Moving With the Times: Updating the National Physical Activity Plan's Media and Communication Strategies to Increase Population-Level Physical Activity.

In 2022, an interdisciplinary team of subject matter experts was convened to substantially revise the Mass Media sector content of the National Physical Activity Plan. The updated version recognizes the rapid pace at which the media landscape is evolving and includes a new sector name (Media and Communications) and revised strategies and tactics that reflect progress in the development of a national physical activity campaign brand (Move Your Way ®). This commentary summarizes key changes and highlights the importance of ongoing collaboration between physical activity and media professionals to optimize promotion of physical activity through diverse channels.

Social Environments and Physical Activity Among Active Black Women.

Purpose: To explore the social context of physical activity (PA) among active Black women, we examine the patterns of PA engagement and the benefits of social support in PA maintenance.

Design: A cross-sectional study design and descriptive phenomenological approach were used to examine social support and lived experiences of active Black women.

Setting: The study setting was an online survey of active Black women, ages 21 to 71 years who were recruited from across the United States.

Everything counts in sending the right message: science-based messaging implications from the 2020 WHO guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour.

The World Health Organization (WHO) released the 2020 global guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. The new guidelines contain a significant change from the 2010 guidelines on physical activity for adults and older adults that has important implications for next-generation physical activity messaging: The removal of the need for aerobic activity to occur in bouts of at least 10 min duration. This change in the guidelines provides an opportunity to communicate in new ways that align with behavioural science, permitting physical activity communicators and promoters to better support people's psychological needs, motivation, and ability to fit healthy levels of physical activity into their lives.

Physical Activity Communication: A Scoping Review of the Literature.

Engaging in regular physical activity can help prevent chronic disease and enhance quality of life. Unfortunately, less than 20% of American adults meet the recommended physical activity guidelines, perhaps indicating ineffective communication efforts around physical activity. In preparation for the release of the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, and using the physical activity guidelines as a cornerstone of our approach, we conducted a scoping review of physical activity communication research to understand the scholarly efforts related to communicating about physical activity.

"Keep it Realistic": Reactions to and Recommendations for Physical Activity Promotion Messages From Focus Groups of Women.

Purpose: Less than half of US adults meet the recommended guidelines of 150 minutes of exercise each week. Health promotion messages are frequently used to promote physical activity (PA); however, this messaging may be ineffective if it does not resonate with the target audience. The purpose of this exploratory study is to understand how women respond to examples of PA promotion messages.

Positive Outliers Among African American Women and the Factors Associated with Long-Term Physical Activity Maintenance.

Studying positive outliers, individuals who have achieved success with long-term (> 6-month) physical activity (PA) engagement, may be an important approach for understanding strategies for improving leisure-time PA maintenance among African American (AA) women. This cross-sectional, mixed-methods study (1) examined the personal characteristics, PA patterns, and behavioral practices of positive outliers among AA women and (2) compared characteristics of those who maintain PA at recommended levels (HIGH, ≥ 150 min/week > 6 months) with those who maintain low PA volumes (LOW, < 150 min/week > 6 months). A large sample of positive outliers completed this study (n = 290), and most became physically active on their own (76.

Goals Matter: Exercising for Well-Being But Not Health or Appearance Predicts Future Exercise Among Parents.

Background: Many parents are insufficiently active. Further research is needed to understand the goals that drive sustained exercise participation among parents. The purpose of this study was to use self-determination theory derived constructs to examine the relationship between parents' exercise goals and their autonomous motivation, controlled motivation, and exercise behavior across 1 year.

Characterizing Employees' Preferences for Incentives for Healthy Behaviors: Examples to Improve Interest in Wellness Programs.

. Many employers now incentivize employees to engage in wellness programs, yet few studies have examined differences in preferences for incentivizing participation in healthy behaviors and wellness programs. .

Moving Towards Wellness: Physical activity practices, perspectives, and preferences of users of outpatient mental health service.

Objective: This study assessed the beliefs, barriers and preferences for physical activity (PA) among users of outpatient mental health (MH) services. Outpatient discussions with MH providers were also evaluated.

Method: Between September-December 2014, patient advisors approached adult and family members in an academic MH clinic's waiting room on high volume patient visit days during peak clinic hours; 83% participated in the survey.

Rethinking physical activity communication: using focus groups to understand women's goals, values, and beliefs to improve public health.

