December 18, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Welcome to the final Physical Activity Information Round-Up for 2009. 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
The Links between Public Health and Sustainable and Active Transportation
This issue paper summarizes the most relevant research on the links between Canadians’ health and their access to and use of sustainable and active transportation infrastructure.

Portland Bike Count Information
Information on the 2009 Bike count, how to do a bike count, forms and much, much, more. Portland, Oregon is a well recognized city for its work on active transportation. They are a great example to model after.

CHILDREN
Children’s Fitness Tax Credit
This is not a new program, just a reminder where to find the information.

Healthy Active Living for Children and Youth – Cdn Pediatric Society
To help combat the growing problem of physical inactivity among Canadian children and youth the CPS has developed tools and resources to help paediatricians and other health care professionals educate parents and patients about the benefits of physical activity, good nutrition and an active lifestyle. Here you’ll find information, resources and web links that you can use in your practice, with your patients and their families, and in your communities.

Parental influences on physical activity behavior in preschool children
Preventive Medicine Article in Press, Uncorrected Proof
Paul D. Loprinzia and Stewart G. Trost

The authors conclude: Family-based interventions targeting preschoolers should include strategies to increase parental support for PA. Parents who perceive their child to have low physical competence should be encouraged to provide adequate support for PA.

Social participation of children with disabilities
A new paper out from Stats Canada. Organized sports and physical activity/sports: Takes part in organized sports with coach or instructor; takes part in other physical activities with coach or instructor, e.g. dance or gymnastics.

CHRONIC DISEASE
Physical Activity, Body Mass Index, and Diabetes Risk in Men: A Prospective Study
The American Journal of Medicine Vol 122, Issue 12, December 2009, Pages 1115-1121

The authors conclude: Active men with normal and overweight BMIs had lower diabetes hazards than their inactive counterparts, but no difference by weekly activity was seen in obese men. Elevated BMI is a key driver of diabetes risk, with relatively modest attenuation by activity.

COMMUNITY
Creating Healthy Communities: Tools and Actions to Foster Environments for Healthy Living
This guide was prepared by Smart Growth BC, in collaboration with an interdisciplinary team of experts from the health and land use planning fields. It recommends 116 land use policies and programs that local governments can adopt to promote healthy living in our communities. It also includes specific examples of these programs and policies in action, as well as quick links to specific policy documents and language that can be used as templates.

OLDER ADULTS
Exercise and Physical Activity: Getting Fit For Life
From the National Institute on Aging.

Exercise & Physical Activity: Your Everyday Guide from the National Institute on Aging
This guide shows you many types of exercise and physical activity. It also has lots of tips to help you be active in ways that suit your lifestyle, interests, health, and budget, whether you’re just starting out, getting back to exercising after a break, or fit enough to run a 3-mile race. It’s for everyone — people who are healthy and those who live with an ongoing health problem or disability.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Validity of Self-Reported Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2006
Preventing Chronic Disease 2009;6 (4)
The authors conclude: Men and women significantly over report their height, increasingly so at older ages. Men tend to overestimate their weight, but women underreport their weight, more so in younger ages. Corresponding BMI is underestimated, more so for women than for men at each age and increasingly so with older age for both sexes.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Exercise and cancer rehabilitation: A systematic review
Cancer Treatment Reviews - Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Rosalind R. Spence, Kristiann C. Heescha, and Wendy J. Brown

The authors conclude: Although the methodological limitations of studies in this new field must be acknowledged, initial evidence indicates that exercise is feasible and may provide physiological and psychological benefits for cancer survivors during the rehabilitation period. Future studies with rigorous study designs are now required to advance the field.

Minnesota Department of Health – Physical Activity Resources
There is a lot of great information here.

National Society of Physical Activity Practitioners in Public Health
A professional organization dedicated to growing the capacity of physical activity practitioners in public health.

Physical Activity: An Investment That Pays Multiple Health Dividends
Arch Intern Med. 2009; 169 (22):2124-2127.

Comment on "Combined Effects of Cardiorespiratory Fitness, Not Smoking, and Normal Waist Girth on Morbidity and Mortality in Men," "Physical Activity and Survival in Male Colorectal Cancer Survival," "Effects of a Television Viewing Reduction on Energy Intake and Expenditure in Overweight and Obese Adults," and "Physical Activity and Rapid Decline in Kidney Function Among Older Adults"

Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator
Developed by East Carolina University they have developed a very easy-to-use tool that can provide an estimate of the financial cost of physically inactive people to a particular community, city, state or business. They also provide companion resources and information you need to re-allocate resources and plan for healthier workplaces and communities that are more supportive of physical activity

WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health: a framework to monitor and evaluate implementation.
This document sets out an approach to measure the implementation of the WHO Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health (DPAS) at country level and proposes a framework and indicators for this purpose.

URBAN DESIGN
2009 BC Sprawl Report: Walkability and Health
This report is the third in Smart Growth BC’s Sprawl Report series and focuses on how the physical design of neighbourhoods affects walking and biking in BC’s communities, and whether this has any impact on individual health.

Sprawl and Smart Growth in Greater Vancouver
Produced by the Sightline Institute in collaboration with Smart Growth BC, this report maps population density trends throughout the Greater Vancouver area, using data from the last four Canadian censuses. The researchers found that in the 1990s a combination of factors helped Greater Vancouver limit the type of low-density sprawl that marred many comparably-sized US cities during that decade. But in recent years, the pace of compact growth slowed.

WORKPLACE
Preventing Noncommunicable Diseases in the Workplace through Diet and Physical Activity
This WHO report summarizes the current evidence available in addressing the different dimensions of the workplace as a key setting for interventions designed to prevent NCDs through diet and physical activity.

Walking Works
The Walking Works campaign is one in a series of Living Streets' campaigns that aim to get us all walking more in our daily lives. Walking Works aims to encourage more people to walk to and from work, and to walk more during their working day

Workplace Physical Activity Toolkits
A CDC compilation. The toolkits in this section are designed specifically for work sites to encourage physical activity and may contain checklists, step-by-step guides, budgets, and other tools that aid in program planning, design, and management.

September 28, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN
After School Recreation Initiatives: Final Report
This study examines the state of afterschool recreation programming (in Alberta) and identifies opportunities for engaging recreation practitioners and allied stakeholders in developing a provincial strategy for action to create quality afterschool programs as a way to use those hours for constructive, healthy activities.

Encourage the Kids, Support the Game
A community education campaign, funded by the Victorian Government and VicHealth, which aims to stamp out poor spectator behaviour in junior sport so that players, parents, all spectators and officials can enjoy the game

Interactions of socioeconomic position with psychosocial and environmental correlates of children's physical activity
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:56
Learn how socioeconomic, psychosocial and environmental factors relate to physical activity in this new study from South Australia.

