PhysicalGenesis Study

1. PhysicalGenesis Study

2. What is it? • PhysicalGenesis is the third study that will complete the spiritual, mental and physical components of Adventist education for the North American Division.

3. It is believed that the benefits of a long healthy life experienced by the senior members of the Seventh-day Adventist church, as reflected in the ongoing longevity study by Loma Linda University, WILL NOT be experienced by the school age children of the church today. Why do it?

4. Why do it? cont. • Sedentary lifestyles that permeate today's society do not spare even those that are young and mobile. United States children and students are more likely to be obese and less fit than at any period before. The environment, peer pressure and even school policies can create an imbalance between the fundamental needs for a healthy development of the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual life of today's students. The health beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist church that have their foundation in creation and restoration call for a renewed emphasis on fitness and health to restore balance and overall wellness in the lives of our students, staff and teachers.

5. Why do it? cont. • “True education... is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers.”Ed p. 13

6. What we believe • MENTAL • SPIRITUAL • Balanced • Education • PHYSICAL

7. What we are doing • PHYSICAL • SPIRITUAL • Is out of balance • MENTAL

8. Ellen White said… • INACTION is the greatest curse that EVER came upon youth. 3T p. 152

9. Who's tested? • Students in grades 5 through 11 in NAD Adventist schools. • They will be tracked by using their NAD student ID number.

10. Who's doing it? • The North American Division Office of Education in cooperation with Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities.

11. NAD Health Education Committee conceptualized, raised funds for and are coordinating the study • Jim Ingersoll, Southern Union Associate Director for Secondary Education, co-chair • Keith Waters, North Pacific Union Director for Secondary Education, co-chair • Matthew Lee, Physical Education teacher, PUC Preparatory School • Tamara Ritterskamp, Physical Education teacher, Forest Lake Academy • Dr. Rob Thomas, La Sierra University Chair of Health and Exercise Science Department • Chadd Watkins, Principal, Highland Academy • Doug Zimmerman, Vice Principal and Physical, Education teacher, Escondido Academy

12. Representatives for Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities • Dr. Nico Rizzo, Center of Community Resilience for School of Public Health and his team of researchers from Loma Linda University • Developed the health behavior survey and will mine the raw data for outcomes from both the health behavior survey and the five-element fitness test. • Dr.Rob Thomas, Chair of the Health and Exercise Science Department for La Sierra University • Coordinates with Focused Fitness to ensure that the WELNET portal will be set up to: • import student information • the health behavior survey, and • the five elements of the FitnessGram physical • fitness test.

13. How will it work? • The PhysicalGenesis Study is computerized • Each student will take a computerized health survey • Teachers will administer a five-element fitness test to each student and enter the results on computer

14. What are the five fitness elements that will be measured? • Curl ups • Push ups • Shoulder stretch • Trunk lift • PACER or 1 mile run NOTE: These five fitness elements are taken from the FITNESSGRAM(™) program that originated with Cooper's Aerobic Institute around 1982. They have become the most broadly used criterion-referenced (with research) fitness testing program in the U.S.

15. When should it be administered? • The window of time for implementation is March 1, 2015 through April 15, 2015.

16. Information about "The Health Survey"Part of the PhysicalGenesis Study Nico S. Rizzo, Med.Dr, PhD, MSc Center of Community Resilience School of Public Health Loma Linda University

17. The health survey will investigate health behaviors of children and adolescents and their relationship to health in the context of their school and home environment.

