History of IPEN
Why IPEN?
Physically inactive lifestyles are increasing worldwide, as are the chronic diseases they cause. To bring about population-wide behavior change, it is important to understand the underlying forces responsible for current patterns and trends. Among the many possible factors currently under investigation, physical environment (built and natural) variables hold particular promise.
At the turn of the millennium there was substantial evidence linking the design of communities and access to recreation facilities with active transportation and recreation. Land use practices in many countries were increasingly based on car-oriented, suburban patterns. These are risk factors for inactivity and obesity. A better understanding of how to create “activity-friendly” communities can advance science and lead to evidence-based policy recommendations. Country-specific data were needed to provide credible evidence to policymakers.
The history of IPEN – From small beginnings…
2000 – Dr. Sallis, Dr. Saelens, and Dr. Frank received a grant from the U.S. National Institutes of Health to study environmental correlates of physical activity in the United States using objective measures of the environment (Geographic Information Systems) and physical activity (Actigraph accelerometers). This is the Neighborhood Quality of Life Study (NQLS).
2002 – Dr. Owen received a grant to conduct the PLACE study in Australia, modelled on NQLS methods.
2004 – The International Physical Activity and Environment Network (IPEN) was created by Dr Sallis, Dr. Owen, and Dr. De Bourdeaudhuij. IPEN was formed to invite and support researchers around the world to participate in this new area of research. An area which we believe to be of great importance to public health.
2007-2008 -Dr. De Bourdeaudhuij used a similar study design to NQLS and PLACE and received funding to conduct the Belgian Environmental Physical Activity Study (BEPAS).
With these three studies serving as a foundation, it was clear environment and physical activity research was needed and feasible internationally. We decided it was time to advocate for similar studies to be conducted in other countries. There advantages to using common study designs and measures are results can be compared across countries.
It was clear single-country, especially single-city, studies had limited environmental variability that could be expected to under-estimate associations. Multi-countries had greater variability that should generate more accurate effect sizes. Investigators were invited to join the collaborative IPEN International study and follow common procedures.
The Creation of the IPEN Studies
In 2009, the IPEN Adult study was funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (Grant CA127296) to advance the field by examining associations of environmental correlates of physical activity and weight status (BMI) that had likely been underestimated due to the limited range of environments in any single country. The IPEN Adult Study coordinated studies and analysed pooled data from 12 diverse countries. This enabled better estimates of the strength of the associations of detailed measures of the built environment with physical activity and weight status (BMI) in adults aged 20 to 65.
In 2012, the IPEN Adolescent Study was funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Grant HL111378). Methods similar to those used in the IPEN Adult Study were developed. They were used to examine how environmental features are associated with physical activity, sedentary behavior, and weight status among adolescents (11-19 years) in 15 geographically and culturally diverse countries. The ultimate goal of the IPEN Adolescent Study is to stimulate and guide action on activity-promoting environments around the world that support adolescent physical activity and healthy weight.
The Global Positioning systems in Health Research Network (GPSHRN)
The Global Positioning Systems in Health Research Network (GPS-HRN) was launched at the 2009. It was launched at the International Society of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity Conference in Cascais, Portugal (June 17-20). The primary purpose of the GPS-HRN is to establish and maintain a communication forum that allows GPS researchers to share their ideas and experiences. The GPS-HRN will also provide members with regular updates on the latest GPS-related research and technological developments.
The GPS-HRN currently has 165 members from 23 countries. Our members have a wide range of research interests, ranging from physical activity, obesity, and epidemiology to urban planning, transport, and geography. In addition to a triannual newsletter, GPS-HRN members have access to a website and discussion forum. This enables members to interact and collaborate on future research initiatives.
The GPS-HRN will also maintain strong links with IPEN. We welcome any IPEN members who want to join the GPS-HRN. There will clearly be substantial overlap between these networks and scope for future collaboration. GPS researchers hope to share data and algorithms to clean and process GPS data through the online Physical Activity Location Measurement System (PALMS) being developed by researchers at University of California, San Diego as part of the NIH Gene and the Environment Initiative.
At present there is no official funding for the GPS-HRN. We are in the process of investigating funding sources. These will help maintain the website and to extend the capacity of the network. We will keep you updated as we progress.
To become a member of GPS-HRN, please visit www.gps-hrn.org and follow the link on the top right of the page to apply for membership. For any other enquiries, contact Dr. Scott Duncan at scott@gps-hrn.org
ISPAH Council on Environment and Physical Activity (CEPA)
To engage and expand the international network that IPEN investigators had initiated, the ISPAH Council on Environment and Physical Activity (CEPA) was formed as part of the International Society of Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) in Toronto in May of 2010. With initial leadership from the IPEN Network, CEPA now supports investigators from multiple disciplines around the world to conduct rigorous research on physical activity and the environment, then use the results to advocate for evidence-based environmental and policy changes to support and promote physical activity internationally.