The research demonstrates that epidemiological characteristics are associated with and can predict physical
activity behavior. That is, epidemiological characteristics may help explain an individual’s physical activity
behavior. Learning Experience #1 asks you to write an essay using you’ve learned about physical activity
epidemiology to, at least partially, explain your physical activity history.
Your essay should include THREE paragraphs, including:
1. An introductory paragraph introducing yourself and describing your physical activity history (i.e., from your
childhood to the present). This paragraph should include an appropriate thesis statement for the essay as the
last sentence in the paragraph.
2. A paragraph describing three most important physical-activity-epidemiology characteristics that have
impacted your physical activity history. Each physical activity epidemiological factor identified should be
accompanied by an APA style in-text citation of a relevant physical activity epidemiological study (from
Chapter 2 and/ or the RAT #1 PPTs), a sentence describing the relevant finding from the study cited, AND a
statement connecting the study finding to your physical activity history. The paragraph should begin with
an effective topic sentence.
The text (in red) below is provided as an example of how to cite a study, describe a relevant finding, and
connect the finding to your physical activity history.
One epidemiological factor that has impacted my goals is my gender. Smith and Jones (2020) showed that
females were less likely to participate in high intensity exercise. This has been true for me. My exercise
history shows that I have always participated mostly in low to moderate intensity exercise.
3. A summary paragraph that ties your essay together.