Background: Communication about physical activity (PA) frames PA and influences what it means to people, including the role it plays in their lives. To the extent that PA messages can be designed to reflect outcomes that are relevant to what people most value experiencing and achieving in their daily lives, the more compelling and effective they will be. Aligned with self-determination theory, this study investigated proximal goals and values that are salient in everyday life and how they could be leveraged through new messaging to better support PA participation among women.

Delivery of Health Coaching by Medical Assistants in Primary Care.

Background: Health coaching is potentially a practical method to assist patients in achieving and maintaining healthy lifestyles. In health coaching, the coach partners with the patient, helping patients discover their own strengths, challenges, and solutions.

Methods: Two medical assistants were provided with brief training.

Comparative Effectiveness of Wellness Programs: Impact of Incentives on Healthcare Costs for Obese Enrollees.

Introduction: Employee wellness programs show mixed effectiveness results. This study examined the impact of an insurer's lifestyle modification program on healthcare costs of obese individuals.

Methods: This nonrandomized comparative effectiveness study evaluated changes in healthcare costs for participants in two incentivized programs, an Internet-mediated pedometer-based walking program (WalkingSpree, n=7,594) and an in-person weight-loss program (Weight Watchers, n=5,764).

Words matter: Reframing exercise is medicine for the general population to optimize motivation and create sustainable behaviour change.

Exercise is medicine (EIM) is grounded in strong evidence regarding the benefits of physical activity. Despite the contributions of EIM initiatives worldwide, rates of physical inactivity remain alarmingly high. We propose a reframe of EIM for the general population to improve motivation and foster sustainable behaviour change.

From a Vital Sign to Vitality: Selling Exercise So Patients Want to Buy It.

Exercise is Medicine (EIM) and physical activity as a vital sign are based on health-focused research and reflect ideal frames and messages for clinicians. However, they are nonoptimal for patients because they do not address what drives patients' decision-making and motivation. With the growing national emphasis on patient-centered and value-based care, it is the perfect time for EIM to evolve and advance a second-level consumer-oriented exercise prescription and communication strategy.

Opportunity meets planning: an assessment of the physical activity emphasis in state obesity-related plans.

Background: In the United States, health promotion efforts often begin with state-level strategic plans. Many states have obesity, nutrition, or other topic-related plans that include physical activity (PA). The purpose of this study was to assess PA content in these state plans and make recommendations for future plan development.

Physical activity advertisements that feature daily well-being improve autonomy and body image in overweight women but not men.

The reasons for exercising that are featured in health communications brand exercise and socialize individuals about why they should be physically active. Discovering which reasons for exercising are associated with high-quality motivation and behavioral regulation is essential to promoting physical activity and weight control that can be sustained over time. This study investigates whether framing physical activity in advertisements featuring distinct types of goals differentially influences body image and behavioral regulations based on self-determination theory among overweight and obese individuals.

Rebranding exercise: closing the gap between values and behavior.

Background: Behavior can only be understood by identifying the goals to which it is attached. Superordinate-level goals are linked to individuals' values, and may offer insights into how to connect exercise with their core values and increase participation in sustainable ways.

Methods: A random sample of healthy midlife women (aged 40-60y) was selected to participate in a year-long mixed-method study (n = 226).

Internet-enhanced management of fibromyalgia: a randomized controlled trial.

Both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions have demonstrated efficacy in the management of fibromyalgia (FM). Non-pharmacological interventions however are far less likely to be used in clinical settings, in part due to limited access. This manuscript presents the findings of a randomized controlled trail of an Internet-based exercise and behavioral self-management program for FM designed for use in the context of a routine clinical care.

Type of physical activity goal influences participation in healthy midlife women.

Background: Regular physical activity can help to prevent cardiovascular disease in women. Understanding midlife women's exercise goals could offer insight into their motivational facilitators and barriers, and assist in the development of better primary prevention strategies for this population.

Objectives: We sought to investigate the relationship between midlife women's physical activity goals and their physical activity participation over time.

Fitting fitness into women's lives: effects of a gender-tailored physical activity intervention.

Although regular exercise has important health benefits, women's physical activity participation remains low. Addressing the gender- and generation-specific barriers in an intervention may help women become more physically active. Fifty women (mean age = 45 years) participated in a six-session cognitive-behavioral intervention.