March 14, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

After school programs in the 21st century
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/hfrp/projects/afterschool
/resources/issuebrief10/
Do afterschool programs make a difference and if they do what is it about the program that makes it work?

CONFERENCES

CDPAC 3rd national conference – Call for abstracts
http://www.cdpac.ca/media.php?mid=393
Ottawa November 24th – 26th 2008

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

A review of public exercise stations and trails in the ACT
http://catalogue.ausport.gov.au/fulltext/2000/nhf/
publicexercisestations.pdf
A user survey of a select range of facilities clearly indicated that the use of the stations is low and that the cost of a regular maintenance regime would be high relative to the low usage. The majority of trails on the other hand (with or without stations) are used frequently for walking/cycling/jogging. This finding is consistent with evidence that the majority of people prefer to walk as a regular form of activity.

A field survey undertaken to evaluate condition, safety and effectiveness of each of the stations and trails revealed that the majority of exercise stations have not been maintained and are in poor working order. There are safety risks associated with poorly maintained and/or inappropriately designed/located exercise equipment.

HEALTH

Unnatural causes
http://www.pbs.org/unnaturalcauses/
A new PBS series about “why some of us get sicker more often and die sooner and what causes us to fall ill in the first place….. Compelling personal stories illustrate obstacles and inequities in society but they also point the way to new possibilities, as individuals and communities organize to gain control over their destinies and their health.

Airing nationally four consecutive Thursdays (March 27, April 3, 10, 17 at 10 PM) on most PBS stations.

HEALTH LITERACY

A vision for a health literate Canada
http://www.cpha.ca/en/portals/h-l.aspx
Links to the executive summary and full report from the Canadian Public Health Association.

HEALTHY WEIGHT

Measured BMI data now available
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/atlas/index_e.html
Choose “view maps for each indicator” from the right hand navigation column to go to the statistics.

State of the evidence review on urban health and healthy weights
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=GR_1929_E
“The resulting analyses provide a high-level overview of the strengths of and gaps in the research on associations between urban environments and healthy weights.”


URBAN PLANNING

Complete streets bill introduced in US senate
http://blog.smartgrowthamerica.org/?p=137
“The Complete Streets Act of 2008 would encourage towns, cities, and metropolitan planning organizations to consider the needs of all users when building new roads or improving existing roads.”

MISCELLANEOUS

The Interviewing Cheat Sheet: 100 Resources for interviewers and candidates http://www.hrworld.com/features/interviewing-cheat-sheet-092507/
Resources for interviewers, answers for candidates, types of interviews, interviewing techniques and advice, interviewing strategies for candidates and more.

March 7, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies: Methodological guidance on the economic appraisal of health effects related to walking and cycling
http://tinyurl.com/2nll3h
This new document from the WHO provides guidance on approaches to the inclusion of health effects through transport-related physical activity in economic analyses of transport infrastructures and policies.

CHILDREN

Assessment of an after-school physical activity program to prevent obesity among 9- to 10-year-old children: a cluster randomized trial.
http://tinyurl.com/3e3zf2

Gym class can boost other grades
http://tinyurl.com/2oy6ac
The Vancouver Sun (Fri 29 Feb 2008 Source: Reuters) reports on a new U.S. study that suggests spending time in gym class can actually help to boost elementary school children's grades.

Outcomes of Switch-Play: A trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviors and promote physical activity in 10-year olds
http://tinyurl.com/yuja9s
Learn about the effectiveness of the Switch-Play intervention that is based in Melbourne, Victoria.

Unplug + Play parent campaign
http://tinyurl.com/ytvysd
The Heart Foundation's Unplug + Play Parent Campaign targets parents' awareness of the need for children to spend more time in active play and less time using TV, electronic games and the Internet.

CONFERENCES

International conference on childhood obesity: Evidence and practice from Exercise Science
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/spe/obesity
2008/announce_eng.html
Target Attendants: Exercise scientists, health professionals, PE teachers, policy makers, researchers, students in related areas, and those who have an interest in the prevention and intervention of childhood obesity.

COMMUNITIES

Age-friendly rural and remote communities: A guide
http://tinyurl.com/3dlwxz
The federal/provincial/territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors and the Public Health Agency of Canada, in partnership with nine provinces, the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Guysborough County, have developed the Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide. Complementing this guide is a research report detailing the focus group findings specifically from Guysborough County.

Measuring up
http://www.2010legaciesnow.
com/measuring_up/
Measuring Up helps B.C. communities assess and improve how accessible and inclusive they are for people with disabilities and for the whole community.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Motivators and constraints to participation in sports and physical recreation
http://tinyurl.com/2895kb
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has produced a new report on the associations between participation in sport and activity and motivations and constraints across different demographic groups.

Promoting or creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity
http://tinyurl.com/3dm629
From the U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence – 2008

With moderate exercise, you can lower your stroke risk
http://tinyurl.com/2uhff8
By engaging in moderate exercise, new research finds both men and women can lower the risk of stroke.

HEALTHY EATING

Using healthy eating and active living initiatives to reduce health disparities
http://tinyurl.com/3atplv
“Healthier eating and being physically active can significantly improve health. In low income communities and communities of color, it can reduce health disparities. This report identifies key lessons from eight (USA) national programs for making healthy eating and active living initiatives successful in reducing health disparities.”

HEALTHY WEIGHT

Motivators and constraints to participation in sports and physical recreation
http://tinyurl.com/2895kb
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have produced a new report on the associations between participation in sport and activity and motivations and constraints across different demographic groups.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mythbusters teaching resource
http://www.fcrss.ca/mythbusters/
teaching-resource.php
The CHSRFoundation's new online Mythbusters Teaching Resource is a resource to facilitate instructors of graduate-level classes to teach students how to write plain-language research summaries for policy makers, managers and others.

February 22, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE LIVING

Healthy living comes to town: Developing a statewide campaign for active living
http://www.bikewalk.net/presentations/
LeighAnnVonHagen.pdf
(PDF Format - 6MB)

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Climate emissions by travel type
http://tinyurl.com/2plf3p
"Charts CO2 emissions by transportation mode, from an SUV to a plane to a bus. The best strategy for reducing your impact: walk, bike, or fill up a seat that's already going your way!"

Ontario drops PST on most bikes
http://www.rev.gov.on.ca/english/
notices/rst/61.html
Starting on December 1, 2007, Ontario dropped the PST on bicycles under $1,000.00, bike helmets and other cycling safety equipment. It’s part of the province’s plan to encourage more people to get active.