CHRONIC DISEASE
Type 1 Diabetes: Living Well with Diabetes
This section of the NHS (UK) Choices website provides information about eating a healthy diet if you type 1 diabetes. It is aimed at the general public.

Type 2 Diabetes: Diet
This section of the NHS Choices website provides information about eating a healthy diet if you type 2 diabetes. It is aimed at the general public.

DISABITLITY/ACCESSIBILITY
MS Practice - for health professionals
A series of free resources developed for health professionals & students who work with people with MS, developed by MS Australia and physiotherapy experts is now available.

HEALTHY EATING
Study Suggests Easy Access to Fast-Food Restaurants, Coupled with No Access to a Car, Prompts Weight Gain
The researchers attribute the weight variations to the fact that individuals who are less affluent and do not own cars are unable to travel the distance necessary to obtain healthier foods, resulting in overreliance on the lower-priced, higher-calorie foods available at fast-food outlets

OLDER ADULTS
Marketing and Communicating to Older Adults
This presentation from the Canadian Centre on Activity and Aging 2009 Research to Action conference provides an overview of marketing fundamentals - know your product, know your audience, have a plan - and how to apply this to the older adults market segment.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Disentangling the Risks Associated With Weight Status, Diet, and Physical Activity
We conclude that sufficient evidence demonstrates that the effects of weight status on cardiovascular and metabolic risk can be mediated by physical activity and CRF (5-9). As public health researchers, we should refocus our investigations to better understand the separate effects of diet and physical activity in the total population, regardless of a person’s weight status, and use the most objective measures possible. These efforts will enable us to determine the most favorable physical activity and fitness levels for all Americans to reach optimal health and prevent illness.

Validity of Self-Reported Height, Weight, and Body Mass Index: Findings From the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2001-2006
Men and women significantly overreport their height, increasingly so at older ages. Men tend to overestimate their weight, but women underreport their weight, more so in younger ages. Corresponding BMI is underestimated, more so for women than for men at each age and increasingly so with older age for both sexes.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Website-delivered physical activity interventions: a review of the literature
The results found some evidence suggesting that website-delivered physical activity interventions produced increased levels of physical activity. The effects of the interventions were short-term. There was limited evidence of continued changes in physical activity

URBAN DESIGN
New urban community promotes social networks and walking
This study is probably the first to show, in an academic study, such a big difference in social activity between a new urban community and a comparable suburban development. Also, it is the first to show such high rates of walking to stores.

WOMEN
Life events and changing physical activity patterns in women at different life stages
Annals of Behavioral Medicine 37(3)
See how life events can affect physical activity participation in the latest results from the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health.

WORKPLACE
Workplace resource kit
The Western Australia Department of Sport and Recreation have produced a new resource kit for developing physical activity and health programs in the workplace. (It’s large 48.1 MB)

July 15, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
3 Videos of the Trondheim (Norway) Bicycle Escalator/Elevator
Basic Information
More Details
A Family’s First Attempt

Active Travel Publications
A range of Active Travel information sheets and publications are available to download. There are lots of great resources here – be sure to check it out!

CHILDREN
Activity Guide for Recreation Leaders: Asset-Building Nutritional and Physical Activity Program Ideas for Children Ages 6 to 12
This provides 32 ready-to-use asset-building activities, eight activity sheets, eight newsletters, and six handouts that encourage elementary-age children to eat healthy and be physically active.

Healthy lives, brighter futures: The strategy for children and young people’s health
Physical activity and exercise is mentioned quite a few times and chapters 4 and 5.

Researchers Develop Text Message System to Encourage Physical Activity Among Teens
Researchers at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles have devised a system that monitors the physical activity levels of teens and can send cell phone text messages to encourage them to be more active......

Why play?
Why play? is the latest in the series of information leaflets including Why Walk?, Why Cycle?, Get Cycling and Cycling with Children, and explains why active outdoor play is essential for children, including facts and suggestions.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
A Back Injury Prevention Guide for Health Care Workers
The practical suggestions in this guide are focused on orderlies, attendants, nurses, nursing assistants and others who actually lift and move patients and residents.

Ambitions for health: a strategic framework for maximising the potential of social marketing and health-related behaviour.
This framework sets out plans to make sure that policy development and public health interventions are informed by an understanding of what motivates people. It constitutes the (UK) Government's response to It's Our Health!, and sets out how social marketing and other behavioural change activities will be used to put the consumer at the heart of health improvement and delivery.

Health Inequities Educational Video from BC Health Authority
The video features commentary from Vancouver Coastal Health staff and stories from local residents about how the social determinants of health impact their lives.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Obesity Among U.S. Adults Continues to Rise
The proportion of U.S. adults who are obese increased to 26.1 percent in 2008 compared to 25.6 percent in 2007.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Building health: creating and enhancing places for healthy, active lives - what needs to be done?
Some people are determined to keep fit and physically active, and will find ways to be active even when special facilities and physical space are either non-existent or inappropriate. But most of us are physically active only when certain social and environmental conditions are in place. Health promotion is about making healthy choices the easy choices. Building Health is a timely report which clearly outlines the current problems and, more importantly, makes practical recommendations for building for health and active living.

Get active, getting there!
This new public information leaflet introduces the benefits of walking and cycling for health, transport and pleasure.

Physical Activity Resources
From the South East Public Health Observatory (UK). Lots of information here, including many different resource publications.

Reasons for Urban Trail Use Predict Levels of Trail-Related Physical Activity
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 6(4), July 2009.

This study examined whether reasons for trail use predict levels of physical activity on urban trails. Reasons for trail use significantly predicted recreational but not transportation activity. Recreational trail activity was greater for participants who reported exercise and health reasons for trail use as compared with other reasons (ie, social interaction, enjoying nature) for recreational trail use.

Statistics on Obesity, Physical Activity and Diet: England, February 2009
The NHS Information Centre’s third report on obesity, physical activity and diet includes, for the first time, information on attitudes towards and knowledge about leading a healthy lifestyle for both adults and children. This includes information on how much physical activity should be done, barriers towards doing more physical activity, knowledge of the recommended daily number of portions of fruit and vegetables and attitudes towards a healthy diet.

Walking the way to Health
WHI (Walking the way to Health Initiative) is for everyone with an interest in walking for health. We offer information, support and encouragement to complete beginners, existing walkers and health and leisure professionals.

