New Publication: Advancing Physical Activity Research with the PARO Framework

The National Collaborative on Childhood Obesity Research (NCCOR) is excited to announce the publication of their new manuscript, “Development of the Physical Activity Research Opportunities (PARO) Framework,” in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. The framework was developed with guidance from subject matter experts at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and research expertise from the Center for Nutrition & Health Impact. Significantly, it brings together years of disparate research recommendations into one accessible tool designed to strengthen physical activity research, funding, policy, and practice.

Why the PARO Framework Matters

Although the gaps and opportunities in physical activity research have been documented, these insights are spread across multiple reports. As a result, it can be difficult for researchers, practitioners, funders, and policymakers to see the full landscape—or to act on it efficiently. The PARO framework changes that by:

• Summarizing 385 research opportunities from 11 major sources into one cohesive structure
• Organizing opportunities by translational research phase (e.g., efficacy, effectiveness, dissemination and implementation, surveillance)
• Categorizing opportunities by social ecological level, including individual; interpersonal; and policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) interventions
• Highlighting where considerations for creating physical activity opportunities for all populations are not addressed, creating clearer pathways for action

What the PARO Framework Reveals

The development of the PARO framework resulted in several notable findings:

• Most opportunities call for real-world research — 51% focus on effectiveness studies, and 16% focus on dissemination and implementation.
• PSE-level interventions are a major priority, reflecting the need for supportive contexts that make active living possible.
• Only 24% of opportunities explicitly considered physical activity for all, indicating a significant gap for the field to address.
• The majority of opportunities call for research on interventions delivered in community settings, underscoring the importance of reaching people where they live, work, learn, and play.

How You Can Use the PARO Framework

The PARO framework provides a clear pathway to strategically advance physical activity research by helping users:

• Identify priority areas for future funding and grant proposals.
• Inform policy development, including updates to national guidelines.
• Strengthen cross-sector collaboration among public health, planning, education, and clinical partners.
• Build research agendas that better incorporate community voices and account for disparities.
• Organize and prioritize research gaps in other topic areas using the PARO methodology.

By organizing opportunities for physical activity research into a single resource, the PARO framework offers researchers, funders, practitioners, and policymakers a roadmap to more efficiently prioritize and coordinate their efforts. Ultimately, this roadmap can accelerate progress towards increasing physical activity at the population level.

Please stay tuned for an upcoming Connect & Explore about the PARO framework in January. To learn more, access the manuscript here.