RESEARCH ACTIVITIES IN PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Introduction
Involved Researchers
Ongoing Research
Recently Published Articles

The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has a strong tradition of physical activity research. Faculty interests in this area are broad and diverse and cover the spectrum from the micro level to the macro level. Current research studies include examining the influence of the built environment on adolescent physical activity in an urban environment, and investigating the impact of physical activity on cancer, diabetes, birth outcomes, and mother's health around pregnancy. Students can capitalize on the collaborative work being conducted with other departments and centers within the Arnold School of Public Health and across the university.

Involved Researchers:

Swann Adams Ph.D.
Daheia Barr-Anderson, Ph.D
Steven Blair P.E.D.
Natalie Colabianchi Ph.D.
James Hébert Sc.D.
Angela Liese Ph.D.
Jihong Liu Sc.D.

Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Research Center
Melinda Forthofer, Ph.D (PI of Core Research Project)
CDC
2009-2014
The major goal of this project is to reduce the burden of chronic diseases through primary prevention of risk factors associated with the leading causes of death and disability. Includes a community-based participatory demonstration project (quasi-experimental design) to increase physical activity through changes in policy and environment.

Physical Activity During the Transition from Elementary School to Middle School
Cheryl Addy, Ph.D (Co-I)
Melinda Forthofer, Ph.D (Co-I)
NIH/NHLBI
2009 – 2013
The purpose of this proposed study is to examine the direct and indirect influences of personal, home/family, neighborhood, school and community factors on changes in physical activity in African American and white boys and girls as they transition from elementary school to middle school.

Studying Community Programs to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Melinda Forthofer, Ph.D (Co-I)
Robert McKeown, Ph.D (Co-I)
NHLBI/Battelle Memorial Institute
2010-2015
The study will examine the role and influence of community programs and infrastructure on childhood obesity.  The team of investigators at the University of South Carolina will provide scientific leadership, participate in management of the project, contribute to development of the detailed study protocol, participate in quality assurance and training, and contribute to data analysis and preparation of scientific reports

Recently Published Articles:

Wilson, D.K., Trumpeter, N.N.*, St. George, S.M.*, Coulon, S.M.*, Griffin, S., VanHorn, M.L., Lawman, H.G.*, Wandersman, A., Egan, B., Forthofer, M., Goodlett, B.D.*, Kitzman-Ulrich, H., & Gadson, B. (2010). An overview of the “Positive Action for Today’s Health” (PATH) trial for increasing walking in underserved communities. Contemporary Clinical Trials. Published online: doi:10.1016/j.cct/2010.08.009.

Baruth M, Wilcox S, Blair S, Hooker S, Hussey J, and Saunders R. Psychosocial mediators of a faith-based physical activity intervention: implications and lessons learned from null findings. Health Education Research, 2010, 25(4): 645-655.

Baruth M, Wilcox S, Dunn A, King A, Marcus B, Rejeski W, Sallis J, and Blair S. Psychosocial Mediators of Physical Activity and Fitness Changes in the Activity Counseling Trial.  Ann Behav Med, 2010; April 30.

Beets M, Paluch A, Archer E, and Blair S.  Physical Activity: The Future of Learning? Childhood Obesity, Dec 2010; 6(6):345-6.

Blair S, Davey Smith G, Lee IM, Fox K, Hillsdon M, McKeown R, Haskell W, and Marmot M.  A tribute to Professor Jeremiah Morris: the man who invented the field of physical activity epidemiology.  Ann Epidemiol. 2010 Sep;20(9):651-60.

Blair S. Physical Fitness and Risk of Obesity. Bouchard C, Katzmarzyk PT, Eds. Human Kinetics.    Physical Activity and Obesity, 2nd edition, 2010:121-5.

Church T, Earnest C, Thompson A, Priest E, Rodarte R, Saunders T, Ross R, and Blair S. Exercise without Weight Loss Does Not Reduce C-Reactive Protein:The INFLAME Study. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 2010; 42(4):708-16.

Kim J, Liu J, Colabianchi N, Pate R. The role of perceived and structural neighborhood conditions on adolescent’s physical activity and sedentary behaviors. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Oct; 164 (10): 935-42. PMID: 20921351.

Lee DC, Artero E, Sui X, and Blair S.  Mortality trends in the general population: the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness.  J Psychopharmacol, November 2010; 24(4):27-35.

Wilson DK, Kitzman-Ulrich H, Williams JE, Saunders R, Griffin S, Pate, R, Van Horn L, Evans A, Hutto B, Addy CL, Mixon G, Sisson SB. An overview of the Active by Choice Today (ACT) Trial for increasing physical activity. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 29:21-31, 2008.

Hutto B, Sharpe PA, Granner ML, Addy CL, Hooker S. The effect of question order on reporting physical activity and walking behavior. Journal of Physical Activity and Health 5:S16-S29, 2008.

Sharpe, P. A., Granner, M.L., Wilcox, S., Hutto, B., Peck, L., Addy C. Correlates of physical activity among African American and White women. American Journal of Health Behavior, 32:701-713, 2008.
Pate RR, McIver K, Dowda M, Brown WH, Addy CL. Directly-observed Physical Activity Levels in Preschool Children. Journal of School Health, 78:438-444, 2008.

Liu J, Kim J, Colabianchi N, Ortaglia A, and Pate R. Co-varying patterns of physical activity and sedentary behavior patterns and their long-term maintenance among adolescents. Journal of Physical Activity and Health. 2010; 7: 465-474. PMID: 20683088.

Lobelo F, Pate R, Dowda M, Liese A, and Daniels S.  Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Clustered Cardiovascular Disease Risk in Adolescents - Findings From the 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.  J Adolesc Health. 2010 Oct;47(4):352-9. Epub 2010 Jun 20.  PMID: 20864004.

Parra-Medina D, Wilcox S, Wilson D, Addy C, Felton G, and Poston M. Heart Healthy and Ethnically Relevant (HHER) Lifestyle trial for improving diet and physical activity in underserved African American women. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 31(1):92-104, 2010.

Wilcox S, Laken M, Parrott A, Condrasky M, Saunders R, Addy C, Evans R, Baruth M, and Samuel M. The faith, activity, and nutrition (FAN) program: design of a participatory research intervention to increase physical activity and improve dietary habits in African American churches. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 31(4):323-35, 2010.