June 2, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE LIVING

A resident’s guide for creating safe and walkable communities – Feb 08
‘This guide provides examples from other communities working to improve pedestrian safety. It includes information, ideas, and resources to help residents learn about issues that affect walking conditions; find ways to address or prevent these problems; and promote pedestrian safety.”

Improving conditions for bicycling and walking: A best practices report


ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Literature review of walking programs
Includes walking program best practices based on provincial, national and international literature reviews.

CHILDREN

Canada's report card on physical activity for children and youth for 2008
Canada’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth for 2008 is the fourth annual overview of key indicators in relation to the physical activity levels of Canada’s young people. While the Report Card is again a comprehensive overview of issues, this year the focus is on screen time and physical activity.

The influence of age and gender on recreation participation
Previous ‘A Look at Leisure’ bulletins have provided an overview of participation patterns, favourite activities, reasons for participation, and constraints. In this report, we take a closer look at these variables but with emphasis on differences and similarities between age and gender groups.

NUTRITION

Stand up (more) & eat (better)
This is an educational and participatory site to help people balance the calories they eat with the calories they burn each day. We are promoting "calorie literacy".

OLDER ADULTS

Guidelines on the promotion of physical activity with older people
“These guidelines have been drafted to assist the work of those in the position to promote physical activity and well being with all older people. They are not intended to provide exercise recommendations relating to specific diseases and conditions associated with ageing or on exercise prescriptions for individuals.”

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GENERAL

Active2010 newsfeed now active
‘Stay up-to-date with our news feed. Come back often to see what the media is saying about sports and physical activity.’

BC on the move: Physical activity strategy
The “PAS is committed to its goal to improve the health of British Columbians through leadership that enhances community action to promote physical activity, with a targeted focus on inactive 35-54 year olds.”

British national heart foundation: Physical activity and health
Information on the annual conference as well as links to great resources for many populations and settings. A web-site well worth exploring!

WOMEN

Pregnancy and sport
Exercising during pregnancy is becoming more popular as it has been known to limit weight gain during the pregnancy, help with delivery and make returning to exercise after the birth much easier. With the increase in the number of female athletes, pregnancy in sport has become a hot topic as it raises a number of legal, ethical, medical and even insurance issues….

WORKPLACE

ENACT strategy: Reimburse employees for preventive health and wellness activities

International and national perspectives on workplace health
Though active in workplace health promotion, Canada can learn much from European success stories that demonstrate a more structural and legislative approach…….

Move Europe - A campaign for the improvement of lifestyle-related workplace health promotion in Europe

Nova Scotia’s comprehensive workplace health promotion strategy
There are dedicated sections for employees, employers and practitioners.

May 2, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

Accessible play spaces
Annex H of the CSA playground standard that includes information for people who want to incorporate accessibility into new or redeveloped play spaces.

Creating active playgrounds in primary schools
This case study has demonstrated that a supportive process enables environmental changes to be undertaken in primary school playgrounds that may increase students' physical activity levels.

It's not about the weight: It's about the person
This presentation encourages the participation of overweight and obese youth in physical activity, explains how to use language and develop attitudes in activity instruction that support increased participation, and how to identify and address self-handicapping issues.

Residential proximity to school and the active travel choices of parents
Despite the overall low prevalence of walking to school by parents, health-enhancing benefits may be achieved even when other modes of transport are used in conjunction with walking.

The contribution of preschool playground factors in explaining children’s physical activity during recess
Discover which aspects of the playground environment are associated with increasing physical activity in pre-schoolers.

Value of playgrounds to children
An explanation of the value play spaces provide to children.

CONFERENCES

Ophea’s kids’ health conference - Building active healthy school communities
Alliston, Ontario, October 16-18, 2008.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Beyond masculine stereotypes: Moving men's health promotion forward in Australia
The health promotion community needs to critically reflect on theoretical commentary relating to hegemonic masculinity and, more recently, multiple masculinities. This will provide greater capacity to tailor health promotion interventions to the most disadvantaged and marginalised populations of men in Australia.

