Pennsylvania (http://www.wintertrails.org/wintertrails.php?section=event&page=liberty_photos). “Winter Feels Good” promotes the health, fitness and social benefits of snow sports. The winter sports clinic at Liberty was the first official event of the 50th anniversary year of the PCPFS. Melissa Johnson, PCPFS executive director, kicked off the observance with Liberty Mountain President Eric Flynn. Participants who attended five learning stations- Snowshoeing, Dressing for Winter, Exercise and Conditioning, Nutrition/Hydration and Winter Camping and Hiking – received a Certificate of Achievement from the President’s Council.

Don’t forget, A Healthier You, is now available. A Healthier You is a one-stop, easy-to-use resource designed to help consumers make wise food and physical activity choices in order to manage weight with:

• Healthy eating patterns with a seven-day menu from the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) Eating Plan
• Ways to use the Nutrition Facts label to make healthy product choices
• Tips for eating out and when on the go
• Nearly 100 easy, healthy and tested recipes along with helpful websites
• Reproducible worksheets to track progress
• Steps for incorporating physical activity into everyday life
  Plus, the complete Dietary Guidelines for Americans, with its 41 key recommendations.

The list price for the book is $12.95. Copies can be ordered through the Government Printing Office (toll-free at 866.512.1800 or http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/healthier_you.html) or www.amazon.com and purchased at a Barnes and Noble retailer.

Outside HHS

USDA/U.S. Forest Service
In support of the U.S. Forest Service’s (http://www.fs.fed.us/) Get Fit with Us initiative, the Salt Lake Ranger District partnered with a local non-profit foundation to offer free forest snowshoe trips to schools in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest. Starting in January and running through March 2006, schools have access to free snowshoes and a guided field trip that will allow the students a hands-on opportunity to learn about the forest and the resources the forest supplies (drinking water) while observing winter wildlife tracks and habitat. The program showcases a creative way students can learn about local public lands while engaging in a fun physical activity that they may not normally do (or know how to do). It’s a perfect example of the way public lands can be used to promote the many aspects of the public’s health!

From NASPE: 101 Tips for Family Fitness Fun

A great resource available for National Physical Fitness and Sports Month and National Physical Education and Sport Week (May 1-7) from the National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) (http://www.naspeinfo.org/) and Walk4Life, Inc. (http://www.walk4life.com) The brochure serves to remind parents that children learn by example. It includes 101 suggestions for getting more physically active.

To receive a free copy of 101 Tips for Family Fitness Fun and information about bulk rate costs, email Janice Lee-Beverly of NASPE at jlee-beverly@aahperd.org.  To purchase copies, call 1-800- 321-0789.  Stock number is 304-10322.   A parents' brochure in Spanish is also available. Ask about 99 Consejos Divertidos para una Familia en Forma.