CHILDREN

Smart Moves Queensland
http://www.pando.com.au/san/
articles/story/38234.html
The State Government have launched a new school physical activity program, called Smart Moves, as part of the "Year of Physical Activity" in Queensland.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The association between physical activity in leisure time and leukocyte telomere length
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/
AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_2

Scottish Physical Activity and Health Alliance (PAHA) briefing papers http://www.healthscotland.com/
physical-activity-publications.aspx
The Scottish Physical Activity and Health Alliance (PAHA) produces briefing papers on key topics, including two new papers on physical activity, inequalities and the importance of sedentary behaviour. (There is lots of other good info here.)

Sport participation in Canada 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/english/
research/81-595-MIE/81-595-MIE2008060.htm
Click on the link in the left-hand navigation column to download the 101-page report.

HEALTHY WEIGHT

Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives: A cross government strategy for England http://tinyurl.com/36rp5h
This new strategy, produced by the Department of Health in England, aims to support people to maintain a healthy weight. It includes a large section on "building physical activity into our lives."

MISCELLANEOUS

How does copyright infringement apply to the Internet?
http://www.us-cert.gov/cas/
tips/ST05-004.html

February 15, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

Exercise balls replace chairs at Simcoe elementary school
http://tinyurl.com/2jn3ft
The Simcoe Reformer reports that students are bouncing off the wall over their new seating arrangement at Elgin Avenue Public School …

Nova Scotia pumps up phys-ed. requirements
http://tinyurl.com/2tn6yu
The Cape Breton Post reports that starting next fall, new Nova Scotia high school students will be expected to enrol in at least one full credit of physical education in order to graduate …

CONFERENCES/ LEARNING

National Physical Activity Institute
http://www.canadainmotion.ca/
registration.php
June 23-25, 2008: In Motion Manulife National Physical Activity Institute, hosted at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Clinic-based support to help overweight patients with type 2 diabetes increase physical activity and lose weight
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/18227359?dopt=Abstract

ParticipACTION newsletter needs a name
http://www.lin.ca/resource-details/9919

Statistics Canada Report on Sport Participation
http://www.lin.ca/resource-details/9917
Barely three out of every 10 Canadians aged 15 and over participated regularly in one or more sports in 2005, a dramatic decline from the early 1990s when the proportion was closer to one-half ….

HEALTHY WEIGHT

The Heart and Stroke Foundation's new national healthy waists initiative is live!
http://tinyurl.com/3y34xg
What is Healthy Waists all about? The purpose of the Healthy Waists website is to help Canadians understand that they may be at increased risk for heart disease and stroke if their waistlines exceed a certain size. The website displays a video as well as written instruction to explain how to measure waists properly.

URBAN DESIGN

Safety benefits of smart growth design
http://www.planetizen.com/
node/28523
Includes references to Larry Frank’s work.

Speeding on arterial roads
http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?e=001wPHqVN6_pjik8iPScRF
1eiUB3tIWWjy7jtlO7yhdVXJ1YeI2keMbD-f
DNj5NtV3qZynIPMQqo-i_kzg3u3MK9ZFdi_
SmmLfSTybwIKBQ2SIjyh9UC7q0GA==
Forty-five per cent of speeding deaths occur on arterial roads. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety last year looked at arterial roads with posted limits of 40 or 45 mph in Atlanta, Boston, Denver, Los Angeles, Omaha, Tampa, and Washington, D.C. Arterial roads aren't built to the same safety standards as interstates and have much higher crash rates.

WALKING

A meta-analysis of pedometer-based walking interventions and weight loss
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/
pubmed/18195317?dopt=Abstract

Interventions to promote walking: systematic review
http://health-evidence.ca/
articles/show/17214

Pedestrians 2007
http://tinyurl.com/2l87wl
The Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2002 "includes 16 papers that explore a healthier way to travel, level of service of the urban walking environment and pedestrian route choice behavior, estimating nonmotorized travel demand, pedestrian counting methods at intersections, deficiencies in Florida pedestrian crash data, and methods to prioritize pedestrian high-crash locations.” Cost: $55.

WELLNESS

BC atlas of wellness (updated Jan. 10, 2008)
http://www.geog.uvic.ca/wellness/
This Atlas presents data on the geography of wellness in British Columbia. The Atlas covers topics such as:

• Assets and determinants.
• The geography of smoking behaviours and policies in B.C.
• The geography of nutrition and food security in B.C.
• The geography of physical activity in B.C. (this part is 37Mb)
• The geography of healthy weight in B.C.
• The geography of healthy pregnancy in B.C.
• The geography of wellness outcomes in B.C.

WORKPLACE

Workplaces in Motion launches in Manitoba
http://tinyurl.com/2rrsgn
Workplaces in Motion is a new component of the Manitoba in motion program that will encourage employees and employers to build physical activity into their daily lives at work …

February 1, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Resource Coordinator, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

A synthesis of research addressing the view of children, young people and parents on walking and cycling for transport.
http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/
Default.aspx?tabid=942

CHILDREN

Clinton Foundation: Go healthy challenge
http://tinyurl.com/33cjlh
“The Go Healthy Challenge is a comprehensive on-air, online and grassroots campaign that encourages kids across the country to make their lives, friends and family, and communities healthier.”

NFL Rush
http://www.nflrush.com/
Interactive website geared toward children.

BEST PRACTICES/EVIDENCE

EPPI Centre
http://eppi.ioe.ac.uk/cms/
Default.aspx?tabid=56
“The EPPI-Centre conducts systematic reviews of research evidence across a range of topics and works with a large number of funders. Major areas include: Education, Health Promotion.”

New & improved health evidence website
http://health-evidence.ca/
An updated website from Health-Evidence.ca.

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

Healthy Johor Bahru City 2005
http://tinyurl.com/384e4a
“Healthy City Program
People in cities, particularly the poor, experience stresses and exposures that result in health problems ranging from communicable diseases and malnutrition to mental illnesses and chronic respiratory diseases.

“Conditions that contribute to this situation include poverty, inadequate food and shelter, insecure tenure of land, physical crowding, poor waste disposal, unsafe working conditions, inadequate local government services, overuse of harmful substances and environmental pollution.”

National centre for health statistics (U.S.A.)
http://tinyurl.com/2njdwz
Scroll down the page a bit to see the 2005-06 questionnaire files for physical activity & physical activity individual activity file information.

Physical health law of the People's Republic of China
http://english.gov.cn/2006-02/
08/content_182552.htm
“The Nationwide Physical Fitness Program has set targets that, by 2010, about 40 percent of China's population will participate in regular physical exercise, there will be a clear improvement in the national physique and a major increase in the number of fitness sites so as to satisfy people's needs for keeping fit.”

