• Overview
• Project Impact
• Logic Model
• Research Project

Increasing physical activity is an important part of improving childhood fitness. Previously, our group has validated school-based fitness testing by PACER with laboratory-based testing maximal VO₂. This “translation” allowed us to demonstrate that school-based assessments are valid health evaluations. As we try to promote increased physical activity in children though school-based efforts, we have ongoing research to test whether GPS can be used to accurately measure physical activity, patterns and modes of movement, as well as energy expenditure.

“Built environment” studies to date have measured potential for physical activity but have not looked at how social-cultural factors mediate an individual’s activity within a particular environment. This project will utilize novel technologies to

1. analyze characteristics of the social and built environment which inhibit or enhance physical activity, and
2. determine the direction and extent of influence of these variables on children’s activity and health, and
3. gather ideas from students and faculty for a potential health campaign to reduce and prevent obesity in the community.

We will employ a geospatial model developed by collaborators Sledge and Ventura. Running on ArcGIS 10.X software, this creates a community level “map” of potential energy expenditures and predicts children’s energy expenditure (in kilojoules) as they move through their community. This methodology allows us to map both potential and actual energy expenditure for children’s daily travels. Children will also have assessment of fitness and fasting blood work for measurement of insulin resistance, to allow analysis of physical activity with health outcomes. This also allows us to provide data-driven recommendations on ways that environment can be designed to facilitate children's physical activity.

The Cherokee research project is unique in the length of time that the children will be equipped with GPS monitors (six weeks) and the degree of integration of the research into the classroom experience.  The children will be both study subjects and posing their own research questions about their own energy expenditure and how their environment might be influencing those expenditures.