URBAN DESIGN
'Tell us something we don't already know or do!' - The response of planning and transport professionals to public health guidance on the built environment and physical activity
Journal of Public Health Policy, 30(1): 102-116, 2009.

Researchers analyzed planning and transport practitioners' perceptions and responses to government public health guidance aimed at modifying environmental factors to promote physical activity. Researchers found that evidence-based public health guidance is a new voice in urban and town planning, although much of the advice is already reflected by the 'accepted wisdom' of these professions.

WORKPLACE
Active Travel Workplace Toolkit
The Active Travel Workplace Toolkit is a UK-wide resource designed to help organizations encourage their employees to walk and cycle to work, thus helping improve health, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity.

LEAN works! Leading Employees to Activity and Nutrition
CDC's LEAN Works! Leading Employees to Activity and Nutrition" is a FREE web-based resource that offers interactive tools and evidence-based resources to design effective worksite obesity prevention and control programs, including an obesity cost calculator to estimate how much obesity is costing your company and how much savings your company could reap with different workplace interventions.

July 10, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Air Pollution and Activity During Transportation by Car, Subway, and Walking
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 37, Issue 1, Pages 72-77 (July 2009)
Driving cars was associated with less physical activity but not necessarily less exposure to PM2.5 than riding subways or walking in an urban environment. These effect sizes and variances can be used to design larger experiments assessing the health effects of urban transportation

Economic Value of Walkability
This paper describes ways to evaluate the value of walking (the activity) and walkability (the quality of walking conditions, including safety, comfort and convenience). Walking and walkability provide a variety of benefits, including basic mobility, consumer cost savings, cost savings (reduced external costs), efficient land use, community livability, improved fitness and public health, economic development, and support for equity objectives. Current transportation planning practices tend to undervalue walking. More comprehensive analysis techniques, described in this paper, are likely to increase public support for walking and other nonmotorized modes of travel.

The Effect of On-Street Parking on Cyclist Route Choice and the Operational Behaviour of Cyclists and Motorists (US)
The models indicate that on-street parking has a significant impact on motorist and cyclist position; a bike lane combined with a buffer space is the only way to completely remove cyclists from the door zone, and operationally, a bicycle lane is more effective than a wide outside lane. They also note that the empirical models indicate that travel time is the most important attribute for commuters in choosing their routes. These factors also impact bicyclists’ route choice: traffic volume; speed limit; on-street parking characteristics; bicycle route continuity; number of stop signs, red lights, and cross streets; and roadway terrain.

Footfalls: Obstacle Course To Livable Cities
This study provides Detailed analysis of walking conditions in Indian cities. This analysis indicates that walkability is overlooked and undervalued in transport planning, and that improved walkability is justified for equity and efficiency sake. It provides specific recommendations for improving walking conditions to address a variety of planning objectives.

Google Transit
Plan a trip anywhere in the world using transit. This is great!! And the street maps of the cities they provide are good too.

Valuing the Health Benefits of Active Transport Modes
This report seeks to provide a per-kilometre value for the health benefits of active transport modes (such as walking and cycling) that is compatible with the Land Transport New Zealand Economic Evaluation Manual. The first two sections of the report begin by explaining the scope of the project and the background. Section 3 investigates the evidence of the connection between physical activity and health outcomes. Section 4 clarifies the role of active transport modes as physical activity, and reports the New Zealand-specific data about active transport mode engagement. Section 5 gives a brief comparative summary of the literature review of cost-benefit analyses and valuation techniques used overseas to value the health benefits of active modes.

walkON
walkON is a community partnership of Heart Health projects from Central West Ontario. We offer a menu of program activities to engage the community in the creation of environments that support walking.

CHILDREN
An Injury Prevention Perspective on the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Prev Chronic Dis 2009;6(3).
The purpose of this paper is to initiate discourse on the value of including injury prevention and control as part of public health strategies to increase physical activity among youth. This article describes the connection between injury prevention and physical activity, proposes the benefits of using an injury prevention framework when developing physical activity interventions, and recommends that an injury prevention perspective on the childhood obesity epidemic be used to guide future research.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
Data base of Multicultural Health Publications
Compiled by the Affiliation of Multicultural Societies and Service Agencies of BC.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Patterns of Physical Activity Among Overweight and Obese Adults
Prev Chronic Dis 2009;6(3).The authors found differences in physical activity patterns by demographic characteristics, day, and time of day. Weekend mornings may be an opportune time to promote additional physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Healthy Lifestyles for people with learning disabilities: Physical Activity & Diet
A discussion of current research including an annotated bibliography.

New WHO Physical Activity web-site


URBAN DESIGN
Active Living Case Studies
In response to the increasing evidence linking urban planning to low levels of community participation in physical activity, the New South Wales Premier's Council for Active Living (PCAL) has developed a web-based resource Designing Places for Active Living.


The Built Environment and Health: A Review
In general, a planning and development scheme that concentrates growth and creates mixeduse, pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods has been found to be associated with improved health outcomes for many of these impact areas, particularly for physical activity, obesity and associated conditions.

iCANwalk
iCANwalk is a collaboration of partners who support the development of walkable communities. We believe that together, we can build sustainable, walkable communities that will improve the health of our citizens, our children and our environment.

National Geographic Virtual World – The New Suburb?
Interactive site plus resources.

WOMEN
Unequal Opportunities, Unequal Outcomes
In 2008, CAAWS conducted a series of cross-Canada focus groups with low socioeconomic status (LSES) mothers and community physical activity promoters to identify barriers that prevent and/or limit participation of LSES mothers in physical activity within their communities. The findings are contained in a comprehensive report that also includes solutions to improve accessibility, availability and affordability of physical activity and sport programs for LSES mothers.

May 14, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Cycling Vancouver
A cycling route planner, using Google Maps technology in conjunction with mapped data on Metro Vancouver cycling routes. Cyclists can search for routes that have such features as minimum elevation gains, minimum air pollution, and minimum distances.

Walkability Toolkit
The Walkability Toolkit has been created to serve as a resource for audiences interested in creating walkable communities focusing on pedestrian friendly environments. The toolkit is a compilation of a variety of Canadian articles including statistics that will enable you to provide sound research for your initiative.

Walking and Walkability: Research on Pedestrians & the Public Realm
The knowledge-base on pedestrian movement and the environment here at London Analytics is well-established and growing strongly; we developed the International Walkability Benchmark, and together with the Intelligent Space Partnership calibrated the world's first validated city pedestrian flow forecasting model.

What Makes a Neighbourhood Bikeable
This report details the results of four focus group sessions conducted by TransLink in partnership with the Cycling in Cities study from the University of British Columbia. The focus groups were conducted in order to gain a deeper understanding of what makes a neighbourhood bikeable.

