Why ISBNPA

The International Society of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity was deliberately formed to be International and to combine interests in diet and physical activity. Many people have asked "why"? A brief article was written to explain those reasons (click here). Below please find the highlights of that article and on which page to find those points discussed in the article.

Why should ISBNPA be International? (see p2)

• all humans engage in eating and physical activity albeit expressed in different ways around the world-which makes for interesting cross cultural research
• we can learn from the naturally occurring variability in these behaviors and the influences on these behaviors
• obesity is becoming epidemic world wide
• countries can learn from each others' obesity treatment/prevention efforts
• the companies selling food and PA products are transnational; so we need to stay on top of their activities worldwide
• we can have more influence in influential international councils (e.g. WHO, PAHO) if we are an international society

Why combine diet and physical activity in the same society? 

• Biological complementarity (see p 3)
  • most chronic illnesses are a complementary function of diet and physical activity (e.g. energy balance) 
• Similarities in diet and physical activity behaviors (see p 3)
  • similar characteristics: type, amount, duration, frequency, consistency over time, periodicity over time and location in time, place and social milieu 
• Similarities in measurement of these behaviors (see p 4)
  • similar sources of error: variety, complexity, periodicity, cognition 
• Similarities in correlates of these behaviors (see p 5)
  • similar sources of correlates
  • similar low levels of prediction 
• Similarities in interventions to change (see p 5)
  • similar channels
  • similar methods
  • similar theoretical mediators 
• Behavioral Interdependence (see p6)
  • for example, more physically active children tend to eat more fruit and vegetables
  • guidelines for change should be interdependent (diet prescription in light of level of PA) 
• Joint Policy Relevance and survival (see p 6)
  • a broad variety of chronic diseases and obesity appear to be prevented by changes in a relatively small number of diet and physical activity behaviors
  • if diet and physical activity researchers and advocates don't work together, we will more likely succumb to the efforts of the multinational pharmaceutical companies who are addressing the same issues with non-behavioral solutions: we will lose, but so will society 

We would be foolish not to be International, or not to include both diet and physical activity.