Physical Activity and Disease Prevention Workshop: Identifying Research Priorities

Overview of workshop goals and objectives by ODP Director: Impetus for the workshop; NIH’s interest in supporting innovative research to improve physical activity assessment and research methods used with diverse age and racial/ethnic populations; desire to identify the barriers to achieving national physical activity guidelines in diverse populations; and need to prioritize the NIH physical activity research agenda.

Introductory remarks by workshop co-chairs: Overview of the workshop program and sessions; brief review of the physical activity terminology; and personal remarks regarding interest and expectations for the meeting.

Evidence-based research on health benefits and risks of physical activity; variations in the response to physical activity; population physical activity levels; and personal insight on what it will take to “move the bar.”

Approach: Socio-ecological overview of the barriers to achieving physical activity recommendations and evidence-based strategies to surmount the barriers. Three panelists have been selected to provide an overview of systems science and approaches for working with youth and adults.

• Provide overview of the environment/community, worksite/school, and individual/family barriers for children, adolescents, working adults, and older adults.
• Systems Approach for Behavior Change Research
• Highlight relevant policies that promote physical activity behaviors for each age group.
• Summarize research evidence on unique barriers that disadvantaged groups face with respect to achieving physical activity recommendations.

Approach: Brief presentations by three panelists to discuss the most effective evidence-based interventions for initiating and sustaining desired physical activity behavior changes in children and adults.

• Identify the strongest predictors of long-term behavior change in each age group (include policy and other environmental, sociocultural, individual, and familial factors).
• Explore the evidence base for policies promoting physical activity and interventions that have a positive impact on physical activity levels of children and adults.
• Present an update from the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans: Mid-Course Review
• Improved Intervention Design and Development

Approach: Three presentations discussing current and emerging physical activity research methodologies in a variety of contexts.

• Demonstrate current physical activity assessment methods—objective and self-reported. Discuss strengths, limitations, and strongest methods.
• Present overview of emerging technology such as mobile apps and social media.
• Speak about applied research using new physical activity assessment technology.
• Identify future research needs.

Approach: Summary of the current NIH physical activity research portfolio.

• Discuss approaches for strengthening the evidence base for future physical activity program and policy initiatives.
• Address key questions related to future study designs, physical activity measurement methodology, etc.
• Exchange ideas and weigh in on priority research and program needs.

Research priorities and next steps or future directions:

• Targeted intervention studies
• New methods and measures
• Promising technologies in need of additional research
• New and expanded collaborations and partnerships.