MENTAL HEALTH

Effects of a walking program in the psychiatric in-patient treatment setting: A cohort study
Introducing a program of walking in a psychiatric in-patient setting is a potentially low-cost, low-risk, well-tolerated intervention that may have benefits extending beyond mental health.

The relationship between organised physical recreation and mental health
A literature review was undertaken to explore evidence relating to the mental health benefits of participation in organised physical recreation.

NUTRITION

Eating and activity: the importance of family and environment
The aim of this paper was to examine the eating behaviours, physical exercise and television viewing of secondary school students, and to investigate their relationship with parental monitoring and family cohesion.

Translated Canada's food guides now available
Canada’s Food Guide is now available in 10 languages in addition to English and French. Translated directly from the 2007 Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide, they are available in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi (Persian), Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Spanish, Tagalog, Tamil, and Urdu.

OLDER ADULTS

Joint pain survey results
Results of an arthritis survey done by the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults. “The research examined Canadians' feelings and perceptions about active living - awareness and understanding of the benefits of active living, thoughts about changing activity levels as they age, and barriers to living an active life at any age.”

Stay active – Stay independent
This article provides an example of a physical activity promotional program effectively targeting a key age group demographic.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GENERAL

Active living better practice case studies
Specific considerations to help create environments for active living are summarized for six key environments.

Participation in sports and physical recreation – Australia
Regular physical activity is beneficial to people's health and wellbeing. This article investigates the types of sports and physical recreation Australians engage in. Using data from the 2005–06 Multi-Purpose Household Survey, it focuses on the characteristics of participants as well as the main motivators for involvement and the main constraints given for not participating.

WOMEN

A brief report of attitudes towards physical activity during pregnancy
The study has clear indicators for developing education and health promotion programs that enable women to make informed choices about physical activity levels during pregnancy.

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 …

January 25, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Dependence on cars in urban neighbourhoods: Life in metropolitan areas
http://tinyurl.com/2kscd8
As cities grow, sometimes neighbourhood design and public transportation schemes do not keep pace, resulting on more reliance on cars.

CHILDREN

Energy expenditure in adolescents playing new generation computer games
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_3
This study compared the energy expenditure of teenage boys and girls when playing sedentary (XBOX 360) and new generation active computer games (Wii Sports).

CHRONIC DISEASE

Chronic disease prevention: Looking back on 2007 and ahead to 2008
http://tinyurl.com/3c48ae

COURSES

Manulife national physical activity institute
http://tinyurl.com/36fvza
The Manulife National Physical Activity Institute is being hosted at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

The institute will take place from June 23-25, 2008. The focus of the institute, will be on providing resources and tools that can be utilized to mobilize populations to be more physically active for health benefits.

GENERAL HEALTH

Combined impact of health behaviours and mortality in men and women: The EPIC-Norfolk prospective population study
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_9

Indicators of well-being in Canada
http://www4.hrsdc.gc.ca/home.jsp?lang=en
Indicators of Well-being in Canada gathers data from different sources and presents a comprehensive, up-to-date picture of the well-being of Canadians and Canadian society.

You will find a wide range of indicators, or statistical measures, that show how things are going for Canadians.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

2008 American Council on Exercise (ACE) fitness trends predictions
http://www.acefitness.org/media/
media_display.aspx?CMP=HET_0108&NewsID=277

Active living network website – no longer operating
http://www.activeliving.org/
Message from the Network January 10:

“I'm writing to thank you for your support and commitment to advancing active living and to let know you that this month's Active Living Update will be our last. While the Network will no longer operate after Jan. 10, 2008, you may continue to access archived resources, tools, profiles and storybank projects,”


Case studies from "Go for your life" physical activity grants program
http://tinyurl.com/2lunta
Read about success stories from the "Go for your life" physical activity grants program in Victoria, Aus.

