Publications & Research

Funded by NIH-NHLBI, 1996-2000. Benchmark study (24 schools, 9 districts) designed to increase physical activity opportunities throughout the school day, increase MVPA in PE classes, and decrease the consumption of fat on middle school campuses. (See Publications page for M-SPAN articles.)

University affiliation: San Diego State University

Study location: San Diego, Oceanside, La Mesa, El Cajon, Poway, and Vista, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. Jim Sallis, Co-P.I. Dr. Thom McKenzie, Director Physical Education/Activity Intervention Paul Rosengard, Bruce Bettey, Kathy Stumm

Funded by San Diego County Board of Supervisors, California Obesity Prevention Initiative (COPI), Department of Health Services, and the Centers for Disease Control, with in-kind provided by CA 5 a Day Power Play!, Project LEAN, American Cancer Society, San Diego Unified School District, 2003-2004. Intervention involving 40 elementary schools providing a comprehensive school health approach including physical education, nutrition education, and smoking awareness.

University affiliation:  San Diego State University

Study location:  San Diego, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff:  Paul Rosengard, Dr. Thom McKenzie, Project co-coordinators:Kathy Stumm, Julie Frank

Funded by the Assisi Foundation, 1994-1996. Project focusing on physical activity for after school programs using 13 church site programs for intervention.

University affiliation: University of Tennessee, Memphis; San Diego State University

Study location: Memphis, TNP

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. Bob GarrisonKey staff:Dr. Phyllis Richey, Patty Kimbrell, Paul Rosengard

Funded by CANFit (CA Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness), 1996-1998. Project targeted low-income youth of color ages 10-14 in after school programs.

University affiliation: San Diego State University

Study location: Los Angeles, Oakland, and San Diego, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Paul Rosengard, Kathy Stumm, Bruce Bettey, Jaime Strelow

Funded by the CA Pacific Medical Center, 1998-2003. Physical education, nutrition, and gardening interventions in two urban K-8 schools.

University affiliation: University of CA, San Francisco; San Diego State University

Study location: San Francisco, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. Sherry Sherman, Courtney Sjoerdsma, Paul Rosengard

Funded by IBM through Work Family Directions, Boston, MA. Designed to increase PA opportunities for girls in after school and sports programs. Integrated gender equity concepts and methods with SPARK Active Recreation program.

University affiliation: San Diego State University

Study location: Endicott, NY; Southbury, CT; Burlington, VT; Atlanta, GA; San Jose, CA; Raleigh, NC; Boulder, CO

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Barbara Colombo Adams, Paul Rosengard, Melissa Fletcher, Courtney Sjoerdsma

Funded by NHLBI, 2000-2006. Six-site national study examining ways to provide more physical activity opportunities for girls of middle school age. Hoping to reserve the downward activity trend that begins at this age and continues through adulthood.

University affiliation: San Diego State University, University of Arizona, University of Minnesota, Tulane University, University of South Carolina, University of North Carolina.

Study location: San Diego, CA; Tucson, AZ; Minneapolis, MN; New Orleans, LA; Raleigh, NC; Baltimore, MD

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. John Elder, Dr. Thom McKenzie, Dr. Jim Sallis, BJ Williston, Paul Rosengard (2 years)

Funded by the California Nutrition Network, 2001-2003. SPARK writers and staff collaborated to integrate physical activity into the 5 a Day Power Play School and Community Kits. Conducted six workshops in various locations in CA.

  University affiliation: University of Tennessee, Memphis; San Diego State University

  Study location: Memphis, TN

  Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. Phyllis Richey, Patty Kimbrell, Julie Frank, Paul Rosengard, Courtney Sjoerdsma,BJ Williston

Funded by Assisi Foundation, 2001-2003. Developed, implemented, and evaluated a physical activity program targeting 3-5 year olds.