CHILDREN
PhysEd Source
A *NEW* online directory that aims to provide useful web links and other helpful resources for professionals in the field of physical education. The site is designed to provide links to highly informative physical education, physical activity and health resources from all over the world.
Whether you are looking for online resources that are provincial, national or international in nature, or you are seeking the latest in research from the field of physical education, physedsource.com is your place to start.

COMMUNITY
Walk On
walkON is a community partnership of Heart Health projects from Central West Ontario. We offer a menu of program activities to engage the community in the creation of environments that support walking.

CONFERENCES
Healthy Parks Healthy People: International Congress 2010
Melbourne April 11th – 16th 2010.
If you work in urban planning, community development, physical and mental health, tourism, education, recreation, ecology and park management (urban and protected area) then this is the conference for you!!

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Obesity: An Overview of Current Landscape and Prevention-Related Activities in Ontario
Published 30 April 09. Physical Activity is mentioned throughout. The report provides a brief overview of the issue of obesity in Ontario and Canada and provides a listing of current initiatives that address and support activities related to its prevention. In addition, the report provides an overview of available tools that can help plan, assess and provide support to obesity prevention-related initiatives in Ontario.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The Cinderella of public health news: physical activity coverage in Australian newspapers, 1986-2006
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 2009, 33: 189-192
Learn about how physical activity coverage in newspapers has changed over the last 20 years.

Physical Activity in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Migrant Groups to Western Society: A Review of Barriers, Enablers and Experiences
Sports Medicine, 2009, 39:167-177
This paper reviews the current literature outlining the barriers, challenges and enablers of physical activity for people in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) groups who have recently migrated to Western society, and suggests recommendations and strategies that may positively influence physical activity participation in CALD populations.

WORKPLACE
Workplace Wellness: A literature review for NZ Well@Work
The specific aims of this review were to explore the rationale for why wellness should be promoted in the workplace, to identify the benefits to employers and employees of WHP programs and/or interventions, and to understand ways to make wellness initiatives effective in the workplace (specifically those relating to healthy eating and physical activity).

March 27, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
An Overview of the Health of the Métis Population
Released by Statistics Canada February 09. Increasing exercise was identified by participants as the most important thing they could do to improve their health.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Amenities and Programs that Encourage Active Transportation in All Seasons
This Transport Canada issue paper reviews the most common barriers and benefits, provides information on general measures that can be taken to encourage active transportation, and also looks at a selection of successful initiatives.

Moving On Sustainable Transportation (MOST) Program
Transport Canada has established the Moving on Sustainable Transportation (MOST) Program to support projects that produce the kinds of education, awareness and analytical tools we need if we are to make sustainable transportation a reality. (Be sure to look at the list of previously funded projects for a better idea of the kinds of things that can be done.)

CHILDREN
Children, Youth and Transport – Information for Health and Recreation Professionals
A series of booklets from the Centre for Sustainable Transportation dealing with the needs of Children and Youth when planning transportation and land use.

Children, Youth and Transport – Information for Educators
Children, youth and transport – Information for Municipal Officials
Children, Youth and Transport – Information for Parents
Children, Youth and Transport – Information for Youth

Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities
A national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will help 70 communities across the USA to reshape their environments to support healthy living and prevent childhood obesity.

National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity
NPLAN provides leaders in the childhood obesity prevention field with focused legal research, model policies, fact sheets, toolkits, training and technical assistance to explain legal issues related to public health. Our goal is to help create strong childhood obesity policy interventions…

CHRONIC DISEASE
Community Interventions for Health
This initiative acts upon the urgent need to design, implement and assess cost-effective comprehensive interventions for all three risk factors (poor diet, tobacco use, lack of physical activity), adaptable to different cultures and communities. The research is unique in its scale and scope - the interventions will be tracked across multiple countries and multiple settings: schools, healthcare centres, workplaces and local communities.

Oxford Health Alliance
This registered charity is about preventing and reducing the global impact of chronic disease. It stands for innovative action with diverse stakeholders around three risk factors – tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor diet.

COMMUNITY
Community Gardens
These model policy "packages" explain why land use policies are important for supporting and protecting community gardens and farmers' markets, and provide model general plan and zoning language to encourage these uses.

How to Use Redevelopment to Create Healthy Communities
This fact sheet is designed to give advocates a general introduction to how redevelopment works and highlight ways for advocates to engage in the process.

Joint use Agreements Between Schools and Communities
Many communities lack safe, adequate places for children and their families to exercise and play. Schools might have a variety of recreational facilities —gymnasiums, playgrounds, fields, courts, tracks —but many districts close their property to the public after school hours because of concerns about costs, vandalism, security, maintenance, and liability in the event of injury…..

Leadership for Healthy Communities
Based in Washington, D.C., Leadership for Healthy Communities is a $10-million national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to support local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and access to healthy foods.

Local Government Commission: Healthy Communities
An active living community is designed to provide opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to engage in routine daily physical activity. Provides resources and links to even more resources.

Mentally Healthy Communities: A Collection of Papers
CPHI commissioned eight experts to share their thoughts on the following questions: What are mentally healthy communities? and what makes some communities more mentally healthy or resilient than others?

HEALTH PROMOTION
California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN)
CPEHN works to ensure that all Californians have access to quality health care and can live healthy lives. As the country becomes increasingly diverse, CPEHN's multicultural perspective is more and more critical. We gather the strength of communities of color to build a united and powerful voice in health advocacy. Together, we're working to evolve health care from a one-size-fits-all approach to a system that works for people from all cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
State of the Evidence Review on Urban Health and Healthy Weights
To generate and synthesize knowledge in its theme areas of Healthy Weights and Place and Health (with a focus on urban health), CPHI commissioned a systematic literature review of the evidence on associations between modifiable characteristics of urban environments and healthy weights.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Healthy Eating Active Living Convergence Partnership
A collaboration of funders who have come together with the shared goal of changing policies and environments to better achieve the vision of healthy people living in healthy places. (Be sure to explore the links in the left hand nav column, to see even more documents and resources.)

World Cross Country Fitness Challenge
A new on-line activity tracker. The program challenges the participants to run, walk, swim, bike, row, ski, skate, roller blade or wheel chair their way across the world without leaving home.

URBAN DESIGN
Regional Development and Physical Activity: Issues and Strategies for Promoting Health Equity
The paper explores the connection between development patterns, physical activity, and poor health.

