Odds of Getting Adequate Physical Activity by Dog Walking.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to determine the likelihood that adult dog owners who walk their dogs will achieve a healthy level of moderate-intensity (MI) physical activity (PA), defined as at least 150 mins/wk. METHODS: We conducted a systematic search of 6 databases with data from 1990-2012 on dog owners' PA, to identify those who achieved MIPA. To compare dog-walkers' performance with non-dog walkers, we used a random effects model to estimate the unadjusted odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: We retrieved 9 studies that met our inclusion criterion and allowed OR calculations. These yielded data on 6980 dog owners aged 18 to 81 years (41% men). Among them, 4463 (63.9%) walked their dogs. Based on total weekly PA, 2710 (60.7%) dog walkers, and 950 (37.7%) non-dog walkers achieved at least MIPA. The estimated OR was 2.74 (95% CI 2.09-3.60). CONCLUSION: Across 9 published studies, almost 2 in 3 dog owners reported walking their dogs, and the walkers are more than 2.5 times more likely to achieve at least MIPA. These findings suggest that dog walking may be a viable strategy for dog owners to help achieve levels of PA that may enhance their health.

Analysis of physical activity mass media campaign design.

BACKGROUND: Mass media campaigns are a necessary tool for public health practitioners to reach large populations and promote healthy behaviors. Most health scholars have concluded that mass media can significantly influence the health behaviors of populations; however the effects of such campaigns are typically modest and may require significant resources. A recent Community Preventive Services Task Force review on stand-alone mass media campaigns concluded there was insufficient evidence to determine their effectiveness in increasing physical activity, partly due to mixed methods and modest and inconsistent effects on levels of physical activity. METHODS: A secondary analysis was performed on the campaigns evaluated in the Task Force review to determine use of campaign-building principles, channels, and levels of awareness and their impact on campaign outcomes. Each study was analyzed by 2 reviewers for inclusion of campaign building principles. RESULTS: Campaigns that included 5 or more campaign principles were more likely to be successful in achieving physical activity outcomes. CONCLUSION: Campaign success is more likely if the campaign building principles (formative research, audience segmentation, message design, channel placement, process evaluation, and theory-based) are used as part of campaign design and planning.

Relationship between employment characteristics and obesity among employed U.S. adults.

PURPOSE: This study examined associations between employment characteristics and obesity among a sample representing civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. adults. DESIGN: Quantitative, cross-sectional study. SETTING: Workplace. SUBJECTS: The 2010 National Health Interview Survey data for 15,121 employed adults (≥18 years). MEASURES: The outcome variable was weight status, and exposure variables were employment characteristics (number of employees, work hours, paid by the hour, paid sick leave, and health insurance offered). ANALYSIS: Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for employment characteristics associated with obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m(2)) after controlling for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, family income, fruit/vegetable intake, physical activity, smoking, and occupations. RESULTS: Nationwide, 28% of employed adults were obese. From multivariate logistic regression, the odds of being obese was significantly greater among adults who worked at a company with 100 to 499 employees (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.02-1.39) vs. with 1 to 24 employees and those who worked >50 hours/week (OR  = 1.32, 95% CI  = 1.05-1.65) vs. <30 hours/week. CONCLUSION: Approximately 3 out of 10 employees were obese and 6 out of 10 were overweight or obese. A better understanding of why these employment characteristics are associated with obesity could help employers better develop and target interventions for obesity prevention and treatment in the worksites.

Analysis of state obesity legislation from 2001 to 2010.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of obesity has increased significantly since the 1950s. Currently, more than one-third of adults are obese. This study includes the review of 611 bills that were introduced over the past 10 years for the purpose of reducing obesity. DESIGN: Bills were obtained from state legislature Web sites and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity legislative database. Full text of bills was read and summed by year and the following categories: (a) Taskforce, (b) School, (c) Community, and (d) Health care. Bills were then coded according to strategies outlined in the Institute of Medicine publication, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention. RESULTS: Of the 611 obesity-specific bills proposed over the last decade, 93 (15.2%) passed and represented 30 states. The largest number of bills ("n") introduced was in the School category (n = 276), followed by Community (n = 126), Health care (n = 117), and Taskforce (n = 92). Percentages of bills passed were as follows: Taskforce (28%), Health care (16%), Schools (14%), and Community (7%). Institute of Medicine strategies were identified in most state legislations. CONCLUSION: Overall, 15% of obesity bills passed from 2001 to 2010. Legislation can be an important first step to change society and institutional norms to encourage and support people to develop healthier behaviors. Public health practitioners may find the Institute of Medicine guidance and the legislative database useful resources to further efforts in obesity prevention.

Workplace health: engaging business leaders to combat obesity.

This article explores how employers can be part of the solution to obesity by offering workplace wellness programs and facilitating opportunities for physical activity, access to healthier foods and beverages, and incentives for disease management and prevention to help prevent weight gain among their employees.

Stand-alone mass media campaigns to increase physical activity: a Community Guide updated review.

