CDC Translation Studies

Academia Fit (2009-2012), 1R18DP002138-01

The purpose of this three year study (2009-2012) is to translate, implement, and evaluate the Academia da Cidade Program (ACP), an evidence-based, professionally supervised physical activity intervention conducted in Recife, Brazil, for use with Latino communities in North America. The name of our translated program is "Academia Fit."

Academia Fit involves offering group-based exercise classes that are free to community members living in the San Diego communities of San Ysidro, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach. Classes will be taught in public parks and recreation centers by nationally certified Group Fitness Instructors as part of a newly established Academia, a program of the San Diego Prevention Research Center (SDPRC) and the American Council of Exercise (ACE).

The overall purpose of Academia Fit will be accomplished by:

1. developing a Community Action Plan (CAP) to transadapt the ACP intervention for use with Latino adults;
2. conducting a scientific trial of its public health impact using a multi-site cohort design;
3. evaluating the public health impact of the program using the RE-AIM framework to quantify its Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance;
4. evaluating the sustainability and cost-effectiveness of the program using a program logic model to identify inputs, activities, and outputs that contribute to successful program implementation and the building of community capacity to support long-term program maintenance; and
5. disseminating project findings to appropriate public health partners and relevant stakeholders.

Academia Fit has public health relevance because it could have a significant public health impact on obesity and chronic diseases related to physical inactivity, such as heart disease and diabetes. This study is also relevant because it addresses a known health disparity in obesity and chronic disease between Latinos and non-Hispanic whites. This study will also produce innovations in interventions because recreation centers and public parks are an important public resource whose contribution to physical activity promotion is unknown but has the potential to be significant.

• Academia Fit Website

• CDC Article on Academia Fit