January 16, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Pedestrians 2008
Journal of the Transportation Research Board, No. 2073; Dec. 31, 2008
This issue includes 14 papers on topics like evaluating a pedestrian safety demonstration project, video monitoring of pedestrians at signalized intersections, characteristics and circumstances of collision-involved pedestrians, pedestrian collision risk assessment, and models to measure pedestrian activity at signalized intersections.

Special Issue of Medicine & Science in Sports and Exercise
July 2008, Volume 40, Issue 7 Supplement 1
A special issue focusing on the health benefits of walking.

CHILDREN

Childhood motor skill proficiency as a predictor of adolescent physical activity
Journal of Adolescent Health published online 27 October 2008
This study examined the relationship between motor skill proficiency in childhood and later physical activity in adolescence.

Contribution of Early Weight Gain to Childhood Overweight and Metabolic Health: A Longitudinal Study
Pediatrics Vol. 123 No. 1 January 2009, pp. e67-e73

Strength Training by Children and Adolescents: Policy statement
Pediatrics Vol. 121 No. 4 April 2008, pp. 835-840

COMMUNITY
Opening doors to an Active life: how to engage inactive communities: Information sharing booklet
The booklet focuses on projects across the UK working to increase physical activity levels among the following inactive groups: Black and minority ethnic groups, People with mental ill health, Older adults, Socially deprived communities, Girls and women and People with disabilities.

DISABILITY/ACCESIBILITY
Inclusion by design, Equality, diversity and the built environment
Until recently, discussion about equality and the built environment focused on physical access – or the lack of it. As physical access has improved, the discussion has widened to address cultural and economic access, recognizing that design plays a vital role in including, and often excluding, communities. It offers everyday examples from urban living demonstrating how good design can help create places that work for everyone.

MISCELLANEOUS
KT Clearinghouse
The goal of this website is to provide a platform for which researchers interested in knowledge translation can draw on to enhance and facilitate implementation of KT initiatives.

OLDER ADULTS
Active living and diabetes: Building on our successes
Information and reports from this ALCOA project. Be sure to check out the left hand navigation column to see links to their other projects as well.

Guidance for Occupational therapy and physical activity interventions to promote the mental wellbeing of older people in primary and residential care
This guidance is for NHS primary care and other professionals who have a responsibility for promoting older people's mental wellbeing. This includes those working in local authorities and the wider public, private, voluntary and community sectors. It will also
be relevant for carers and family members who support older people.

Mental Wellbeing and Older People
A number of useful resources from the UK.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Healthy weight, healthy lives: A toolkit for developing local strategies
This toolkit is to help Local Authorities plan, coordinate and implement comprehensive strategies to prevent and manage overweight and obesity. It provides information and tools including useful statistics, practical initiatives, evidence of effectiveness, checklists, frameworks and examples of good practice.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Active Scotland
Still in its pilot stage – but worth a look and bookmarking.

Be Active Wa
Welcome to the Premier’s Physical Activity Taskforce (the Taskforce) website. Promoted under the be active wa banner, the Taskforce links government and community agencies to strengthen the promotion and development of physical activity programs for healthy lifestyles, for the environment and to build stronger communities.

The site offers information on how to be active, as well as provides information for government and community agencies on how to promote and support physical activity.

Connecting Newcomers to Sports and Coaching Opportunities in Atlantic Canada
For all Canadians, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, involvement in sport in
Canada is dependent upon personal resources and socio-economic status. In this study, we learned that this is indeed the case for new Canadians, with financial resources playing a key role in either affording or limiting their participation.

Halton Active Living Network
There are links to many good resources here. Click on the ‘home’ button at the top to be taken to the Choices 4 Health Coalition homepage.

Keys to exercise success
Tools, information sheets and videos from the American College of Sports Medicine

URBAN DESIGN
Impact of Urban Sprawl on Overweight, Obesity, and Physical Activity in Sydney, Australia
Journal of Urban Health: Bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine. Published online 04 December 2008.

WOMEN
A preliminary analysis of barriers, intentions, and attitudes towards moderate physical activity in women who are overweight
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Volume 11, Issue 6, November 2008, Pages 558-561.
“There was a significant difference between these women in perceived behavioural control for moderate-intensity physical activity, as women who felt more in control of their physical activity behaviour were more likely to engage in physical activity than inactive women.

Physical activity and women aged 55 – 70
CAAWS Physical Activity and Women Aged 55 to 70 was a three-year project (September 2005 – August 2008) focused on increasing physical activity opportunities for women (ages 55 – 70). Many tools and resources have been published – check them out!

WORKPLACE
Creating healthy, active workplaces
A great web-site from Australia

December 5, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active Transportation: Moving Canadians towards better health
A Hot Topic discussion paper from the Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance of Canada

Frequently Asked Questions about Bikeways by Adjacent Residents
Discusses the impact of developing new bikeways in existing neighborhoods. ( from Vancouver)

Trails bring crime myth
“The premise that trails bring crime is pretty ridiculous. It's not exactly the best get away vehicle, nor is it easy to carry a lot of stuff. And wouldn't that be an argument for not building roads?.....”

COMMUNITY
Community Decision-Making Toolkit
The list of Decision-Making Tools below contains a variety of methods to help communities generate ideas, prioritize issues and weigh options. Simple to use, these tools can easily be adapted to fit the needs of your particular community requirements.

MISCELLANEOUS
In Alberta recreation and parks matter research summary: Public perceptions on use and benefits of local government recreation and parks services
The report that follows provides clear evidence of the contribution that recreation and parks make to the public good. It also confirms that the general public understands both the direct and intangible benefits of these services, strongly supports those services and acknowledges that they are essential to social and community development and environmental sustainability.

Men’s health
Information and advice on the most common health issues affecting men, including testicular cancer, hair loss, stress and more.... There is a lot out there for women; this is one of the few for men.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
A systematic policy approach to changing the food system and physical activity environments to prevent obesity
As obesity prevention becomes an increasing health priority in many countries, including Australia and New Zealand, the challenge that governments are now facing is how to adopt a systematic policy approach to increase healthy eating and regular physical activity. This article sets out a structure for systematically identifying areas for obesity prevention policy action across the food system and full range of physical activity environments.

The key to fighting fat may lie in the pockets of public policy makers
Zoning laws and taxes can be used to encourage healthier lifestyles.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
BHF National Centre for physical activity+health
This is the 2nd issue of their new newsletter.

Physical Activity and Population Health Research Lab
Physical Activity and Population Health (PAPH) Research Laboratory directed by Dr. Ron Plotnikoff focuses on individual/behavioural- and environmental-level theory and intervention development/testing for the prevention and management of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, as well as the promotion of healthy body weight and general health of the population through physical activity.

