PhysicalGenesis Study
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.
Why do it?
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? 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.
Why do it? cont.
“True education... is the harmonious
development of the physical, the mental,
and the spiritual powers.”Ed p. 13
What we believe
Balanced
Education
PHYSICAL
What we are doing
MENTAL
Ellen White said…
INACTION is the greatest
curse that EVER came
upon youth.
3T p. 152
Who's tested?
• Students in grades 5 through 11 in NAD Adventist schools.
• They will be tracked by using their NAD student ID number.
Who's doing it?
The North American Division Office of Education in
cooperation with Loma Linda and La Sierra Universities.
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
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.
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
What are the five fitness elements that
will be measured?
1. Curl ups
2. Push ups
3. Shoulder stretch
4. Trunk lift
5. 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 criterionreferenced (with research) fitness testing program
in the U.S.
When should it be administered?
The window of time for implementation is March 1, 2015
through April 15, 2015.
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
16
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.
17
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
safe environment 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
18
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
Why is it so important to conduct a health
behavior survey of our children?
Nico Rizzo
20
Academic
Performance
Spiritual
Environment
Health
Genetics
Cardiometabolic
Fitness
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.
Physical
Activity
SocioCultural
Context
School
Environment
Nutrition
Nico Rizzo
Geographic
Context
Home
Environment
21
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
22
What will the questions that are being asked
look like?
Nico Rizzo
23
Sample health survey questions for Physical Activity
How often did you participate in the following sports and other physical activities
during the last week?
Frequency
Never
once a week
2 times a
week
3 times a
week
4 times a
week
5 times a
week
6 times a
week
every day
Aerobics
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Baseball/Softball
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Basketball/Volleyball
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Biking
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
American Football
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Gymnastics
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Hockey (field or ice)
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Martial arts
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Tennis
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Soccer
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Surfing
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Swimming
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Running/Jogging
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
Walking
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
⃝
24
The health survey will provide valuable insights
relating to the habits and lifestyles of students.
25
Who are the team members at Loma Linda University working on
the Health Survey?
Nico Rizzo
26
Anticipated
PhysicalGenesis Outcomes
Dr. Robert Thomas
La Sierra University
Body-Mind-Spirit
“Triad” of Research studies
1. ValueGenesis studies 1990, 2000, 2010
2. CognitiveGenesis 2008-2012
3. PhysicalGenesis in 2015 completes the triad
Intended outcomes of the PhysicalGenesis
study will be to determine student:
• Fitness levels and
• Health behaviors
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
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.
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
Then…
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.
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.
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 mind and 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
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.