SPARC (Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections) is an exciting new networking event for those interested in physical activity in Scotland.

This event will bring together representatives from research, Scottish Government and stakeholder organisations to discuss current physical activity research relevant to policy and practice, and will result in the establishment of a Scottish physical activity network to be known as Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections (SPARC). The network will provide an evidence base for physical activity policy and practice in Scotland.

Our keynote speaker is internationally renowned expert, Professor Billie Giles-Corti, Director of the McCaughey VicHealth Community Wellbeing Unit, University of Melbourne and Lead Investigator of the NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Healthy Liveable Communities.

Professor Giles-Corti's keynote will be 'City planning and health: a global challenge'

In the afternoon, Professor Adrian Bauman, Sesquicentenary Professor of Public Health, Sydney School of Public Health and Co-Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity will address delegates.

Professor Bauman's presentation will be ‘Co-production of the research and policy agenda in physical activity’

The day will include oral and poster presentations and an opportunity to network and make new connections with like-minded colleagues.

The 11 oral presentations are as follows:

Morning session:

Professor John Reilly (Physical Activity for Health, University of Strathclyde)
Timing of changes in physical activity during childhood and adolescence

Dr Adrienne Hughes (Physical Activity for Health, University of Strathclyde)
Results from the 2016 Active Healthy Kids Scotland Report Card on Physical Activity and Health of Scottish Children and Adolescents

Dr Paul McCrorie (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow)
Objectively measured physical activity of Scottish 10 year old children: levels and guideline adherence

Dr Jonathan Olsen (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow)
Active travel, geography and socio-economic status: a national retrospective repeat cross-sectional study of adults in Scotland

Dr Louise Foley (MRC Epidemiology Unit and UKCRC Centre for Diet and Activity Research, University of Cambridge)
Effects of living near an urban motorway on the travel behaviour and wellbeing of local residents in deprived areas: natural experimental study

Afternoon session:

Dr Cindy Gray (Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow)
Life after FFIT: do men in a weight management programme delivered through professional football clubs sustain weight loss, physical activity and dietary changes long term, and how?

Dr Craig Donnachie (MRC/CSO Social and Public Health Sciences Unit, University of Glasgow)
‘It was like opening up your exam results and saying, “Hey, I did alright here!’”: men’s accounts of receiving information on objectively assessed physical activity. Evidence from Football Fans in Training (FFIT)

Tessa Strain (Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh)
Differences by age and gender in the total reported weekday sitting time for adults in Scotland

Dr Aldo Elizalde (Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow)
The effects of natural environments on physical activity from a woodland improvement programme in Scotland: A quasi-experimental study

Dr Tasneem Irshad (Physical Activity for Health Research Centre, University of Edinburgh)
Exploring barriers and facilitators to walking in South Asian populations: a qualitative study

Dr Julie Munro (Centre for Health Science, University of Stirling)
Exercise referral to fitness centre or cardiac rehabilitation for post-surgery breast cancer patients: Pilot single-arm trial (EFFECT)

ABSTRACTS: All abstracts received by the deadline of 31 August 2016 have now been considered by the Scientific Committee. Eleven have been selected for oral presentation and 37 for poster presentation.

Registrations are closed

Scottish Physical Activity Research Connections (SPARC)