Sports and Physical Recreation: A Statistical Overview, Australia, 2008 (Edition 2)
This report provides a statistical overview of the output of the sports and physical recreation sector, employment in sports and physical recreation, government outlays on recreation, international trade in sports and physical recreation goods, attendances at sporting events, and participation in sports and physical recreation activities.

URBAN DESIGN
Trails: Safety, Land Value, Fears
This page briefly outlines the normal and reasonable questions and concerns (crime, property values) that people have about trails.

WOMEN
Physical activity and health in mid-age and older Australian women
Physical activity has a significant role in the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease, some cancers, diabetes, mental health problems, and musculoskeletal problems in women.

November 7, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active Transportation for America: A Case for Increased Federal Investment in Bicycling and Walking
This report quantifies the transportation, energy, climate, public health, and economic benefits of bicycling and walking.

Safe routes to school: Increases physical activity and improves health
The following four case studies showcase local communities that have successfully incorporated SRTS as a way to improve public health, and have institutionalized SRTS at select schools. Aspects of these case studies also address how health professionals are
getting involved with SRTS efforts, how federally mandated Wellness Councils could be involved, and how these types of collaborations could be increased in the future.

CHILDREN
At my best: Helping every child thrive
Physical and Health Education Canada (formerly CAHPERD) teamed up with AstraZeneca Canada to unveil a groundbreaking children's wellness program. Aimed at improving the health and well-being of Canadian children, At My Best™ is a unique school-based program that focuses on three key areas of wellness: physical, nutritional and emotional health.

Changes in food and drink advertising and promotion to children: a report outlining the changes in the nature and balance of food and drink advertising and promotion to children, from January 2003 to December 2007
This report sets out the current restrictions for broadcast and non-broadcast media; the findings of the Thomson Intermedia research on overall food and drink advertising spend across a range of media, child-themed ad-spend and TV viewing figures; and the output of the Food and Drink Advertising and Promotion Forum.

The characteristics of the outdoor school environment associated with physical activity.
Ellen Haug, Torbjørn Torsheim, James F. Sallis and Oddrun Samdal
Health Education Research – Advance Access.
Discover what's important in the school environment to encourage physical activity.

Successful overweight prevention in adolescents by increasing physical activity: A 4-year randomized controlled intervention.
International Journal of Obesity, 2008; 32, 1489–1498. C Simon, B Schweitzer, M Oujaa, A Wagner.
This study provides strong evidence of the positive effects of a long-term school-based physical activity program on preventing obesity, increasing physical activity and reducing TV viewing.

HEALTHY COMMUNITIES
Improved methods for assessing social, cultural, and economic effects of transportation projects
This report identifies existing and emerging community and social impact assessment practices that can be used as indicators of community quality of life. Physical Activity is mentioned 22 times. Includes a copy of their survey instrument and many useful maps/graphics.

Smart transportation guidebook: Planning and Designing Highways and Streets that Support Sustainable and Livable Communities
Smart Transportation proposes to manage capacity by better integrating land use and transportation planning. The desire to go “through” a place must be balanced with the desire to go “to” a place.

HEALTH GENERAL
The last straw: A board game on the social determinants of health
The Last Straw! is a fun and exciting teaching tool on the social determinants of health. The game has three objectives: to promote discussion about the social determinants of health; to help players build empathy with marginalized people and gain an awareness of players' own social location; to encourage learning in a fun and supportive environment.

MISCELLANEOUS
Vancouver Island University aims to be international centre of excellence in leisure studies
In its bid to become an international centre of excellence in leisure studies VIU, formerly Malaspina University) attended the World Leisure Congress in Quebec City this month and presented the idea of offering a master’s in leisure and sustainability degree.

OLDER ADULTS
Canadian falls prevention curriculum
The Canadian Falls Prevention Curriculum (CFPC) was developed and pilot-tested as a training curriculum for those working in the area of falls prevention among older adults (those 65 and over).

Occupational therapy interventions and physical activity interventions to promote the mental wellbeing of older people in primary care and residential care
This guidance focuses on the role of occupational therapy interventions and physical activity interventions in the promotion of mental wellbeing for older people.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
How do you measure up?
TV adverts for this new obesity social marketing campaign from the Australian Better Health Initiative

Obesity in children. Part 1: Epidemiology, measurement, risk factors, and screening
The authors based this review on relative national guidance and a literature search in a number of databases. They concluded that the obesity epidemic is primarily due to population changes in physical activity and diet although other genetic factors may be involved. They do not recommend screening for childhood obesity.

Obesity in children. Part 2: Prevention and management
The authors based this review on relative national guidance and a literature search in a number of databases. They concluded that a number of interventions are not effective when applied to children. More work needs to be done on the overall effectiveness and cost effectiveness of interventions when applied to children.

Social and environmental interventions to reduce childhood obesity : A systematic map of reviews
This report describes a systematic map of existing research relating to social and environmental interventions aimed at reducing or preventing obesity and overweight. Its focus is on research which has included children and young people.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Four commonly used methods to increase physical activity : brief interventions in primary care, exercise referral schemes, pedometers and community-based exercise programmes for walking and cycling
This guidance aims to help practitioners deliver effective interventions that will increase people’s physical activity levels and therefore benefit their health.

Sedentary living laboratory
The focus of research for this (University of Alberta) lab is to identify and understand the factors that contribute to sedentary behaviour.

Social marketing nutrition and physical activity
A new online social marketing course developed by the Centre of Disease Control and Prevention.

Tips for getting active
From the Australian “how do you measure up?” web-site. Includes an on-line physical activity quiz.

What Sport Can Do: The True Sport Report
http://www.truesport.ca/files/tsreport/TS_report_EN_webdownload.pdf
Physical activity is mentioned 82 times in this 97 page report.

RESEARCHER TOOLS
Re-aim
RE-AIM is a systematic way for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to evaluate health behavior interventions. It can be used to estimate the potential impact of interventions on public health.

URBAN DESIGN

Promoting and creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity
This guidance offers the first national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity. It demonstrates the importance of such improvements and the need to evaluate how they impact on the public's health.

October 24, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Cycling in the Netherlands
Based on the frequent requests for information from policy-makers, politicians and NGO’s from all over the world, the authors decided to produce a comprehensive brochure about cycling in the Netherlands, giving an actual overview on the results and findings of relevant studies and experiences. With this publication, we would also like to support the work of the UN ECE/WHO PEP programme to facilitate the exchange and dissemination of existing good practices in the different countries in the European region to promote safe conditions for people to walk and cycle in urban areas.