University affiliation:  University of Tennessee, Memphis; San Diego State University

Study location:  Memphis, TN

Principal Investigators/Key Staff:  Dr. Phyllis Richey, Patty Kimbrell

Funded by private foundation in Alabama, 1994-1995. Brought SPARK PE and Self-Management programs to an impoverished area in Alabama.

University affiliation: University of Alabama, Birmingham; San Diego State University

Study location:Rural, central Alabama

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Paul Rosengard, Melissa Fletcher

Funded by NHLBI, 1996-2001. Development of a social cognitive theory-based, 3-year multiple-component intervention (classroom curricula, school lunch, physical education, family education, and treatment) for primary and secondary prevention of obesity among children, and evaluation in a 13- school randomized controlled trial with an additional one-year follow-up (N~1000 children).

University affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine

Study location: Santa Clara, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Thomas N. Robinson, MD, Paul Rosengard

Funded by NCI, 1997-2002. To develop and evaluate a cancer risk factor reduction program, including both behavioral and environmental components, for preadolescents in schools serving predominately low-income, Latino families. The targeted outcomes are adiposity, dietary fat intake, fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity, and smoking. Evaluation of effectiveness in a randomized controlled trial in 16 elementary schools (N~1200).

University affiliation: Stanford University School of Medicine

Study location: San Jose, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Joel D. Killen, PhD, Paul Rosengard

Funded by NHLBI, 1994-2000. Provided modified SPARK curricula and staff development for a national study targeting Native American elementary school children on numerous reservations in 4 geographical locations. Over 20 schools participated in various aspects of the project.

University affiliation: University of New Mexico, University of Arizona, Johns Hopkins, University of Minnesota, University of North Carolina

Study location: Navajo, Hopi, Pima, Apache, Lakota reservations; Arizona, New Mexico, South Dakota

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. Tim Lohman (U. of AZ), Paul Rosengard

Funded by NHLBI, 1994-2000. Funded by NIH-NHLBI, 2002-2007. Study of obesity prevention in Latino communities. Provided SPARK K-2 curricula and staff development for teachers of grades K-3 in 12 elementary schools.

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Dr. John Elder, Dr. Thom McKenzie

Funded by USDA Food Stamp Nutrition Education program, 2002-2004. Fit WIC is a five-state grant to increase physical activity within WIC clinics and to empower WIC staff to educate WIC families for the need of physical activity at all ages.

Study location: 12 cities in California

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Pat Crawford, Margaret Strode, Patty Kimbrell

Funded by USDA, 2003-2004. Navajo Nation WIC received a grant from the USDA to increase physical activity knowledge and awareness for WIC families.

Location: Navajo Nation in Arizona and New Mexico

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Doris McGuire, MS, RD, LD, Patty Kimbrell

Funded by Prop 10, 2002-2004. Start Early provided physical activity for preschool teachers and day care providers, nutrition classes, and parent classes for San Benito County. Primary goals were to increase physical activity awareness and healthy eating.

Study location: San Benito County, CA

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Laura ReedKey, Patty Kimbrell

Funded by HMSA (Hawaii Medical Services Association). Fun 5 evaluated the SPARK After School Program. SOFIT data showed significant increases the frequency and duration of physical activity in after school settings and increases in students’ moderate to vigorous activity levels.

Study location: Hawaiian Islands

Program Managers: Steven Lorick and Paula Adams

Principal Investigator and Key Staff: Dr. Claudio Nigg (Univ. of Hawaii), Steven Lorick (Executive Director, Kaho’omiki), Joan Gillem, Courtney Sjoerdsma, Paul Rosengard, Julie Green

Funded by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, Grable Foundation. POPI was a 4-year study that attempted to improve PE content and instructional practice in 7 urban high schools.

Study location: Pittsburgh, PA

Project Managers: Michelle Matthews, Julie Frank, BJ Williston

Principal Investigators/Key Staff: Paul Rosengard, Dr. Robbie Ali, Sarah Jameela Martin, Larry Higgins, Paige Metz