January 18, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Edmonton 2005/2006 bicycle user survey report
http://tinyurl.com/3b8ds4

The Household Travel Survey conducted by the City of Edmonton in 2005 showed a 150% increase in the number of cycling trips taken per day (from 10,000 trips per day to 25,000 trips per day) between 1994 and 2005.

With such a marked increase in cycling in the City of Edmonton, the 2005/2006 Bicycle User Survey provides some insight into the habits and preferences of these cyclists.

CHILDREN

Characteristics of school campuses and physical activity among youth
http://tinyurl.com/yrp7k3

Previous research suggests that school characteristics may influence physical activity.

However, few studies have examined associations between school building and campus characteristics and objective measures of physical activity among middle school students.

The childcare environment and children’s physical activity
http://tinyurl.com/29zkzg

Previous research indicates that the childcare center that children attend significantly affects physical activity behaviour.

The current findings extend this evidence by identifying aspects of the childcare environment that relate to the physical activity behaviour of children.

These factors should be considered when identifying determinants of physical activity and designing interventions.

Ever Active Schools: Updated website
http://www.everactive.org/

“The staff at Ever Active Schools are excited to launch our new and improved website. Our intent was to make our site more user friendly and ensure it supplies our visitors with valuable resources and helpful information.”

Ever Active Schools: Winter newsletter:
http://www.everactive.org/assets/
pdfs/Bulletins/BulletinWinter2007.pdf

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES/PROGRAMS

Effects of “10,000 Steps Ghent” A whole-community intervention
http://tinyurl.com/2zam2t

“A multi-strategy community-based intervention was implemented in 2005 with follow-up measurements in 2006 to promote physical activity to adults.

“A local media campaign, environmental approaches, the sale and loan of pedometers and several local physical activity projects were concurrently implemented …”

DISABILITY

Physical activity and the deaf
http://tinyurl.com/2syxvf

“The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) has produced a report on physical activity and the Deaf community.

“This report focuses on the relationship of hearing loss, communication skills and the development of motor skills in deaf or hearing-impaired children and adults and makes recommendations for physical educators on the challenges of integrating and involving the deaf and hearing- impaired in community sport and recreation activities.

Providing physical education programs to help individuals develop healthy and active lifestyles is a critical issue for the deaf community.”


GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The effect of question order on reporting physical activity and walking behaviour
http://tinyurl.com/2wtpah

“Estimating PA and walking across sociodemographic strata with differing patterns of PA requires asking moderate-PA and vigorous-PA questions before walking questions.

“Asking walking questions first might lead to bias, especially for moderate PA. Walking, added to a survey with BRFSS moderate and vigorous PA items, should be placed after moderate and vigorous PA.

“Walking questions first may cause bias, especially for moderate PA.”

Efficacy of a theory-based behavioural intervention to increase physical activity in an at-risk group in primary care (ProActive UK): a randomised trial.
http://tinyurl.com/2lmucc

“Interpretation: A facilitated theory-based behavioural intervention was no more effective than an advice leaflet for promotion of physical activity in an at-risk group; therefore health-care providers should remain cautious about commissioning behavioural programmes into individual preventive health-care services.”

Exercise is medicine
www.exerciseismedicine.org

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have launched a new program designed to encourage patients to incorporate physical activity and exercise into their daily routine.

It calls on doctors to prescribe exercise to their patients.

Leisure-time activities shift over 12 years
http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_
poll/index.asp?PID=835

“For 1,052 adults ages 18 and over, each week contains 45 hours of work and 20 hours of leisure time.

"In 2007, the 2 or 3 most favorite leisure-time activities were reading (29%), watching television (18%) and spending time with the family/kids (18%).

“Compared to 1995, the largest increases in popularity were computer activities (up 7 points from 2% to 9%), watching sporting events (up 4 points), exercise (up 3 points) and crafts (up 3 points).”

Promoting physical activity through hand-held computer technology
http://tinyurl.com/yt8463

Results from this first-generation study indicate that hand-held computers may be effective tools for increasing initial physical activity levels among underactive adults.

Step up to better health
Register at http://aarp.stepuptobetterhealth.
com/default.asp

“Step Up to Better Health” incorporates a step counter to help users build up to walking 10,000 steps per day by virtually travelling along one of four famous trails: Lewis & Clark, Alaska Highway, Highway 50 or the Appalachian Trail.

Two on-line activity trackers
Register to participate at http://aarp.getfitonroute66.com/

“Get Fit on Route 66” Virtually trace the legendary highway that runs from the shores of Lake Michigan to the California coast by recording exercise minutes online; minutes convert to highway miles.”

Understanding dog owners’ increased levels of physical activity: Results from RESIDE
http://www.ajph.org/cgi/content/
abstract/98/1/66?etoc

“We examined the influence of dog ownership on physical activity, independent of demographic, intrapersonal, and perceived environmental factors, in a cross-sectional survey of 1813 adults.

“Although only 23% of the dog owners walked their dogs 5 or more times per week, the adjusted odds of achieving sufficient physical activity and walking were 57% to 77% higher among dog owners compared with those not owning dogs (P< .05).

“Dog ownership was independently associated with physical activity and walking. Actively encouraging more dog walking may increase community physical activity levels.”

MENTAL HEALTH

The relationship between organized physical recreation and mental health http://healthpromotion.org.au/
journal/articles/article9.php

“This review supports the development and maintenance of organized sport and recreational activities that are socially and culturally appropriate.

“An increase in valid and reliable evaluations of sport and physical recreation programs would contribute to the international body of evidence of the mental health benefits of organized physical recreation.”

NUTRITION

Ready-to-use presentation for educators on Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-
aliment/educ-comm/_fnim_pnim/ppt_e.html

“... a new ready-to-use PowerPoint presentation to help nutrition educators introduce and share the information about healthy eating and physical activity found in Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide - First Nations, Inuit and Métis.

OLDER ADULTS

The Friendly Corner
http://tinyurl.com/39ztqu

The Friendly Corner (TFC) is a successful partnership between the St. Laurent Centre Mall in Ottawa, the Canadian Public Health agency, and 24 volunteers.

TFC is a bilingual, health information and activity centre, open in this mall since 1994.

It provides opportunities for older adults to take charge of their health and improve their quality of life through physical activity, healthy eating, social connectivity and positive mental health.

URBAN PLANNING/RECREATION

Active neighborhood checklist
http://prc.slu.edu/iafc.htm

“This practical checklist helps residents, community groups, government officials and others determine whether their neighborhoods are activity friendly.

