CONTEXT Research on the promotion of physical activity has been based on a variety of conceptual models. These models generally target one level of analysis, such as the individual, community, or the environment, and differ in their relative contact with basic or applied science. There have been limited attempts to develop approaches that target multiple levels of analysis and can stimulate bas...

This paper seeks to encourage continued innovation in translating built environment and transportation-focused physical activity research into practice. Successful strategies, policies, and tools from across the U.S. and globally that demonstrate potential for wider-scale implementation are highlighted. The importance of building practice and translational research partnerships with groups and ...

PURPOSE To examine associations between perceived neighborhood characteristics, access to places for activity, and leisure-time physical activity. DESIGN Cross-sectional telephone survey. SETTING Cabarrus, Henderson, Pitt, Robeson, Surry, and Wake counties in North Carolina. SUBJECTS Population-based sample of 1796 adults at least 18 years of age residing in the six counties. MEASURES T...

Information extraction technology, as defined and developed through the U.S. DARPA Message Understanding Conferences (MUCs), has proved successful at extracting information primarily from newswire texts and primarily in domains concerned with human activity. In this paper we consider the application of this technology to the extraction of information from scientific journal papers in the area o...

OBJECTIVES Recreational sports are important leisure activities. However, most studies investigating barrier factors and motivation for participation in recreational sports have been limited to specific areas (e.g., a city or school) or demographic groups (e.g., adolescents). Therefore, this study set out to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the behavioral and socioeconomic factors inf...

BACKGROUND This study investigates the influence of school playground facilities on children's daily physical activity. METHODS Participants were 594 school children measured at preschool (age 6 to 7 years) and 3 years later in third grade (518 children age 9 to 10 years) from 18 schools in 2 suburban municipalities in Denmark. Physical activity data were obtained using accelerometers. These ...

A better understanding of factors that affect cognition could lead to improved health and greater independence for older adults. We examined the association of four modifiable factors (leisure-time physical activity, leisure-time cognitive activity, self-directed work, and hypertension) with changes in two aspects of fluid intelligence (verbal memory and inductive reasoning). Data for 626 adult...

OBJECTIVES to describe stability and change in levels of customary physical activity assessed in recall-based questionnaire surveys of older people conducted in 1985, 1989 and 1993. DESIGN longitudinal study. SUBJECTS 1042 people originally aged 65 and over randomly sampled from general practitioner lists in Nottingham, UK. METHODS logistic and multiple regression analyses, intraclass cor...

Background: Severe distress in patients has been negatively correlated with treatment compliance and treatment outcomes. Cancer survivors who have been diagnosed and undergone treatment may be subject to increased distress, anxiety and depression. Little research has been conducted using physical activities as a means of mediating distress among cancer survivors in a community setting. Objectiv...

We compared subjective reports of physical activity with objective measures of physical fitness including cardiorespiratory capacity, body composition, and physical performance in 146 older adults with and without early stage Alzheimer's disease (ESAD). Respondents reported primarily unstructured and low-intensity activities, including walking and housework. Individuals with ESAD participated i...