Walkability research tools - Summary report
Land Transport New Zealand released a report 15 Sept 08 that examines appropriate physical and operational variables related to walkability, and explores the development of a methodology for the collection of these variables.

What are the benefits of complete streets?
Many fact sheets and other information showing the benefits of complete streets.

CHILDREN
Green Hour
By giving our children a "Green Hour" a day -- a bit of time for unstructured play and interaction with the natural world -- we can set them on the path toward physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Project energize
Project Energize is a project for primary schools to improve children's physical activity and nutrition, to improve their overall health.

Reducing childhood obesity through safer sport
Research conducted by the University of New South Wales found that parents are preventing their children from participating in sport and other recreational activity because of injury and safety concerns.

Safety guidelines for children and young people in sport and recreation
Smartplay has developed New safety guidelines for children and young people in sport and recreation.

SOGO Active
Sogo Active is designed by Coca-Cola Ltd., ParticipACTION, and an Advisory Committee of youth and organizations to help young Canadians between 13 and 19 to become more active by creating a physical activity movement by and for youth.

CHRONIC DISEASE
Factors influencing the adoption of an innovation: An examination of the uptake of the Canadian Heart Health Kit (HHK)
Implementation Science 2008, 3:41
The Healthy Heart Kit (HHK) is a risk management and patient education resource for the prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and promotion of cardiovascular health. Although previous studies have demonstrated the HHK's content validity and practical utility, no published study has examined physicians' uptake of the HHK and factors that shape its adoption.

Is integration of healthy lifestyle promotion into primary care feasible? Discussion and consensus sessions between clinicians and researchers
BMC Health Services Research 2008, 8:213
The adoption of a healthy lifestyle, including physical activity, a healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption and abstinence from smoking, is associated with a major decrease in the incidence of chronic diseases and mortality. Primary health-care (PHC) services therefore attempt, with rather limited success, to promote such lifestyles in their patients. The objective of the present study is to ascertain the perceptions of clinicians and researchers within the Basque Health System of the factors that hinder or facilitate the integration of healthy lifestyle promotion in routine PHC setting.

Searches for evidence related to chronic disease: Focusing on intervention strategies
Here is a list of searches that relate to Specific Intervention Strategies. Each search includes articles that have been assessed as providing strong to moderate evidence related to chronic disease interventions.

CONFERENCES
Opening doors to an active life: how to engage inactive communities
The annual conference of the British Heart Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and Health focuses on ways to increase physical activity in hard to reach groups.

OLDER ADULTS
Development of a nutrition and physical activity booklet to engage seniors
BMC Research Notes 2008, 1:77
This paper describes the development and process evaluation of an interactive booklet aimed at motivating older adults to improve their nutrition and physical activity.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
F as in fat: How obesity policies are failing in America 2008
Although many promising programs have emerged in communities to promote healthy eating and exercise, they are not preventing the spread of obesity…….

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans provide specific recommendations about the types and amounts of physical activity you need to do each week and how hard you need to work to gain substantial health benefits.
Extra activity needed to maintain weight loss.

Effect of exercise on 24-month weight loss maintenance in overweight women
Jakicic JM, Marcus BH, Lang W, Janney C. Effect of exercise on 24-month weight loss maintenance in overweight women. Arch Intern Med. 2008 Jul 28;168(14):1550-9. Researchers have estimated just how much physical activity overweight women need to keep extra pounds from coming back—and it’s a lot…..

Fitness, Diet, Health and Medical Cartoons
Cartoons for publications, web sites, presentations and other projects. Terms of use can be found at the bottom of the web-page. Don’t forget to navigate back to the homepage – there are many categories of cartoons available.

Mind guide to physical activity
Mind is a leading mental health charity in England and Wales and has produced information on many areas of mental health. Physical activity can boost mental wellbeing and change your outlook on life. It can help people with anxiety and depression, and might even prevent such problems from developing in the first place. This booklet provides practical advice about ways of building more activity into your life, and identifies ways to help you stick to a more active lifestyle. It's not designed to give detailed information about individual activities.

Physical activity and mental health
This chapter from the updated USA Physical Activity guidelines addresses 7 general questions about physical activity and mental health conditions. Each question includes subsections that focus on whether physical activity can protect against the onset of, or reduce, symptoms; whether the effects of physical activity on the symptoms differ by age, sex, race/ethnicity, or medical condition; and whether the effects of physical activity differ by the type, intensity, or timing of the physical activity.

Physical Activity for Everyone
The CDC, a key partner in developing and writing the 2008 US PA Guidelines, has re-designed and updated the Physical Activity for Everyone Web site. Here, you’ll find examples and tools to help you better understand how much activity you need to do on a regular basis, how to begin a sensible routine and how to be active your way by finding activities you enjoy and that fit into your lifestyle.

URBAN DESIGN
Neighborhoods and obesity in later life
Conclusions. The mechanisms by which neighborhood environment and weight status are linked in later life differ by gender, with economic and social environment aspects being important for men and built environment aspects being salient for women.

September 12, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Alta planning and design
We do plans for bikes, pedestrians, urban landscapes greenways, trials and paths, but we're also masters of innovation, research, programs and training.

Commute trip reduction program (CTR)
The Washington State Legislature passed the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) Law in 1991, incorporating it into the Washington Clean Air Act. The goals of the program are to reduce traffic congestion, reduce air pollution, and petroleum consumption through employer-based programs that decrease the number of commute trips made by people driving alone.

Bikes 4 work
The Bicycle Federation of Australia (BFA) today launched a new service to help organizations set up bike fleets in their workplaces

Physician engagement program
Physician Engagement provides BC physicians with resources for their patients about the benefits of physical activity, how to get started with a walking program, and local information on programs and opportunities.

Planning for bicycling and walking: 2005 amendments to the growth management act
This guidance is intended to help those Washington counties, cities, and towns fully planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA) to understand and comply with 2005 amendments to the GMA requiring communities to plan for bicycle and pedestrian transportation and physical activity. This bill requires communities to consider urban planning approaches that promote physical activity, and requires a bicycle and pedestrian component be included in the Transportation Element of a comprehensive plan.

Walk BC
Walk BC is a joint initiative between the Heart & Stroke Foundation of BC & Yukon and the BC Recreation & Parks Association. Walk BC encourages individual and group walking to increase overall health in communities through a range of programs that promote walking.

CHILDREN
CAHPERD name change
September 3rd, 2008 marks the official day that the Canadian Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (CAHPERD) officially changes its name to Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada).