The checklist rates communities on land use, presence of public recreational facilities, availability of public transportation and quality of the environment.”

(Scroll to the Tools section – the titles underneath are all hyper-linked.)

Healthy landuse plans
http://tinyurl.com/2pv75d

“A new toolkit details various strategies for creating healthy communities, from building relationships and assessing existing conditions, to creating policy language for implementation of these strategies.

“It is designed for training advocates in the relationship between the built environment and public health, such as improving community health by ensuring that farmers' markets and neighborhood grocery stores are supported, or by promoting sidewalks, parks and other environmental components that encourage physical activity.”

Land use impacts on transport
http://www.vtpi.org/
landtravel.pdf

“This paper examines how various land use factors such as density, regional accessibility, mix and roadway connectivity affect travel behavior, including per capita vehicle travel, mode split and nonmotorized travel.” (Published 10 January 08)

Measuring the performance of transit-oriented developments in Western Australia
http://www.vtpi.org/renne_
tod_performance.pdf

“This new report summarizes factors to consider when evaluating TOD transport, economic social and environmental impacts.

"It recommends longitudinal measurement of performance indicators in six categories, including travel behaviour, the local economy, the natural environment, the built environment, the social environment and the policy context.”

Planning for healthy places fact sheets
http://www.healthyplanning.org/
factsheets.html

Smart growth e-learning portal
http://www.moodleserv.com/
smartgrowthca
“An educational program describing various smart growth concepts and implementation strategies, developed by the Smart Growth Canada Network, sponsored by Natural Resources Canada.”

WOMEN/GIRLS

Long-term effects of a physical activity intervention in high school girls
http://tinyurl.com/2e8w4n

“Physical activity (PA) decreases during childhood and adolescence, and PA levels are significantly lower in females than males, particularly during adolescence.

“Schools are attractive settings in which to implement interventions designed to promote PA in girls and young women, but few studies have tested the sustained effects of such interventions.”

Updating the evidence on physical activity and health in women
http://tinyurl.com/yurejo

“There is strong evidence of a role for PA in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some cancers in women.

“There was no evidence of additional health benefits from vigorous-intensity PA, over and above those achieved from walking or moderate-intensity PA.

“This may be because, in most studies, there was limited reporting of vigorous PA by women.

“For some health outcomes, the amount of PA required for health benefits in middle-aged and older women might be lower than current national recommendations.”

December 21, 2007

Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

Welcome to the final Info. Round-up for 2007. We’ll be taking a couple weeks off for the holidays. From all of us here at the Centre, we'd like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year!

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Inverse associations between cycling to work, public transport and overweight and obesity
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/
AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_1

Find out the associations between active commuting behaviour and overweight and obesity in New South Wales.

CHILDREN

Active Living Resource Center (ALRC) 2007 City-SRTS pilot project city reports
http://www.activelivingresources.org/
saferoutestoschool8.php

In 2006, the ALRC staff began work on an SRTS program for diverse populations in heavily urbanized environments where schools are typically located in the middle of cities with row homes, multi-family dwellings and industrial neighbours.

A series of pilot workshops were presented in communities across the United States. You can download and read the reports from the first and second year of the program.

Renewed Nova Scotia Active Kids Healthy Kids strategy

• Press Release: http://www.gov.ns.ca/news/details.asp?id=20071212001
• Strategy (scroll down a bit): http://www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/index.asp

CHRONIC DISEASE

Why health care renewal matters: Learning from Canadians with chronic health conditions
http://www.healthcouncilcanada.ca/en/

Canada must strengthen efforts to prevent chronic health conditions and support patients as active partners in their own care, says the Health Council of Canada’s latest report.

If governments act now, they can curb the growing epidemic of chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES/PROGRAMS

(If you know of any others, please let me know at rosanne.prinsen@ualberta.ca.)

• Active City Campaign, Surrey (http://tinyurl.com/ypxab)
• BC Healthy Communities
  (http://www.bchealthycommunities.com
  /content/home.asp)
• Calgary Commuter Challenge (http://www.calgarycommute.ca/
  commuterchallenge/)
• Do It Well - Healthy Living Hamilton (http://www.doitwell.ca/)
• First Nations Get Fit Challenge (http://www.claybruno.com/
  0000pg.asp/ID/8369/SID/1264)
• Get Active Mississauga (http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/
  getactivemississauga)
• Get Active — NWT Community Challenge 2007 (http://tinyurl.com/2z32a2)
• Go2 — Calgary (http://www.go2calgary.com/)
• Go Healthy Newfoundland (http://gohealthy.ca/en/)
• Healthy Living Niagara (http://www.healthyliving
  niagara.com/index.htm)
• Healthy Ontario (http://www.healthyontario.com/
  home.aspx)
• Inverness County on the Move — N.S. (http://tinyurl.com/yvl4vd)
• Manitoba in Motion (https://www.movingaroundmanitoba.ca/)
• Move More — Halifax (http://www.halifax.ca/recreation/
  MoveMore.html)
• Move This Way — City of Fredericton (http://www.movethisway.ca/
  main-e.asp)
• Niagara Region — A Great Place to Be Active
  (http://www.regional.niagara.on.ca/living/
  health_wellness/physicalactivity/faq.aspx#3)
• Northern Links — Recreation Connection for Rural, Remote and Aboriginal Communities (http://www.northernlinks.org/index.cfm?fa=nl.main)
• Ottawa Walking Info (http://ottawa.ca/
  residents/health/environments/
  workplace/activity/pedometer_en.html)
• Spring Into Action — Atlantic (http://www.horizonscda.ca/
  events.html)
• Recreation and Parks Association of the Yukon (http://www.rpay.org/content.php?id=18)
• Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation (http://www.torontocat.ca/TCAT%20Home.html)
• U of A on the Move (http://www.onthemove.ualberta.ca/)
• Vision 2020 Hamilton (http://www.myhamilton.ca/
  myhamilton/Cityand
  Government/ProjectsInitiatives/V2020)
• Walking Programs in Lambton County (http://www.lambtonhealth.on.ca
  /Active/6_2_Walking_%20Programs.asp)

NUTRITION

Dietary practices, dining out behavior, and physical activity correlates of weight loss maintenance
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/
2008/jan/06_0158.htm

Conclusion: The behavioural strategy of reducing consumption of fast foods could help people k weight off.

The combined approach of consuming five or more fruit and vegetable servings per day and attaining 150 minutes or more per week of physical activity was a common strategy among adults successful at weight loss maintenance.