This is the first large study to show the combined effects of four key health behaviours: non-smoking, physically active, moderate alcohol intake and recommended fruit & vegetable consumption.

Get out there magazine: Launches online editions
http://www.getouttheremag.com/about.php
With editions in Ontario and western Canada, Get Out There serves as a local resource for amateur sports, outdoor recreation and adventure pursuits.

Links to even more research
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_4

MENTAL HEALTH

Diet and exercise prescribed to aid psychotic patients
http://tinyurl.com/2l9h9p
Quebec research which claims that excess weight gain provoked by antipsychotic drugs can be avoided with a nutrition and exercise program. Instead of packing on the pounds, patients actually lost weight, a study by the Université Laval faculty of medicine shows.

NUTRITION

Obesity and the eating habits of the Aboriginal population, 2005
http://www.statcan.ca/Daily/English/080123/d080123a.htm

WALKING

Does walking in the neighbourhood enhance local sociability?http://usj.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/44/9/1677

WORKPLACE

Get moving at work – A resource kit for workplace health and wellbeing programs
http://www.getmoving.tas.
gov.au/article.php?article_id=138
The Get Moving at Work resource kit is a simple-to-use guide for organizations, particularly employers, wishing to develop a health and wellbeing program for their organisation. (Part of Get Moving Tasmania - lots of other good resources here too!)

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 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.

October 26, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

CDC study finds U.S. schools making progress in decreasing availability of junk food and promoting physical activity

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/pressrel/
2007/r071019a.htm

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Bicycling and walking in the U.S.

http://thunderheadalliance.org/pdf/
benchmarking2007.pdf

“Thunderhead’s first biennial Benchmarking Report, shows that bicycling and walking have been in decline in the U.S. since the 1960s. At the same time there has been a surge in adults and children who are obese. The report compares, for the first time ever, bicycling and walking levels, investment in bicycling and walking, and public health. The most striking findings reveal major disparities between cycling and walking levels, traffic fatalities, and federal funding for bicycle and pedestrian projects.” The document is 18 MB and 120 pages.

Preventing chronic disease: Public health research, practice and policy

http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/
oct/toc.htm

The October 2007 issue of this CDC research journal. Many articles deal with physical activity and specific ethnic groups in the United States.

NUTRITION

Canada’s nutrition and health atlas (CNHA)

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/surveill/
atlas/index_e.html

You can view maps for each indicator or data by province (see the links in the right-hand column). There is information on nutrition and physical activity (five different sets of physical activity data), data on adults and children.

This survey is the best for BMI statistics because "The height and weight measures of all respondents aged 2 and older were collected at the end of the interview. In addition to the exact measures, self-perceived height and weight were also collected from 10% of respondents aged 18 and older."

My food guide servings tracker

http://tinyurl.com/2bra7g

The Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion has released a new tool to help Canadians keep track of the amount and type of food they eat each day. You can print the My Food Guide Servings Tracker from the Health Canada website. Print My Food Guide Servings Tracker for your age and sex and use it to keep track of your daily choices. Compare it to the recommendations in Canada's Food Guide.

WORKPLACE

CDC presents first state-by-state data on work limitations caused by arthritis

http://www.cdc.gov/od/oc/media/
pressrel/2007/r071011.htm

“… these findings show that large numbers of workers in every state are affected by arthritis … Fortunately, simple workplace accommodations like flexible work schedules, ergonomic work stations and efforts to promote exercise and physical activity can help many workers who have arthritis.”

September 14, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

Government of Canada response to the seventh report of the Standing Committee on Health, Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids
http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/cmte/Committee
Publication.aspx?COM=10481&SourceId=213785

Here's the link to the original report published in March 2007: http://cmte.parl.gc.ca/Content/HOC/committee/391/
hesa/reports/rp2795145/hesarp07/hesarp07-e.pdf

Kids kept indoors face “nature deficit disorder”

CP Wire (25/08/2007) writes that the “vague and powerful fears” parents harbour about giving their children free reign to frolic outdoors means a whole generation of young ones are facing a “nature deficit disorder,'” say experts and observers.

