Medicare Agent News: Places for Physical Activity in Pandemic

Monday, July 25, 2022

Places for Physical Activity in Pandemic

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DNPAO Publication List - Second Quarter 2022

Physical Activity

Adults Discover Places for Physical Activity During Pandemic

Approximately 1 in 4 adults reported discovering new places or changed spaces to support physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research published in July. Most survey respondents who discovered new places or noticed changes to streets or outdoor areas said they planned to use the features.

The authors commented that “expanding access to such supportive environments may help promote physical activity participation.”

Observation of and intention to use new places and changed spaces for physical activity during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, June 2021.

Webber BJ, Irani KL, Omura JD, Whitfield GP. Prev Med. 2022;160:107100.

See strategies for creating or modifying environments to make it easier for people to be physically active.

Obesity

Hospital Food Environment Shows Room for Improvement

Authors of a study published in April reviewed healthy food availability, access, prices, and location in relation to nursing units in 31 South Carolina hospitals. Reviewers included food in hospital cafeterias, vending machines, and gift shops. The study involved hospitals of different sizes and in urban and rural settings.

Using the Hospital Nutrition Environment Scan, reviewers found an abundance of unhealthy foods and sub-optimal food environments. The authors noted that the results highlight the opportunity to improve the health content of foods offered at the hospitals.

Foods and beverages available to nurses in hospital cafeterias, vending machines, and gift shops.

Horton Dias CE, Dawson RM, Harris DM, Wirth MD, Abshire DA. Am J Health Promot. 2022;8901171221089620.

See the Food Service Guidelines Implementation Toolkit for ways to improve food and beverage offerings in multiple settings, including hospitals.

Nutrition

Anemia Among Pregnant WIC Participants Increases

An analysis found that the percentage of WIC participants who were pregnant and had anemia increased from 10% in 2008 to 11% in 2018. WIC is the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

The increase in participants who were pregnant and had anemia was a 13% increase. The percentage increased significantly in approximately one half of WIC agencies. The percentage of pregnant WIC participants with anemia was higher among non-Hispanic Black women than among other racial/ethnic groups.

This is important because during pregnancy, anemia can increase the risk of illness, death, premature delivery, and other adverse outcomes. The researchers commented that the findings “reinforce the importance of efforts that ensure these women have access to healthier, iron-rich foods before and during pregnancy.” Iron deficiency is a common cause of anemia, and during pregnancy, iron requirements increase.

Learn more about iron and iodine status among pregnant women in the United States.

Anemia among pregnant women participating in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — United States, 2008–2018.

Kanu FA, Hamner HC, Scanlon KS, Sharma AJ. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71(25):813–819.

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Also see:

Physiologically based serum ferritin thresholds for iron deficiency in women of reproductive age who are blood donors.

Addo OY, Mei Z, Hod EA, Jefferds ME, Sharma AJ, Flores-Ayala RC, Spitalnik SL, Brittenham GM Blood Advances.2022;6(12):3661-3665.

Acceptability and experiences with the use of 3D scans to measure anthropometry of young children in surveys and surveillance systems from the perspective of field teams and caregivers.

Jefferds MED, Mei Z, Palmieri M, Mesarina K, Onyango D, Mwando R, Akelo V, Liu J, Zhou Y, Meng Y, Bougma K. Curr Dev Nutr. 2022;6(6):nzac085.

Doing your own research?

The interactive database, Data, Trends, and Maps, includes information on physical activity, diet, and breastfeeding behaviors and their environmental or policy supports as well as weight status.

Please Note: DNPAO author names are in bold. The findings and conclusions in these reports are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Access to articles is dependent on journal subscription status. Dates reflect when publications first became available.

Also see a bibliography of publications from 2015 through 2022 with DNPAO authors.

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