OLDER ADULTS

Cardiorespiratory fitness and adiposity as mortality predictors in older adults
http://tinyurl.com/yq6dq5

In this study population, fitness was a significant mortality predictor in older adults, independent of overall or abdominal adiposity.

Clinicians should consider the importance of preserving functional capacity by recommending regular physical activity for older individuals, normal-weight and overweight alike.

Developing a telephone assessment of physical activity (TAPA) questionnaire for older adults
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/
jan/06_0143.htm

Conclusion: The pilot test demonstrated that the TAPA questionnaire is a promising instrument for use as a brief, telephone-based questionnaire for assessing physical activity in older adults.

It is our exercise family: Experiences of ethnic older adults in a group-based exercise program
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/
2008/jan/06_0170.htm

Conclusion: Findings from this study suggest strategies for developing community-based physical activity programs for older adults from ethnically diverse communities.

Translating a community-based motivational support program to increase physical activity among older adults with diabetes at community clinics: A pilot study of physical activity for a lifetime of success (PALS)
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/
jan/07_0142.htm

Interpretation: A community-based referral and support program to increase physical activity among elderly, ethnically diverse, low-income people with diabetes, many of whom are not English-speaking, may be thwarted by unforeseen barriers.

Those who enrol and participate in the PALS program appear to increase their level of physical activity.

Walking inside-out
http://tinyurl.com/2e3qbl

AARP advice for walking indoors or outdoors during winter months.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY — GENERAL

America Walks!
http://www.americawalks.org/

America Walks launches new website. This is the latest piece in the America Walks 2007 technology upgrade.

Please explore the site and come back to see the numerous additions planned over the coming weeks and months.

Can newly acquired healthy behaviors persist? An analysis of health behavior decay
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/
2008/jan/07_0031.htm

Conclusion: During an 18-month period, participants’ physical activity and dietary behaviors improved significantly. Even though behaviour improvement tended to be greater at six weeks, most healthy behaviours did not return to baseline levels after 18 months.

CJSR to revive bicycle traffic reports
http://www.cjsr.ualberta.ca/

From a recent announcement from the University of Alberta student radio station:

“Join CJSR Bicycle Traffic Reporters Daryl Richel and Karly Coleman as they head out every Thursday morning to check on bicycle traffic on the bike paths and streets of Edmonton.

"The Bicycle Traffic Report also includes interviews and features about cycling issues around town and around the world.

"You can listen to the Bicycle Traffic Report on Peter Chapman's new morning show Full English Breakfast heard Thursdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Listen to the Bicycle Traffic Report and avoid those nasty bicycle bottlenecks on your bike commute to work. Two wheels good, four wheels bad.”

Get active and stay injury free
http://www.ophea.net/Ophea/PARC/upload/
PARC_InjuryPreventionDecThemePARC_21NV07.pdf

This article will first highlight the cost of injury in Ontario due to physical activity, as outlined in The Economic Burden of Injury in Ontario, released in 2006 by SMARTRISK.

They also offer tips on how to take part in physical activity while avoiding injury from the Canadian Health Network.

Inactive Australia
http://www.sma.org.au/pdfdocuments/
PfizerHealthReport_07.pdf

Find out the current activity levels of adult Australians in this newly released report from Pfizer and Sports Medicine Australia.

ISBNPA Conference '08
http://www.isbnpa.org/abstract.cfm

Next year's conference of the International Society for Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) takes place in Canada in May. The deadline for submission of abstracts is 15 January.

Ongoing physical activity advice by humans versus computers: The CHAT Trial
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet_
Article_Commentary_2

Are real people more effective than computers in providing advice on being physically active?

URBAN PLANNING/RECREATION

A survey of policies and local ordinances supporting physical activity in Hawaii countieshttp://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/
2008/jan/06_0153.htm

Interpretation: The most populous county, Honolulu, had the most policies in place, although discrepancies existed between reported and written policies.

This baseline measure of physical activity–related policies will help focus efforts of county coalitions to increase opportunities for physical activity. Additional policies should be tracked with population behaviour surveillance.

Cities, sustainability and health
http://www.publish.csiro.au/nid/226/
issue/4094.htm

Cities, sustainability and health is the focus of the latest issue of the N.S.W. Public Health bulletin.

Neighbourhood walkability and TV viewing time among Australian Adults
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet_
Article_Commentary_3

Another publication from the PLACE study shows the links between neighbourhood environments and sedentary behaviour.

Trail-building toolbox
http://tinyurl.com/2fr66d
Building trails is not always a simple, straightforward task. Transforming former railroad tracks into a vibrant rail-trail requires technical know-how, support from your community, guidance from experienced trail builders and successful strategies to overcome barriers.

Whether you are new to the trail movement, or a seasoned trail builder, use Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's resources to find answers to technical questions or to guide you through the trail-building process.

WORKPLACE

Get Moving at Work Tasmania
www.getmoving.tas.gov.au/article.
php?article_id=138

This kit for workplace health and wellbeing programs was launched in October 2007. The audit tool has also been based very closely on the work of the Alberta Centre for Active Living.

December 14, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc (Alberta Centre for Active Living)

CHILDREN

Active Education Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance

http://tinyurl.com/2kbwmm

There are competing schools of thought in relation to the importance of research linking physical education and academic achievement.

Early Life Determinants of Physical Activity in 11 to 12 Year Olds: Cohort Study
http://tinyurl.com/295ryl

This piece of research looks at factors in early life (up to the age of 5 years) that are associated with objectively measured physical activity in 11-12 year olds.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The Effect of Season and Weather on Physical Activity: A Systematic Review http://tinyurl.com/yuja9s

“This review looked at previous research concerned with the effect of seasonality and the weather on physical activity participation, as an influencer of conditions of the built environment.”

Effectiveness of Exercise-Referral Schemes to Promote Physical Activity in Adults: Systematic Review
http://tinyurl.com/35rwtd

“Despite the health benefits of physical activity, most adults do not take the recommended amount of exercise.”

Ontario Society of Physical Activity Promoters in Public Health [OSPAPPH)
Announced Dec 12/07 (no website address yet)

“Our mission is to elevate physical activity as a public health priority in Ontario through engagement, education, advocacy and strategic alliances.

“This organization builds on the strengths of an established infrastructure and mandate within the public-health system, as well as the partnerships formed at the community, provincial and national levels with the ultimate purpose of increasing physical activity levels in Ontario.
“We look forward to working more closely with our members and partners in pursuit of a healthier, more active Ontario!”

