In March 2013, IHRSA awarded Radka Dopitova Willson with the “Julie Main Woman Leader Scholarship” for her work to develop the Back To Life program for cancer patients and survivors.

At the award ceremony, Radka had a wonderful message for the fitness community:

I would like to challenge all of you in our health and fitness industry to offer a helping hand to cancer survivors. Tell them that there is life after cancer. Tell them that they’re worth it. Tell them that their scars are just signs of their resilience and strength. And, most importantly, tell them that you will support them to make sure that everything is going to be alright.

From her home base at the World Bank Group in Washington, DC, Radka offers the “Back to Life” class twice each week at no cost to World Bank Group employees.

The six-week “Back to Life” program has three goals:

  1) Assist in creating a personalized fitness program.

  2) Encourage a healthy lifestyle.

  3) Accelerate recovery and return to a productive life.

As a cancer survivor herself, Radka has an intimate understanding of the challenges facing the class participants.

 “I had troubles during transitioning period from a patient to a survivor,” she says. “The period after I was finished with my surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatments was very difficult to navigate through as suddenly I was on my own and did not know how to transition into normal life. Very little is currently done to provide post-rehabilitation services addressing the restorative needs of cancer survivors.”

The feedback from participants has been overwhelming.

Every participant – 100% - indicated they would like to take the program again.

“Please keep this program going, we need it! Charge a price if needed,” said one participant. “The camaraderie, support, teamwork, and encouragement of one another are something that cannot be paid in dollars. This was an awesome idea to get us together. It changed my life. Thank you.”

 “Beautiful holistic program,” said another participant. “A must for cancer patients and survivors. Cannot say how much I wish to continue this program. Please arrange for follow up courses for our group!”

The health care system is expanding in many ways: more services, greater access, and evermore treatment options.

And at the frontier of this rapidly expanding system are sophisticated fitness facilities capable of providing disease-specific, exercise-based programming.

I think programs like “Back To Life” will ultimately become part of the core of what we expect from community-minded fitness facilities. What do you think? What are some other examples of disease- or condition-specific programming occurring at fitness facilities?

The last Be Active Your Way blog entry referenced the recently-released Institute of Medicine (IOM) report entitled, "Educating the Student Body: Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School."  Key among the report's recommendations, as noted here previously, is a Whole of School approach to physical activity.

Following this approach, the report said, will help ensure all students meet the Department of Health and Human Services youth recommendations for at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. The IOM noted strategies - such as active transport to and from school, sports, recess, active classroom lessons, and before- and after-school activities - that when implemented together, can help children attain the daily activity minimum, leading to better health, development, and academic performance.

So, according to the IOM report, what steps should be taken to implement such a "Whole of School" approach ?

Consider physical activity in all school-related policy decisions. Individuals or committees that are not already responsible for established health-related initiatives such as substance abuse prevention or nutrition - should be assigned responsibility for physical activity programs and activities. Policymakers should specify objectives for moderate and vigorous physical activity during the various parts of the school day (such as academic classes, physical education classes, recess, before- and after-school programs, and transportation).

Above: Multi-sport training before school in the morning is more fun when you use the whole playground!

Physical education should be designated as a core subject by the Department of Education because "it is foundational for lifelong health and learning." Mandatory physical education in schools is the only guarantee of students gaining access to physical activity, and the only school subject that teaches the knowledge, skills, and motivation to engage in lifelong physical activity.

Physical activity should be monitored. There currently is little data available about physical activity behaviors during school. Public health agencies at all levels (federal, state, and local), as well as educators, should "monitor policies and behaviors pertaining to physical activity and physical education in the school setting so as to provide a foundation for policy and program planning, development, implementation, and assessment."

The IOM report listed numerous possible actions federal departments and agencies might undertake to facilitate this, including collaboration with the Department of Education and Department of Health and Human Services to make available information about physical activity policies and students' physical activity behaviors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention could strive to improve the Youth Risk Factor Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to better capture school-related physical activity. 

Other possible actions range from developing or updating monitoring systems and other information collection systems to training state and local health departments and school systems.

Preservice training and professional development for teachers is an importantpart of a whole of school approach. Colleges and universities should train teachers before they begin their careers, and continuing education programs should provide in-service training to enable teachers to promote physical activity across the curiculum throughout the school day. Requirements should be established for physical education and for pre-service and continuing education for all teachers and administrators.

Lastly, the IOM report called for equity in access to physical activity and physical education. The report recommended that administrators at all levels be sure that programs and policies address existing disparities in physical activity. All students should have equal access to facilities and opportunities for physical activity and quality physical education in order to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for youth of at least 60 minutes per day.

Above: Going to school is more fun on a bike.

What are your thoughts about the IOM's recent report? Share them here!

Original Posting on President Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition's blog: http://fitness.gov/blog-posts/whole-school-approach-physical-activity.html

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recently released a report entitled “Educating the Student Body:  Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School.”  With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the report committee was tasked with: 1) assessing the status of physical activity and physical education in schools; 2) reviewing the science behind the effects of physical activity on health, development and academic performance in youth; and 3) making recommendations appropriate with the scientific evidence.

Central to the Committee’s recommendations is a Whole of School approach to physical activity programming.  With this approach, quality physical education is at the core for all students, and other opportunities are provided throughout the school day to ensure that all students meet the youth recommendations of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans—at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity a day. Such opportunities include active transport to and from school, intramural and extramural sports, recess, active classroom lessons, and before and after school activities.  These strategies, when taken together, can help children achieve the recommended daily physical activity which can lead to better health, development and academic performance.

Historically, schools have played a central role in the health of our nation’s children.  Nutrition (breakfast and lunch), immunization and health screening programs also play a key role in the school setting because healthy students are better able to learn.  The science base that supports physical activity for good health, development and helping students reach their full academic potential strongly suggests that physical activity should be given the same attention as other programs for the sake of our children.

*Notes: Dr. Kohl (the author) chaired the IOM committee that released the “Educating the Student Body:  Taking Physical Activity and Physical Education to School” report.  PCFSN Council member, Dr. Jayne Greenberg, also served on the IOM committee that issued this report. 

Resources:

• Video of key findings from the IOM report.
• IOM report summary http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2013/Educating-the-Student-Body-Taking-Physical-Activity-and-Physical-Education-to-School.aspx