There is a “disturbing trend” that shows children are involved in mostly indoor organized activities, Doiron said. Nathan Perkins, an associate professor at the University of Guelph, said the need for structure in people's lives is making nature an increasingly “programmed experience.”

He said people are inclined to plan outings like a nature walk or canoe trip in advance rather than just do it on a whim. Perkins, who collaborated with graduate student Sarah McCans to research the role mothers play in exposing children to nature, said moms have “very vague and powerful fears” when it comes to letting their kids play unsupervised outdoors.

Most parental fears stem from news reports about outdoor safety and children's encounters with predators, said Richard Louv, who recently wrote a book about the dwindling relationship children have with nature.

Louv's latest book, “Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder,” has sold 160,000 copies and helped spark the creation of several groups dedicated to encouraging kids to get outdoors. Louv said when people hear the term “nature deficit disorder” they're immediately familiar with the issue.

Bob Peart, one of the organizers behind Nature Child Reunion based in Sidney, B.C., said kids often need to be reminded outdoor activities exist. Peart said part of the problem stems from parents who don't encourage their children to do simple outdoor activities such as walking to school.

According to data from the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia, nearly half of all children living in urban and suburban B.C. get a ride to school. Another part of the problem is the number of activities competing for children's time and attention.

Statistics Canada's most recent numbers on television viewing indicates children between ages two and 11 spend an average of 14.1 hours a week in front of the tube. While children might enjoy spending time in front of the screen, Doiron said it's important to get kids to increase their physical activity.

Thirteen new studies of systematic reviews and research designed to increase levels of physical activity
http://www.activekidsns.ca/

Play your way to fitness, Physical activity all day long: Building movement into the school curriculum and Switch off the TV and PLAY are among 13 new studies of systematic reviews and research available at http://www.activekidsns.ca/.

The purpose of conducting the studies of systematic reviews and research designed to increase levels of physical activity for children and youth is to help generate ideas and discussion among individuals interested in improving children’s physical activity levels in Nova Scotia.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Blueprint for Action aims to get people moving
http://www.halton.ca/health/programs/hearthealth/physical
_activity/active_living_network.htm

The Metroland - Halton Division (Wed 05 Sep 2007 Byline: Krissie Rutherford) writes that the Halton Active Living Network (HALNet) launched a report yesterday, geared at increasing the number of Halton residents who are regularly physically active by 20 per cent by the year 2012.

The Blueprint for Action doubles a goal outlined by the Ontario government, which has pledged to ensure the number of active residents in the province grows 10 per cent by 2010, MPP Kevin Flynn said.

The Blueprint for Action has taken more than a year and a half to complete.

The combined effort of many Halton organizations in areas including fitness, sport, education and health, some of the plan's initiatives are underway now, with others to be phased in over the next few years.

Supporting physical activity in schools and organizing community events to promote fitness are among the short-term actions, while implementing more active transportation and changing policies in schools are just some of the initiatives the plan outlines for the future.

Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute (CFLRI) http://www.cflri.ca/eng/statistics/surveys/pam2006.php

CFLRI has recently released the second set of topics from its 2006 Physical Activity and Sport Monitor.

Topics include: Body mass index, overall health status and chronic conditions, life satisfaction and self reported mental health, stress, barriers to being active, potential influence on recruitment and turnover, beliefs about work-related benefits of physical activity, absenteeism and workplace injury, illness, and stress.

CIHI: Health of the nation newsletter (Fall 2007)
http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/en/downloads/2007_Fall_HN_ENG.pdf

Visit the What's New section and check out “Age and gender differences in youth physical activity: Does physical maturity matter?”