CONTEXT: The goal of the systematic review described in this summary was to determine the effectiveness of stand-alone mass media campaigns to increase physical activity at the population level. This systematic review is an update of a Community Guide systematic review and Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendation completed in 2001. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Updated searches for literature published from 1980 to 2008 were conducted in 11 databases. Of 267 articles resulting from the literature search, 16 were selected for full abstraction, including the three studies from the original 2001 review. Standard Community Guide methods were used to conduct the systematic evidence review. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Physical activity outcomes were assessed using a variety of self-report measures with duration intervals ranging from 6 weeks to 4 years. Ten studies using comparable outcome measures documented a median absolute increase of 3.4 percentage points (interquartile interval: 2.4 to 4.2 percentage points), and a median relative increase of 6.7% (interquartile interval: 3.0% to 14.1%), in self-reported physical activity levels. The remaining six studies used alternative outcome measures: three evaluated changes in self-reported time spent in physical activity (median relative change, 4.4%; range of values, 3.1%-18.2%); two studies used a single outcome measure and found that participants reported being more active after the campaign than before it; and one study found that a mass media weight-loss program led to a self-reported increase in physical activity. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this updated systematic review show that intervention effects, based wholly on self-reported measures, were modest and inconsistent. These findings did not lead the Task Force to change its earlier conclusion of insufficient evidence to determine the effectiveness of stand-alone mass media campaigns to increase physical activity. This paper also discusses areas needing future research to strengthen the evidence base. Finally, studies published between 2009 and 2011, after the Task Force finding was reached, and briefly summarized here, are shown to support that finding.

State legislative support for parks.

BACKGROUND: Parks are important venues that can encourage population-level physical activity, and policy legislation can facilitate or discourage physical activity and other park uses, depending on the type and level of support. This study aims to summarize the status and content of state-level park-related legislation. METHODS: We searched for eligible legislation from 2001-2007 in two data sources, CDC's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Legislative Database and Lexis-Nexis, using the key words conservation, growth management/land use, parks, recreation, preservation, path, green space, or open space. State legislation was categorized into seven broad topic areas and analyzed by number introduced and passed (enacted as law), by state and category. RESULTS: States varied in the number and type of park-related legislation introduced and passed. Common categories of introduced park-related state legislation were preservation or conservation (n = 26, 9 passed), funding (n = 43, 10 passed), creation or acquisition of park land (n = 53, 9 passed), safety and liability (n = 34, 5 passed), accessibility (n = 20, 2 passed), outreach (n = 15, 2 passed), and outdoor activities (n = 13, 2 passed). CONCLUSION: During 2001 to 2007, 19% of park-related state legislation was enacted. Research on legislative policy is an emerging field, and more information on the content of park-related legislation could assist states in their efforts to promote physical activity in park venues.

An analysis of state legislation on community trails.

BACKGROUND: Trails provide opportunities for recreation, transportation and activity. The purpose of this article is to describe state legislation related to community trails, to analyze legislation content, and to evaluate legislation on inclusion of evidence-informed elements. METHODS: State trail legislation from 2001 to 2008 was identified using online legislative databases. An analysis of evidence-informed elements included in the legislation was conducted. These elements included: funding, liability, accessibility, connectivity, and maintenance. RESULTS: Of the total 991 trail bills, 516 (52.0%) were appropriations bills, of which 167 (32.2%) were enacted. We analyzed 475 (48%) nonappropriation trail bills of which 139 (29.3%) were enacted. The percentage of enactment of appropriations bills decreased over time while enactment of nonappropriations trail bills increased. Over half of the nonappropriations trail bills included at least 1 evidence-informed element, most commonly funding. Few bills contained liability, connectivity, accessibility, or maintenance. CONCLUSIONS: There is opportunity for providing evidence-informed information to policy-makers to potentially influence bill content. The number of bills with a funding element demonstrates that fiscal support for trails is an important policy lever that state legislatures may use to support trails. Lastly, trails should be considered in over-all state-level physical activity legislation to provide opportunities for communities to be active.

State legislation to improve employee wellness.

OBJECTIVE: Categorize and describe the content and status of state legislation of worksite wellness. METHODS: State worksite wellness legislation was compiled from the Centers for Disease Control's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity State Legislative Database (http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/DNPALeg/index.asp) and from LexisNexis (http://www.lexisnexis. com). Key word searches were used to gather worksite wellness legislation (2001-2006), with the exception of resolutions and those bills not pertaining to general employee wellness. Legislation was individually examined, categorized, and analyzed for content and status. RESULTS: The four categories of state legislation that appeared to be most common were tax credits (n = 34; 0 passed), wellness policies and programs (n = 21; 4 passed), alternative transportation (n = 18; 4 passed), and health insurance (n = 14; 3 passed). CONCLUSION: During 2001 to 2006, seven of 27 states enacted worksite wellness bills. In the three categories in which bills passed (wellness policies and programs, alternative transportation, and health insurance), 19% to 22% were enacted. This proportion, similar to other health promotions bills, indicates that worksite health promotion legislation passed as favorably as other health promotion topics. Further, the language in the bills did not recommend a specific standard for employee health, such as that in the national Healthy People 2010 objectives.