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Exercise, Type 2 Diabetes and Communities of Color

by Caitlin Kinser | Feb 15, 2022

ACSM’s February release of its new consensus statement on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and physical activity is timely for Black History Month 2022 — communities of color disproportionately bear the burden of overweight/obesity and diabetes, likely due in large part to social and environmental factors. For instance, we know that a reduction in physical education offerings in schools, limited open spaces for outdoor activities, inadequate infrastructure for active transportation, unsafe environments and high-calorie diets all have a big impact on the development of T2D.

For black communities, then, a main focus should be on building neighborhoods that promote physical activity: increasing walkability by having pleasant and safe places to walk, making resources and facilities for activity more available to all and enhancing access to green spaces, especially for people who live in urban settings. Creating more exercise-friendly environments is likely to promote greater participation.

Community members, exercise and health care professionals and policymakers need to address a few other obstacles and barriers to physical activity: specific efforts should support self-motivation, assist in appropriate physical activity and dietary goal-setting, give people access to childcare while they’re being active and enhance social support while being respectful of cultural nuances.

Additionally, for many people, health issues such as obesity and osteoarthritis may make physical activity more difficult. Tailoring fitness goals using appropriate activities, slower progression and supportive feedback/supervision can increase their success and confidence.

The consensus statement, relevant for people of all ages, suggests that anyone with T2D should engage in regular physical activity and reduce their daily sedentary time. Lifestyle interventions that include physical activity and possible weight loss remain important approaches in the management of T2D and cardiovascular disease risk in communities of color. Various types of physical activity and planned exercise can greatly enhance health and blood glucose management.

Read the new consensus statement here.

6 Tips for Physical Activity with Type 2 Diabetes | Infographic

Sheri Colberg, Ph.D., is an author, lecturer, consultant, researcher, exercise physiologist, and professor emerita of exercise science from Old Dominion University.
Jill Kanaley, Ph.D., FACSM, is a professor in and interim director of the Department of Nutrition and Exercise at the University of Missouri. Both Colberg and Kanaley are corresponding authors for “Exercise/Physical Activity in Individuals with Type 2 Diabetes: A Consensus Statement from the American College of Sports Medicine.”
ACSM’s International Health & Fitness Summit — Re-envisioned and Interactive

by Greg Margason | Feb 11, 2022
After two years away, ACSM’s International Health & Fitness Summit returns with in-person and online programming March 31 through April 3,2022. The deadline for discounted, early-bird registration is Feb. 23.

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of our lives and created a dramatic change in the fitness industry. This year, the summit responds to the new challenges fitness professionals face, and the program prioritizes professional development focused on (1) the business of fitness (2) the fitness professional’s growth and wellness and (3) translating research into practice.

Although many of us are eager to return to in-person meetings, we also heard from many who would like opportunities for completing continuing education online. As a result, the summit will offer an online program different from its in-person offerings. Thus, attendees will have opportunities to engage in person, online or bundle both experiences for the best value and to fully dive into the latest content from the fitness industry. These offerings will allow fitness professionals to connect with the summit in the way that best serves them!

The in-person program includes more interactive workshops than ever before, and daily workouts to keep attendees moving. The summit welcomes an array of new presenters, networking events and opportunities to converse with experts throughout the beautiful Anatole Hilton in Dallas, TX.

Check out the full program, pre-conferences and these outstanding keynotes and special lectures:
- The opening session features a welcome from ACSM CEO Kristin Belleson and the President’s Lecture by Bruce Gladden Ph.D., FACSM.
- Sit in on a conversation with former MLB and NFL athlete, author and commentator Brian Jordan.
- The Larry Golding Keynote will feature father-and-son combo Nik and Chris Nikic — Chris was the first athlete with Down syndrome to complete an Ironman —along with a special book signing.
- Stephanie Cooper, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, will bring the Health & Fitness Journal’s Article of the Year to life.
- Kristin A. Traskie, MPH, ACSM-CPT, 2021 Certified Pro of the Year, will present a session detailing her career path.
For the second year in a row, ACSM will also host the summit en español. The Spanish-language event provides sessions that originate from a scientific core, and speakers deliver insights that anyone can put into action right away. A big thank-you to Drs. Jorge Franchella and Mario Muñoz for their efforts with this event.

The International Health & Fitness Summit is ACSM’s premier meeting for fitness professionals, and we encourage members from all segments of the college to register and attend. We request that our academic faculty bring their students to the summit so they can connect with ACSM professionals, and we invite prior attendees back to experience the summit’s new format. We also invite early-career professionals to take advantage of the networking and growth opportunities. Our hope is that ACSM fellows can interact with attendees so together we can transform the fitness profession and lead the way in translating research into practice.