New Brunswick launches campaign for healthy living
The Globe and Mail (Thu 06 Sep 2007 Source: CP) reports that the New Brunswick government has launched a two-year marketing campaign to encourage New Brunswickers to live a healthier lifestyle.

The province has the most physically inactive population in Canada and some of the most obese children in the country.

The government is spending $500,000 over the next two years on a campaign that includes television, print and radio ads. The ads encourage parents to become active and set an example for their children.

Physical Activity Symposium 2008
http:www.ophea.net/parc

Tuesday & Wednesday, March 4-5, 2008
Crowne Plaza Toronto Don Valley Hotel Toronto, Ontario

The annual PARC Conference has evolved into the PARC Physical Activity Symposium 2008 to provide an engaging and practical professional development opportunity for physical activity promoters across Ontario.

The PARC Symposium is planned by and designed for physical activity promoters from public health and community health centres, recreation leaders, physical activity consultants and others interested in physical activity promotion.

Join professionals with an interest in and commitment to active healthy living. Early Bird Registration deadline is Friday, December 14, 2007.

Workbook for influencing physical activity policy
www.ophea.net/parc/policy.cfm

As an addendum to PARC’s online Toolkit for Influencing Physical Activity Policy, PARC’s new workbook is a user-friendly tool for anyone venturing to create a physical activity policy within their community, school or workplace.

It is suitable for all levels of experience or comfort with policy development. The workbook follows the Health Communication Unit’s (THCU) eight-step policy development model.
For a more comprehensive look at policy development, please see PARC’s online Toolkit for Influencing Physical Activity Policy.

MENTAL HEALTH

Mental health promotion symposium
http://www.utoronto.ca/chp/MentalHealthSymposium2007/index.html

Presentations from the Mental Health Promotion Symposium held in Vancouver June 10, 2007 are now available online.

Symposium topics include research and community approaches to mental health promotion in the following contexts: rural and remote villages, victims of trauma, community development, youth in schools, Indigenous and Inuit populations, people with a mental illness, healthy aging and national policy.

NUTRITION

New Food Guide resources to assist educators and communicators
The Office of Nutrition Policy and Promotion offers new tools on the Health Canada website to assist educators and communicators in sharing information about Canada’s Food Guide.

Tools include two PowerPoint presentations: the first one helps to explain Canada’s Food Guide to consumers and the second provides more in-depth information for you to present to other health intermediaries.

• Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (for consumers):http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/educ-comm/eat_well_present_bien_manger_e.html


• Presenting Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (for intermediaries):http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/food-guide-aliment/educ-comm/presentation_e.html

You will also find an article, Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide (2007): Development of the Food Intake Pattern, published in the April 2007 issue of Nutrition Reviews (Vol.65, Number 4).

This article provides a detailed description of the process used to develop the food intake pattern of Canada’s Food Guide.

Finally, there’s expanded information in the Frequently Asked Questions section on the website, as well as a Questions and Answers for Educators section. These questions arose following the broadcast in March 2007 of the webcast, Developing Age and Gender Specific Food Intake Patterns.

OLDER ADULTS

Effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms among the aged: A systematic review

Sjosten,N., Kivela,S.L. (2006). The effects of physical exercise on depressive symptoms among the aged: A systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 21(5), 410-418.

Objective: To determine the effects of physical exercise on depression or depressive symptoms among the aged.

Method: A literature search covering various medical databases was conducted to identify randomised controlled trials (RCT's) about the effects of exercise treatments on depression or depressive symptoms among the aged.

The studies were classified according to the baseline depression status of participants and assessed in relation to allocation concealment, blinding at outcome assessment, follow-up and whether intention to treat analysis was used. Studies meeting the inclusion criteria were accepted.

Results: Exercise was effective in treating depression among those suffering from minor or major depression and in reducing depressive symptoms among those with a high amount of depressive symptoms at baseline.

