Title: A Message from the Physical Activity Special Interest Group (Status Pending)

Author:

James Konopack, PhD, PA SPIG newsletter editor, jkonopac@monmouth.edu

Section/SPIG: Food and Nutrition

Issue Date:

We know that physical inactivity is an important contributor to the risk profiles for many chronic diseases and is an independent primary risk factor for cardiovascular disease, similar to smoking and hyperlipidemia in importance. Insufficient physical activity also contributes to the risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, breast and colon cancer, and other chronic conditions. With this in mind, the APHA Physical Activity Special Interest Group (PA SPIG) is being created to link researchers, practitioners, advocates and partners to facilitate programs, environments and policies to foster regular physical activity in the population and offset the multitude of adverse effects due to sedentary living. The PA SPIG will serve as a credible and visible “home” for those engaged in the science and practice of physical activity, embracing persons from diverse backgrounds in an effort to stimulate information exchange, new policies, multi-level interventions, research collaborations, and advocacy efforts to tackle this major public health concern.

 

The PA SPIG will again host a Reception/Social and Fun Run at the 2009 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia. We also plan to have an exciting array of high-quality presentations, symposia, and other activities. Five APHA sections had specific calls for physical activity-related abstracts at the 2009 meeting:

 

Food and Nutrition Section

  • Hydration and Physical Activity
  • Interventions to Increase Physical Activity
  • Mapping Food and Physical Activity Environments

Community Health Planning and Policy Development Section

  • Effective Planning and Policy Development for Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Public Health

Geroltological Health Section

  • Physical Activity and Successful Aging

Public Health Education and Health Promotion Section

  • Obesity Prevention
  • Physical Activity

School Health Education and Services Section

  • Fitness Issues and Programs for Schools and Colleges
  • Promotion of Physical Activity in School
  • Obesity Prevention
  • Safe Routes to School

We hope you can join us in Philadelphia!

If you are interested in joining the PA SPIG, or for more information, please contact Dr. Justin Moore or visit http://prevention.sph.sc.edu.