On behalf of the entire program committee, I hope to see you at the summit and online. Please register before Feb. 23 for early-bird pricing.

Renee J. Rogers, Ph.D., FACSM, is a senior research scientist at Advent Health’s Translational Research Institute and a consultant and physical activity expert/instructor with Wondr Health. She is passionate about translating research into practice to enhance the fitness industry, and currently serves as the chair of ACSM’s Summit Program Planning Committee and Strategic Health Initiative for Behavior Change Strategies. Connect on LinkedIn or Twitter: @reneejrogers.

Viewpoints presented in SMB commentaries reflect opinions of the authors and do not necessarily represent ACSM positions or policies. Active Voice authors who have received financial or other considerations from a commercial entity associated with their topic must disclose such relationships at the time they accept an invitation to write for SMB.
EP/CEP Reimbursement Town Hall: Accreditation

by Greg Margason | Feb 09, 2022

ACSM, with guidance from past president William Kraus, M.D., FACSM, launched a newly formed task force in March 2021 to pursue reimbursement for ACSM Clinical Exercise Physiologists (ACSM-CEPs) and Exercise Physiologists (ACSM-EPs) within the health care system. To achieve this aspirational goal, ACSM must demonstrate that ACSM-CEPs and ACSM-EPs are uniquely qualified health care professionals that markedly improve patient outcomes and reduce health care costs.

ACSM, Dr. Kraus and other members of the Reimbursement Task Force held this special town hall on Nov. 22, 2021 and explored one of the key fundamentals of workforce development – preparation. Specifically, the role and purpose of programmatic accreditation to prepare exercise physiologists and clinical exercise physiologists adequately and uniformly for the workforce.

Click here to see the full Q&A
Discussing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the Classroom | Video + Conversation Guide

by Caitlin Kinser | Feb 09, 2022
When NiCole Keith, Ph.D., FACSM, was elected the 64th president of the American College of Sports Medicine (2020-2021), she became the first person of color to hold that position in the college's history. In this video interview with ACSM Historian Sean Walsh, Ph.D., FACSM, Dr. Keith discusses how her mother motivated her to pursue academics, the need that she saw as a student to increase racial and ethnic diversity in the field of exercise science, and how she has been involved with initiatives at ACSM to drive improvements in this area (as well as many others).

During Black History Month, initiate a conversation with your students about diversity in the fields of exercise science and sports medicine. Share Dr. Keith's interview and use the below questions to spark important discussion about how we can all actively work to increase diversity across the disciplines in which we study and work.

Questions for discussion:
1. What number president of ACSM is Dr. NiCole Keith?
2. What is unique, and long overdue, in regard to Dr. Keith’s election to the presidency of ACSM?
3. Dr. Keith has had a number of great mentors throughout her career. What can you take away from her mentee experience that could help you in your career?
4. How important do you think it was for Dr. Keith to participate in ACSM’s National Meeting? What about her involvement with ACSM’s New England Chapter? How do you think getting involved at a regional level was important for her?
5. What opportunity did Dr. Keith see for improving diversity, equity and inclusion at ACSM?
6. How can ACSM members or certified professionals address inequality and underrepresentation in health care and fitness?
7. What is the Leadership and Diversity Training Program? Have you thought about participating in it?
8. Dr. Keith speaks about how ACSM has approached diversity over the past decades. How might you approach diversity in the coming decades?
9. Dr. Keith shares what being an ACSM member means to her. What things attract you to ACSM and make you want to be a member?
10. What has ACSM done to make a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion for the future? What do you think you can do to further this pursuit?
Download the questions as a PDF handout

Interested in applying for ACSM's Leadership & Diversity Training Program? Applications are accepted through December 1 for placement the following year. Must be an ACSM member and currently enrolled in or completed a graduate level program in one of the related fields. Learn more.

Interested in applying to be a mentor for ACSM's Leadership & Diversity Training Program? Mentors are required to attend the ACSM Annual Meeting and be an ACSM Fellow. Learn more.
Supporting Athlete Mental Health

by Greg Margason | Feb 09, 2022
It has been remarkable to witness high-profile athletes advocating and educating the public about mental health support needs in elite-sport environments. In both National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and Olympic settings, I have observed transparent efforts to bolster support for mental performance consulting services and/or mental health resources over the past 5-10 years. It is becoming increasingly common to see certified mental performance consultants (CMPCs) or licensed psychologists listed on support staff rosters for teams and organizations. For most teams and organizations, the benefits of increased athlete mental performance and health resources are two-fold: (a) healthy athletes with decreased susceptibility to injury/illness and (b) top-performing athletes and teams (e.g., improved interpersonal dynamics, intensity regulation).