HEALTH

Financial Health
Financial health is often a topic overlooked by people when they are considering an assessment of their “health.” We also know that when people are a victim of investment fraud, aside from financial loss, mental and physical health are the next casualties.

The following documents, are available from the Alberta Securities Commission (ASC), and provide helpful information:

• The Basics of Investing


• Choosing Your Financial Adviser


• Investing and the Internet - Be Alert to Signs of Fraud


• Characteristics of Various Types of SecuritiesMutual Funds - What You Need to Know


• The Prospectus - Being Informed is Being Protected

To understand more about the impact of fraud on victims and their families, read the Executive Summary from ASC’s national investor study.

For more tips on investing and your financial health, visit the For Investors section on the ASC's website at http://www.albertasecurities.com/

Health Effects of Exercise
http://tinyurl.com/34lqxn

If you missed ABC Radio National's interview with leading physical activity researcher Professor Steven Blair, who visited Australia from the U.S.A., you can access the transcript here.

It's Your Health Web Site: Update
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/index_e.html

The changes to the site were based on suggestions received from subscribers and Healthcare, Educational and Internal Advisory Committees.

You will now find articles organized under themes (such as Diseases, Food & Nutrition, Lifestyles) and audiences (such as Seniors, Parents & Children, Women).

MENTAL HEALTH

Leisure Program for Mental Health Sufferers in Calgary
http://tinyurl.com/2s3oum

The Calgary Herald reports on a leisure recreation program run by the Canadian Mental Health Association Calgary Region and funded by the United Way of Calgary and Area.

NUTRITION

Cost of Eating in B.C. 2007: The Bite Nutritious Food Takes From the Income Pie
http://kuuc.chair.ulaval.ca/url.php?i=4477&f=News&l=En

This report is published by Dietitians of Canada, B.C. Region in partnership with the Community Nutritionists Council of B.C.

The report demonstrates that some groups within our population are denied the right to safe and nutritious food due to limited financial resources.

Health Check Launches New Website
http://tinyurl.com/2u9qy9

“With over 1,300 licensed products , including many of Canada’s leading brands, the Health Check symbol can be found in every food group, in virtually every grocery store aisle across the country and on a growing number of restaurant menus.

"Health Check’s growth is making it easier for Canadians to find healthy choices in grocery stores and in restaurants.”

URBAN PLANNING

Planning for Health: The Built Environment (Australia)
http://tinyurl.com/2joxkc

“The Public Health Bulletin South Australia is a publication of the South Australian
Department of Health.

“The Bulletin aims to provide current data and information to practitioners and policy makers emphasizing the value of orienting services towards prevention, promotion and early intervention and to support effective public health interventions.”

WALKING/PEDOMETERS

Safe to Walk? Neighborhood Safety and Physical Activity Among Public Housing Residents
http://tinyurl.com/36mqkw

“Despite its health benefits, physical inactivity is pervasive, particularly among those living in lower-income urban communities.

“In such settings, neighborhood safety may impact willingness to be regularly physically active. We examined the association of perceived neighborhood safety with pedometer-determined physical activity and physical activity self-efficacy.”

December 7, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Small Step
http://www.smallstep.gov/index.html

“SmallStep.gov has recently been redesigned to better suit your needs. Re-launched this fall, the Web site includes updated information on health tips, eating better, ways to get active and portion control. SmallStep.gov can also provide a range of informational resources to assist you in achieving your health goals.”

Check out the “Get the Facts” section and link to Small Steps’ activity tracker.

Workbook for Influencing Physical Activity Policy – Now

http://www.ophea.net/parc/policy.cfm

The PARC Workbook for Influencing Physical Activity Policy is for anyone venturing to create a physical activity policy in their community, school or workplace.

It is suitable for all levels of experience or comfort with policy development. This workbook follows the Health Communication Unit’s (THCU) eight-step policy development model.

Although policy development is often resource intensive, this systematic approach can make it easier and the long-term benefits of policy make it a worthwhile investment.

NUTRITION

Obesity and Genetics: What We Know, What We Don’t Know and What It Means
http://www.cdc.gov/genomics/training
perspectives/files/obesknow.htm

“Rising rates of obesity seem to be a consequence of modern life, with access to large amounts of palatable, high calorie food and limited need for physical activity. However, this environment of plenty affects different people in different ways.

Some are able to maintain a reasonable balance between energy input and energy expenditure. Others have a chronic imbalance that favors energy input, which expresses itself as overweight and obesity. What accounts for these differences between individuals?”

WALKING/PEDOMETERS

Using Pedometers to Increase Physical Activity and Improve Health: A Systematic Review
http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/
short/298/19/2296

Bravata D.M., Smith-Spangler C., Sundaram V., Gienger A.L., Lin N., Lewis R., Stave C.D., Olkin I., & Sirard J.R. (2007). Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health: A systematic review. JAMA 298 (19), 2296–2304.

Context: Without detailed evidence of their effectiveness, pedometers have recently become popular as a tool for motivating physical activity.

Objective: To evaluate the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults.

Data sources: English-language articles from MEDLINE, EMBASE, Sport Discus, PsychINFO, Cochrane Library, Thompson Scientific (formerly known as Thompson ISI), and ERIC (1966-2007); bibliographies of retrieved articles; and conference proceedings.

Study Selection: Studies were eligible for inclusion if they reported an assessment of pedometer use among adult outpatients, reported a change in steps per day, and included more than five participants.

Conclusions: The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure. Whether these changes are durable over the long term is undetermined.

Walk and Bike for Life
http://www.walkandbikeforlife.org/

Walk & Bike for Life is a non-profit organization dedicated to create awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling as activities.

The organization also promotes urban parks and trails as great places, as they improve our environment, advance economic development, enhance our transportation systems, raise the recreation levels for all and improve our personal and public health.

WOMEN

Active & Free: Young Women, Physical Activity and Tobacco
http://www.caaws.ca/activeandfree/e/index.cfm

This resource is for leaders who care about young women’s health. English and French versions of the resource are available free of charge in a downloadable PDF from the CAAWS website.

November 30, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

Active parents raise active kids

http://tinyurl.com/2pm8yb

The Agence France Presse English (Thu 22 Nov 2007) reports on the results of a new study published today of more than 5000 10- and 11-year olds, which suggests active parents can, by their example, encourage their children to be physically active, but the effect is less than widely thought.

Birth of inactivity? A review of physical activity and parenthood

http://tinyurl.com/yuja9s

How does being a parent affect physical activity levels? This review explores this new area of research.

