Statewide Health Fitness Project
— March
2004 CLOCC Seed Grant Recipient
M. Eliza(Beth) Verner, Ed. D.; Weimo
Zhu, Ph.D.; Jennie A.Gilbert, Ph.D, FACSM
Background and purpose
The state of Illinois has no system to track
and document health related fitness, including obesity, or
physical activity level/behaviors among youth. The purpose of this
project is to develop an on-line,
school-based tracking and data management system to closely monitor
these variables.
Project design and subject selection
A four-year project (i.e., pilot
and three additional years) was designed to establish the foundation
and build an infrastructure to meet the above stated need. The pilot
program began summer 2004. A total of
78 volunteer 4th, 7th and 9th grade physical educators were trained in
four one-day workshops that
spanned the state: Carbondale Champaign, Chicago, and Naperville. The
Chicago workshop (n =20) was
funded by a CLOCC seed grant. Participants learned how to administer
FITNESSGRAM, coach students in
the use of ACTIVITYGRAM, and monitor students' physical activity using
pedometers.
Methods for data collection
To Beta test FitTrac, the on-line tracking
and data management system, summer workshop participants
collected FITNESSGRAM, ACTIVITYGRAM, and pedometer data during fall semester
and are currently:
- Submitting one class of data via FitTrac, see http://www.edutrac.us
- Documenting
both positive and negative experiences associated with administering
FITNESSGRAM/ACTIVITYGRAM, using pedometers and navigating FitTrac.
Data
analysis and anticipated results
Based on user input, FitTrac will be
refined for spring data submission – a
minimum of 60 students per
teacher. During summer 2005, these data will be analyzed using descriptive
statistics and inferential,
multivariate and hierarchical linear models and statistical methods.
The results will profile health related
fitness, including body composition, and physical activity of youth
participating in the study.
Significance of this work
An on-line, school-based, tracking and data
management system will enable educators and state officials
to assess and monitor obesity, health related fitness and physical
activity among Illinois youth. The new
information can be used to inform students, teachers, administrators
and parents; impact curriculum; and
evaluate the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle intervention programs.
Compiling these data by legislative
district will facilitate informed advocacy with state legislators and
other policy makers.
Acknowledgments and contact info
Each of the following organizations
awarded approximately $10,000 to sponsor the pilot year:
- Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago
Children
- Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Southern Illinois
Healthcare
Several other organizations provided gifts-in-kind such
as facility space (i.e., gymnasia and computer labs) and lunches:
- American Heart Association
- Chicago Public Schools
- Human Kinetics
- PE 4 Life
The three-year, $850,000 Carol M. White Physical Education Program
(PEP) grant application submitted
March 2004 was not funded. However funding remains a possibility,
as 2005 PEP grant awards will be
given to 2004 applicants who had good scores but did not receive
2004 funding.
Statewide Health Fitness Project
M. Eliza(Beth) Verner, Ed. D.
President, Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance
Professor, Sport & Fitness Management
School of Kinesiology & Recreation
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-5120
(309)438-3526
bverner@ilstu.edu
Weimo Zhu, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Department of Kinesiology
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
227 Freer Hall, MC-052
Urbana, IL 61801
(217)333-7503
weimozhu@uiuc.edu
Jennie A. Gilbert, Ph.D, FACSM
Assistant Professor, Exercise Science
School of Kinesiology & Recreation
Illinois State University
Normal, IL 61790-5120
(309)438-7082
jagilbe@ilstu.edu
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