In an ideal scenario, athletes have access to such services well before the lead-up to milestone events such as the NCAA tournament, Olympics, or state championships. Much of the effectiveness of psychological servicing is dependent on the relationship built with the athletes: Any prior rapport or work conducted going into milestone events allows for more effective well-being or mental health intervention during those key events.

When working with athletes at events and/or in the daily training environment, the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia utilizes a “4-Rs” approach to athlete mental health and well-being support: Recognize, Reach out, Refer and Remain supportive. For those readers seeking to improve their skills in mental health support, several suggestions are provided below for each “R.”

Recognize

A key step in athlete mental health support is recognizing the signs and symptoms — or signals — that an athlete may be struggling. One way to improve recognition is to become trained in mental health first aid, which is available in many areas of the United States. Additionally, I would encourage professionals to review the sport-specific resources compiled by the Association for Applied Sport Psychology (AASP), the NCAA, and the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA). When in doubt, professionals can always consider connecting with a local mental health professional and/or team representative in the psychological servicing space (e.g., CMPC) to confidentially discuss your observations or concerns.

Reach Out

It has been my observation that professionals can sometimes be hesitant to reach out to athletes who may be struggling (e.g., persistent depressed mood, displaying uncharacteristic behaviors for themselves), usually for fear of not knowing what to say or perhaps fear of saying something that could make the situation worse. If you notice an athlete struggling, the following suggestions may be a good place to start:
1. Think about the timing and setting of your intended conversation. Plan to approach the athlete at a low-stress or noncritical moment in time, and choose a setting that offers some privacy and safety for the athlete.
1. Convey that you have noticed they haven’t been their typical self, you care, and you are happy to listen if they would like to talk.
1. Convey that if they are struggling, resources are available and they do not have to struggle alone. Let them know you are happy to make a referral if and when they are ready to talk to a professional. Depending on the sport environment, this could look like walking the athlete to the counseling center or simply providing them with names/contact information of mental health professionals.
1. Let them know that everyone has to take care of their mental health, and it is ok to need assistance in this area. If an athlete had a compound fracture, certainly others would point out that they should seek help from a professional. It is no different with our brains — mental health is health.
Refer

Consult any organizational policies regarding mental health referrals, and consider using a decision-making tree for determining referral appropriateness. Have a list of professionals who fit various types of mental health needs (e.g., disordered eating, anxiety, LGBTQ, depression, life transitions, grief/loss). Whenever possible, do as much vetting of these professionals as possible prior to referring an athlete. Ask the athlete if they have any preferences in the type of person they would like to see, such as gender, ethnicity, age, training, etc. This simple pre-referral step can prevent potential negative experiences for the athlete. Likewise, considering the accessibility of various providers relative to the athlete’s ability to pay for services (e.g., private insurance coverage, out of pocket expenses, Medicaid coverage) can reduce barriers to seeking help. Familiarize yourself with the various types of professionals who may be appropriate for a particular referral. In preparation for the most serious of referral concerns, have a plan in place for a mental health emergency before one occurs.

Remain Supportive

Once a referral or handoff in services has occurred, following up with the athlete helps to normalize the process of seeking help. Additionally, staying connected with the athlete after referral can help reduce any anxiety or hesitation upon transitioning back in to the training or competition environment.

Additional Resources:
Video | Mental Health Awareness Month: Supporting Athlete Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Video | Preventing & Recognizing Disordered Eating Behaviors
Website | R U Ok?
ACSM Statement | The American College of Sports Medicine Statement on Mental Health Challenges for Athletes
Winter Games | A Collection of Resources
Stacy L. Gnacinski, Ph.D., CMPC, CSCS is an assistant professor at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. She completed both her master’s of science (M.S.) in kinesiology and doctorate in health sciences (specializing in sport psychology) degrees at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Outside of her university work, she engages in her private practice as a certified mental performance consultant (CMPC) and is in the process of completing her M.S. degree in clinical mental health counseling at Drake University. In February 2022, she served on the ground as a CMPC for the Australian Winter Olympic Team at the Winter Olympic Games in Beijing. Dr. Gnacinski also holds a CSCS certification with the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), a corrective exercise specialist (CES) certification through the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the FMS Level 1 certification through Functional Movement Systems, Inc.