18. Investigating the Health of our Youth is of vital Importance! • Many children are overweight or obese. In 2013, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. • Physical activity and nutrition are highly correlated to fitness and obesity. • Physical fitness is related to overall well being and may help also to achieve higher academic performance. • How are our children in our schools doing? Are they following the same trends? • Schools have an important function in providing education and a safeenvironment for the growth of our children and students. • What can we do to help our students to be healthier, fitter and mentally stronger? • Nico Rizzo

19. Percentage of High School Students who were Obese in the U.S. in 2013* • 6.4% - 11.1% • 11.2% - 12.4% • 12.5% - 13.4% • 13.5% - 18.0% • No Data • *95th percentile for body mass index, based on sex- and age-specific reference data from the 2000 CDC growth charts. • State Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, 2013

20. Why is it so important to conduct a health behavior survey of our children? • Nico Rizzo

21. Socio-Cultural Context • Cardio-metabolic Fitness • Academic Performance • Spiritual Environment • Geographic Context • School Environment • Home Environment • Physical Activity • Nutrition • Genetics • Health We all live in a context that influences our health and wellbeing. Knowing what our children eat, practice and where they live helps to understand better what contributes to their health. • Nico Rizzo

22. In order to answer these questions the survey will cover these areas • Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviors • Knowing how much physical activity students have in their daily lives helps to better understand their fitness levels when compared to activities done at school. • Nutrition and Food Intakes • Dietary patterns of students are related to fitness, obesity and many other health factors. • Basic Anthropometrics and Physical Development • Not everyone is the same and the assessment of weight, height and other anthropometrics helps to better understand the results. • Basic Demographics and Socioeconomics • How we live and where we come from influences behaviors and health. • Basic Environmental Factors • Do we live in rural or urban areas? In a small town or a city. Are there parks and sports facilities in the neighborhood? Where we live can influence behaviors and health. • Nico Rizzo

23. What will the questions that are being asked look like? • Nico Rizzo

24. Sample health survey questions for Physical Activity • How often did you participate in the following sports and other physical activities during the last week?

25. The health survey will provide valuable insights relating to the habits and lifestyles of students.

26. Who are the team members at Loma Linda University working on the Health Survey? • Nico Rizzo

27. Anticipated PhysicalGenesis Outcomes Dr. Robert Thomas La Sierra University

28. Body-Mind-Spirit“Triad” of Research studies • ValueGenesis studies 1990, 2000, 2010 • CognitiveGenesis 2008-2012 • PhysicalGenesis in 2015 completes the triad

29. Intended outcomes of the PhysicalGenesis study will be to determine student: • Fitness levels and • Health behaviors

30. Why are these outcomes important? • We do not know what the health behaviors are of students in Adventist schools • There has not been a national study on fitness levels of students since 1987 AAHPERD. (1987). The National Children and Youth Fitness Study II. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance, 58(9), 49-96

31. Three Initial Research Questions 1) What are the Fitness Levels of students within the Seventh-day Adventist K-12 school system within the North American Division? 2) What are the Health-related Behaviors of students within the Seventh-day Adventist K-12 school system within the North American Division? 3) What possible relationships and potential differences exist between various demographics, fitness levels and behaviors of our students.

32. Projected Outcomes • Determine how our students compare regionally and nationally and infer how our school system compares • Move forward to either build upon our current successes if results are positive, or • Develop needed interventions to address student deficits if results are not as good as we would like • Share with the Seventh-day Adventist Church the fitness level and health behavior results of our students

33. Then…

34. An additional benefit would be the study of the relationship between fitness and academic performance. PhysicalGenesis outcomes can be studied in relationship to their impact on the academic performance of students who were and are involved in the CognitiveGenesis study. NOTE: The relationship between fitness and academic performance is a study that has not been done on a national scale before.

35. If student fitness or health behavior deficits emerge… Adventist schools will have the CREATION Health™ school transformation initiative available that is designed to help students, teachers, and school communities make the needed behavior changes that result in better health and academic performance for students.

36. The ultimate outcome is to improve student health and restore balance to the Adventist school system. • Since the mind and the soul find expression through the body, BOTH mental and spiritual vigor are in great degree dependent upon physical strength and activity; WHATEVER promotes physical health, promotes the development of a strong mindand a well-balanced character.Ed p. 195 • Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”  3John 1:2

37. Your school... is being asked to participate in this important study that will: Provide understanding about the health of Seventh-Day Adventist students in grades 5-11 Identify what is needed to improve their health, and Allow them the opportunity to experience the quality and longevity of life that their ancestors have.