However, both the allocation concealment and the blinding method were adequately described in only four studies.

Furthermore, intention-to-treat analysis was conducted in half of the studies and some follow-up information after the intervention has been published for five studies.

Conclusions: Physical exercise may be efficient in reducing clinical depression and depressive symptoms in the short-term among the aged suffering from depression or a high amount of depressive symptoms. More well controlled studies are needed.

Playground for seniors
The Vancouver Sun (Fri 31 Aug 2007, Byline: Catherine Rolfsen) reports that the Tsawwassen Lions Club has built a senior-specific wellness park at a cost of $150,000.

The idea came from a similar facility in Beijing. A playground for seniors makes sense in British Columbia, which has the oldest population of any province except Quebec and the most active seniors in Canada.

The human kinetics department at Langley's Trinity Western University, led by Prof. Daryl Page and his recreation leadership, designed the park to focus on falls prevention, flexibility and strength training.

Equipment includes the “pod step,” a series of platforms at various heights, the “ramp walk,” a gently sloping track, and a balance beam a few centimetres high with built-in hand rails. More equipment is on order.

Work-related physical activity and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract
/115807042/ABSTRACT

Rovio S., Kåreholt I., Viitanen M., Winblad B., Tuomilehto J., Soininen H., Nissinen A., & Kivipelto M. (2007). Work-related physical activity and the risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 22(9), 874-882.

Background: Leisure-time physical activity has been related with a reduced risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

The effects of occupational and commuting physical activity (physical activity at work and on the way to work) on cognitive health are still unclear. This study aimed to clarify the association between work-related physical activity and dementia/AD.

Methods: Participants of the Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Aging, and Dementia (CAIDE) study were derived from random, population-based samples previously studied in a survey carried out in 1972, 1977, 1982, or 1987.

After an average follow-up of 21 years, 1449 individuals (73%) aged 65 to 79 years participated in the re-examination in 1998.

Results: Neither occupational [Odds Ratio (OR) 1.45; 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) 0.66-3.17] nor commuting physical activity (OR 0.46; 95% CI 0.10-2.17) were associated with the risk of dementia or AD after adjustments for age, sex, education, follow-up time, locomotor symptoms, main occupation during life, income at midlife, leisure-time physical activity, other subtype of work-related physical activity, ApoE genotype, vascular disorders and the smoking status.

There were also no interactions between work-related physical activity and the ApoE 4 genotype, leisure-time physical activity or sex.

Conclusions: In this study, work-related physical activity was not found to be sufficient to protect against dementia and AD later in life.

The lack of effect might be partly due to a residual confounding. Nevertheless, physical activity during leisure-time may be beneficial even for people who are physically active at work or when commuting.

WORKPLACE

Survey shows business people don't exercise enough
Stressed out business people need to take more exercise; “Two out of three business people admit to doing no exercise”

[30/08/2007. Source: M2 PRESSWIRE] reports that half of the U.K. business population rarely takes part in any sporting activity or physical exercise, according to a recent survey conducted by Siemens.

This lack of regular exercise may be contributing to increased levels of stress, ill health and impaired performance in the work place.

The poll of 1,087 U.K. business people, commissioned by Siemens, found that 29 per cent of female executives did no exercise at all, while less than a third (31 per cent) did the recommended levels of three sessions per week.

The results are not much better for men, with 32 per cent admitting that they fail to take any exercise at all.

The research found that 80 per cent of business people agree that exercise helps to reduce stress levels, with 69 per cent of women and 62% of men wishing that they could spend more time working out, but finding that their busy, time-poor lifestyles prevent them from doing so.

Siemens, the partner of GB Rowing, conducted the research as part of a campaign to encourage the business community to take more exercise in order to improve their health, combat stress and to enhance performance in the workplace.

With the World Rowing Championships currently taking place in Germany, rowing has been identified as an ideal form of exercise for busy, stressed executives.