Childhood obesity: Views on who can make a difference

http://tinyurl.com/yqjto2

This WSJcomHarris Interactive survey finds that most adults believe parents, schools and the food industry can make a difference in battling childhood obesity.

Social support for youth physical activity

http://tinyurl.com/295ryl

Find out about the impact that social support, family, friends and school has on participation in physical activity of high school students.

Talking back to grownups: Healthy children, healthy communities — Report on the social determinants of health and middle childhood in Canada

http://www.unac.org/hchc/files/
Talkingbacksm.pdf

This resource is the concluding report to the research that the Healthy Children, Healthy Communities project conducted between May 2006 and March 2007.

Throughout this time, the project team travelled to 12 communities across Canada engaging with child health stakeholders and with young people themselves in order to understand the perceptions and priorities which exist around the health of children (age nine to 12).

In addition, UNA-Canada surveyed 1,200 Canadian adults to understand how they are thinking about the health of this age group.

The study showcases the social determinants of health with the largest impact on children’s lives (such as parental involvement and attachment to the community) and provides recommendations for tackling health disparities from a population health perspective.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Advancing the future of physical activity measurement and guidelines in Canada

http://www.csep.ca/main.cfm?cid=574
&nid=8363

Provided is the link to the press release and backgrounder.

Community exercise classes and adherence

http://tinyurl.com/2svvav

This intervention, implemented over a 20-week period, aims to increase exercise participation and adherence in sedentary, middle-aged adults.

Exercise adherence

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/
adherence.html

A web resource with lots of information from Georgia State University.

“Exercise is Medicine” program

http://tinyurl.com/37duzu

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have launched a new program to encourage physicians to prescribe exercise to patients.

Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer

http://www.dietandcancer
report.org

A report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, “Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective” ...

This report, based on the most comprehensive study of the association between cancer and obesity, concludes that excess body fat triggers up to a third of all cancer cases.

The consumption of even moderate amounts of alcohol, red meats and processed meats were also found to be associated with cancer.

Healthy eating — Healthy action

http://www.moh.govt.nz/healthyeating
healthyaction

Healthy Eating — Healthy Action (HEHA) is the New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s strategic approach to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and achieving healthy weight for all New Zealanders.

Healthy living e-bulletin

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/
ebulletin/index-eng.html

The E-bulletin is a quarterly newsletter designed to inform healthy living stakeholders about efforts to promote physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weights across the country.

It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada on behalf of the Healthy Living Issue Group of the Intersectoral Healthy Living Network.

OLDER ADULTS

Global age friendly cities: A guide

http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/
Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf

WHO regards active ageing as a lifelong process shaped by several factors that, alone and acting together, favour health, participation and security in older adult life.

Informed by WHO’s approach to active ageing, the purpose of this Guide is to engage cities to become more age-friendly to tap the potential that older people represent for humanity.

Retraining promotes physical fitness in seniors

http://tinyurl.com/34sbnw

The CBC.CA News (Sun 18 Nov 2007) writes that “attribution retraining” may be the key to convincing seniors that advanced age is no excuse for being physically unfit, according to American researchers.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, used the technique, which changes a person's perceptions and patterns to boost seniors' activity levels.

RECREATION/COMMUNITY

Community-based participatory research training manual

http://individual.utoronto.ca/sadaf/
resources/cbpr2007.pdf

Based on a training workshop for community workers, the authors adapted their training modules and handouts, and consolidated them into a comprehensive training manual for building the research capacity of community-based team members.

Journal of park and recreation administration

http://hotel.unlv.edu/recreation/journal/index.html

The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration has issued a special issue call for papers on Physical Activity, Health and Wellness.

WALKING/PEDOMETERS

Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health

http://tinyurl.com/35y9a9

This study evaluated the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults.

The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.

Whether these changes are durable over the long term is undetermined.

WORKPLACE/COMMUNITY

Physical activity in the workplace

http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/
workplace/index.html

From the British Heart Foundation ... Be sure to check out all the different resources (you’ll find the links in the left hand Navigation column.)

Think fit – Be active

http://www.bhf.org.uk/thinkfit/
index_home.asp?SecID=1590

A website from the British Heart Foundation …

November 22. 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living





ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Making cycling irresistible ...
http://tinyurl.com/yv55a5
Pucher, J. & Buehler, R. (In press). Lessons from the Netherlands, Denmark, and Germany.
Transport Reviews, 28. (876 KB, pdf). Scheduled for publication in July 2008.

Walking and bicycling survey database
http://appliedresearch.cancer.gov/tools/paq/
A National Cancer Institute database of survey questions on walking and cycling from (71) national and international physical activity surveys and questionnaires (PAQs).

This database gives you access to many questions about assessing the duration and frequency of walking and bicycling in the non-disabled adult population. It also briefly reviews the results of (35) validation studies of some of the PAQs.

Walking techniques to keep up the pace
http://tinyurl.com/27xwtj
“Mastering a good walking technique takes some time. But with practice, it will become second nature and will help you increase and maintain your pace comfortably ...”

CHILDREN

Everybody gets to play: Ontario supplement
http://tinyurl.com/ypnflg
This supplement to the Everybody Gets to Play Community Mobilization Tool Kit provides data and resources specific to Ontario's population. The Tool Kit aims to enhance the lives of children and youth in low-income families by increasing access to recreation.

The Tool Kit will help you mobilize your community to reduce barriers to recreation participation for low income families.

Health education trust newsletter (U.K.)
http://www.healthedtrust.com/pages/
physactivity.htm
This newsletter interprets the latest research findings about the importance of exercise for children's health.

N.B. students subject of three-year study of health habits
http://tinyurl.com/2dq4ea
The Quispamsis Middle School class is beginning a three-year program that will track their physical activity, diet and sleeping habits with online software.

Objective measures of physical activity levels of Alberta children and youth
http://education.alberta.ca/media/
318708/cflri.pdf
In 2005, Alberta Education started requiring 30 minutes of Daily Physical Activity (DPA) for all students in grades 1 to 9.

Early in 2005, Alberta Education contracted the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) to help research the DPA initiative.

To obtain baseline pedometer data, Alberta Education asked CFLRI to get provincial data from the Canadian Physical Activity Levels Among Youth (CANPLAY) study.

The CANPLAY study is a nationwide study that reports data by regions only. Alberta Education contracted CFLRI to collect an oversample of 1,100 children and youth. This extended sample gave Alberta a large enough sample size to analyze data at the provincial level.”

School health policies and programs study (SHPPS)
http://www.ashaweb.org/journal_
schoolhealth.html#shpps
This national survey assesses school health policies and practices at the state, district, school and classroom levels.

