Perceived barriers to physical activity according to stage of change and body mass index in the west virginia wisewoman population.

Purpose: Low-income Appalachian women aged 40-64 years are an understudied population relative to physical activity barriers. To inform a cardiovascular risk factor intervention targeting this population through the West Virginia WISEWOMAN program, we determined at baseline participants' perceptions about the presence of 6 barriers to physical activity and respective differences according to stage of readiness for change (SOC).

Methods: Low-income women aged 40-64 who had participated in a state cancer screening program were recruited through 13 clinics.

Promoting youth physical activity and healthy weight through schools.

The prevalence of overweight in youth has increased three- to four-fold in the United States since the 1960s. The school environment can play prominently in the mitigation of this epidemic by increasing physical activity opportunities/ levels, decreasing the availability of food/ beverage with added sugar, and enhancing students' scientific understandings about energy balance. The potential to increase energy expenditure goes beyond the school day to include safe routes for walking and biking to school (active transport) as well as the availability of school facilities as a community resource for physical activity outside of school hours.

Pedometer and Human Energy Balance Applications for Science Instruction.

Teachers can use pedometers to facilitate inquiry learning and show students the need for mathematics in scientific investigation. The authors conducted activities with secondary students that investigated intake and expenditure components of the energy balance algorithm, which led to inquiries about pedometers and related data. By investigating the accuracy of pedometers and variables that may impact reported step counts, students can better understand experimental design and statistical concepts.

Engaging rural youth in physical activity promotion research in an after-school setting.

Background: West Virginia, the second most rural state in the nation, has a higher than average prevalence of chronic diseases, especially those related to physical inactivity and obesity. Innovative educational approaches are needed to increase physical activity among adults and youth in rural areas and reduce rural health disparities. This paper describes West Virginia's Health Sciences and Technology Academy (HSTA) Education and Outreach on Healthy Weight and Physical Activity.