SHPPS was most recently conducted in 2006. Results are published in the October issue of the Journal of School Health (see above link).

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Active Commuting and CVD risk factors
http://www.springerlink.com/content/
8713314884h6l995/
Little is known about the effects of active commuting on biological cardiovascular risk factors This knowledge may form an important basis for interventions aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease (CVD) by increasing physical activity.

This project examined the associations between commuting, leisure time and total physical activity and biological risk factors for CVD.

British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health (U.K.) http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/
This Foundation publishes monthly physical activity information updates.

"Conservatives axe health network"
http://www.thestar.com/comment/
article/276891
“Effective March 31, 2008, the Canadian Health Network will cease to exist.

For the past eight years, it has provided citizens and medical professionals with a reliable, non-commercial source of online information about how to stay healthy and prevent disease.”

Contact, help, advice and information networks
http://chain.ulcc.ac.uk/chain/
index.html
CHAINs — Contact, Help, Advice and Information Networks — are online networks for people working in health and social care.

They are based around specific areas of interest and give people a simple and informal way of contacting each other to exchange ideas and share knowledge.

CHAINs are multi-professional and cross-organizational.

Get moving Tasmania (Australia)
http://www.getmoving.tas.gov.au/
article.php?article_id=118
This newsletter focuses on preventing poor health and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

Impact of a new transit stop on physical activity
Brown, B. & Werner, C. (2007). A new rail stop: Tracking moderate physical activity bouts and ridership. American Journal of Preventative Medicine, 33 (4), 306-309.

Nature's anti-depressant: Exercise
http://tinyurl.com/2wt6aa
From the Nov. 13, 2007, American Council on Exercise newsletter ...

A much less known fact about the treatment of depression is that since the late seventies, researchers have been examining the influence of physical activity on depressive symptoms.

Since that time, research has consistently reported that exercise may be as effective in decreasing mild to moderate depression as more traditional treatment approaches.

Park safety and physical activity
http://tinyurl.com/2hjj4s
Learn about the importance of safety in parks and open spaces and how it can contribute to increasing community levels of physical activity.

Physical activity among adults with a disability
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/
mmwrhtml/mm5639a2.htm?s_cid=mm5639a2
Results based on an analysis of the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System.

Physical activity network Wales (U.K.)
http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/
home.cfm?orgid=626
This network links individuals and organizations across the spectrum of physical activity in Wales, providing support and facilitating partnership.

Premier's council for active living (PCAL) bulletin (New South Wales, Australia)
http://www.pcal.nsw.gov.au/resources/
monthly_bulletin.html
This newsletter offers people interested in promoting active living choices within N.S.W. relevant, up-to-date news and research.

Telephone counseling for physical activity
Kolt, G.S., Schofield, G.M., Kerse, N., Garrett, N., & Melody Oliver, M. (2007) Effect of telephone counseling on physical activity for low-active older people in primary care: A randomized, controlled trial. The American Geriatrics Society, 55 (7), 986-992.

Unhealthy America: The economic impact of chronic disease
http://www.chronicdiseaseimpact.com/
The Milken Institute details the enormous financial impact of chronic disease on the U.S. economy — not only in treatment costs, but lost worker productivity — today and in the decades ahead.

It also describes the huge savings if a serious effort were made to improve Americans’ health. Click on any of the links on this page to view the data by that category.

From this website, you can also download the Full Report and/or the Executive Summary/Research Findings.

Wednesday walkers
http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.
aspx?documentId=6411
Wednesday Walkers (a program developed by Sumter County Active Lifestyles, the USC Prevention Research Center's community partner) was included in an article in November's Parks and Recreation Magazine, a publication of the National Recreation and Parks Association.

OLDER ADULTS

Physical activity programs for older adults
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/
refguide_physactivity.htm
A guide from CDC's Division of Diabetes Translation that provides information on 17 physical activity programs for older adults with healthy to frail functional status.

Some programs were designed specifically for those with diabetes or pre- diabetes.
This guide helps organizations choose the right physical activity program for the population served.

The guide also includes program elements such as:

· Demographics of the programs’ target population.
· Program and participant costs.
· Number and type of paid or volunteer staff.
· Research on evaluating program efficacy or effectiveness.

Portage La Prairie — An age-friendly city
http://tinyurl.com/26gxgt
Portage la Prairie participated in a project of the World Health Organization: the global “Age Friendly Cities Project.” This project is based on the premise that an age-friendly city promotes active aging.

RECREATION

Managing knowledge in the recreation sector
http://lifestyleinformationnetwork.
pbwiki.com/
This presentation, from the 2007 Canadian Parks and Recreation Association Annual Conference, is in the form of a wiki.

This presentation looks at the use of information technology such as wikis, blogs, RSS feeds as ways to manage and share knowledge. It also highlights ways in which the Lifestyle Information Network has implemented the technology.

Tournament info
http://www.tournament-info.com/
This is a free site that helps sport organizers schedule tournaments for various sports. You simply fill in the boxes. No computer skills or knowledge of html codes are required.

You can include schedules, venues and even results as they happen if you choose to. This will allow participants to be aware of standings, etc., by simply visiting your tournament page.

URBAN PLANNING

Built Environment Assessment Training (BEAT) Institute
http://www.sph.emory.edu/BEAT/
The Institute of Medicine and other key organizations have identified environment and policy changes as the most promising strategies for controlling obesity and improving diet and physical activity.

Healthy communities, sustainable communities http://www.ontarioplanners.on.ca/pdf/Healthy_
Sustainable_Communities_2007.pdf
Released by the Ontario Professional Planners Institute, this report highlights the links between community planning and health and notes ways in which we can make communities healthier and more sustainable.

The paper focuses on the relationship between where we live and issues that are key to communities across this province:

· obesity and related health problems
· air quality in transportation corridors
· economic vitality and poverty
· social cohesion

The paper is being released following yearlong research and consultation.

WOMEN

Updating the evidence on physical activity and health in women
http://tinyurl.com/22pcsk
Find out about the health benefits of physical activity in women in this up-to-date review of the evidence.

WORKPLACE

Get moving at work: A resource kit for workplace health and well-being programs http://www.getmoving.tas.gov.au/
article.php?article_id=138
From Australia … There is a kit and an audit tool, among other things.

Posters promoting stair use
http://tinyurl.com/yqbyka
Kwak, L., Kremers, S.P.J., van Baak, M.A., Brug J., et al. (2007) A poster-based intervention to promote stair use in blue- and white-collar worksites. Preventive Medicine, 45, 177- 181.