Charter for active kids: A Blueprint for active and healthy children in Western Australia
The charter was developed to identify and articulate the key strategies that will enhance participation in daily physical activity for all children and adolescents in Western Australia.

IWALK October
October is International Walk to School Month (IWALK October) here in Canada and around the world. Wednesday, October 8, 2008 is IWALK Day and October 6-10, 2008 is IWALK Week. Schools can choose to organize relevant activities for the week, just one day or they can participate for the entire month. The IWALK movement started in 2000 with just eight countries and has grown each year to over 40+ participating countries.

School time physical activity of students with and without autism spectrum disorders during PE and recess
This study compared moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) of students with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and students without disabilities during inclu­sive physical education and recess. [APAQ, 25(4), October 2008]

CHRONIC DISEASE
Exercise or exercise and diet for preventing type 2 diabetes mellitus.
“Interventions aimed at increasing exercise combined with diet are able to decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes mellitus in high risk groups (people with impaired glucose tolerance or the metabolic syndrome). There is a need for studies exploring exercise only interventions and studies exploring the effect of exercise and diet on quality of life, morbidity and mortality, with special focus on cardiovascular outcomes.”

COMMUNITY
The parent's jury: Active friendly communities
“The Parent's Jury has launched a new campaign for active friendly communities. The campaign kit contains advocacy ideas and resources.”

DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH
WHO report on the social determinants of health
Social determinants of health have been the focus of a three-year investigation by an eminent group of policy makers, academics, former heads of state and former ministers of health. Together, they comprise the World Health Organization's Commission on the Social Determinants of Health.

DISABILITY
Development of a conceptual model to predict physical activity participation in adults with brain injuries
Findings indicate that affect is critical in shaping the physical activity cognitions and behaviors of adults with brain injuries. Suggestions are made on practical ways to enhance affect and subsequently physical activity participation. [APAQ, 25(4), October 2008]

OBESITY
1st annual national obesity summit
The Canadian Obesity Network's premiere obesity event for 2009 is set to go in beautiful Kananaskis country. Canada's only professional conference dedicated solely to obesity, the National Obesity Summit will feature lectures, workshops and student poster presentations on cutting-edge research…...

OLDER ADULTS
Promoting active aging by connecting BC researchers and communities: Towards 2010 and beyond
This is the final report from the BCNAR annual conference held in Vancouver, BC April 2008.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Effectiveness of public health interventions for increasing physical activity among adults: A review of reviews (evidence briefing)
This evidence briefing collates review-level evidence about he effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity among adults. It focuses on individual-centered interventions and discusses the potential generalization of the results to UK settings.

Guidance on the promotion and creation of physical environments that support increased levels of physical activity
“This guidance offers the first national, evidence-based recommendations on how to improve the physical environment to encourage physical activity. It demonstrates the importance of such improvements and the need to evaluate how they impact on the public's health.”

The rise and fall of Australian physical activity policy 1996 – 2006: a national review framed in an international context
Despite some progression of physical activity policy in the decade since 1995/6, this review found inconsistent policy development, both in Australia and elsewhere. Arguably, Australia has done no worse than other countries….. [Australia and New Zealand Health Policy 2008, 5:18]

Sport, physical activity and renewal: Case studies
“Encouraging people to participate in sport and physical activity regularly and to lead more active lives takes time and resources. Sport and physical activity projects that seek to contribute to neighborhood renewal need to be clear and selective about the outcomes they are seeking to achieve.”

RESEARCH
The Informed Decisions Toolbox
Using research evidence when making decisions about the organization and financing of health care has great appeal, yet decision-makers do not always use this information. The Informed Decisions Toolbox addresses this issue in six steps and aims to help the health care decision-maker: acquire the best available evidence when making management decisions; assess whether evidence is useful, defined as accurate, applicable, actionable, and accessible; and improve the process by which evidence is used in decision-making.

WOMEN
Physical Activity and Women Aged 55 to 70
In an effort to further understand barriers and solutions related to physical activity and sport for women 55-70, a three-year project was undertaken by the Canadian Association for the Advancement of Women and Sport and Physical Activity (CAAWS) with funding provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada, through the Population Health Fund. From the wealth of information collected, CAAWS developed the following resources to help increase physical activity levels for women 55-70.

June 26, 2008

Rosanne Prinsen, MSc
Resource Coordinator
Alberta Centre for Active Living

Rosanne has decided to heed Health Canada's advice about getting enough vitamin D. She will be taking a couple weeks off to soak up some rays. Look for the next Physical Activity Information Round-Up on July 21st.

CHILDREN

Cardio-respiratory fitness and physical activity in youth with type 2 diabetes
This study examined whether cardio-respiratory fitness and physical activity are reduced in young people with Type 2 diabetes compared with young people without the condition.

School-based obesity prevention programs: an evidence-based review.
Qualitative analysis suggests programs grounded in social learning may be more appropriate for girls, while structural and environmental interventions enabling physical activity may be more effective for boys. High-quality evaluation protocols should be considered essential components of future programs.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Economic costs of physical inactivity
A recent (2007) fact sheet from the British Heart Foundation.

Healthy living interventions and schizophrenia: A systematic review
This paper reports a systematic review of the published and grey literature which has investigated the efficacy of healthy living interventions for adults with a diagnosis of schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder. (Includes three papers that involve exercise).

USA physical activity guidelines advisory committee report
You can download the report in its entirety (4.7Mb) or as individual sections.
This report includes 3 major components. The first provides an introduction to the PAGAC process; the second component includes 11 sections that review and summarize the scientific literature relating physical activity to individual health outcomes. The third component provides a summary of the PAGAC’s collective recommendations for future research.

Vancouver sport for life
The strategy notes the participants expressed frustration that responsibility for sport within the city is not clearly defined. Participants reported being shuffled between city and parks board staff, or redirected to external organizations, when wanting to discuss sport-related issues or initiatives.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY

Long-term weight loss after diet and exercise: A systematic review
Diet associated with exercise results in significant and clinically meaningful initial weight loss. This is partially sustained after one year.

URBAN DESIGN

Healthy eating and physical activity: Addressing inequities in urban environments
“This paper represents the dialogue of a working group trying to make important decisions about how to realize the greatest impact on nutrition and activity related diseases and how
to create the community-wide changes needed to sustain this impact.”

The effectiveness of urban design and land use and transport policies and practices to increase physical activity: A systematic review
Because community- and street-scale urban design and land-use policies and practices met the Community Guide criteria for being effective physical activity interventions, implementing these policies and practices at the community-level should be a priority of public health practitioners and community decision makers.

Using Google earth as an innovative tool for community mapping
This article illustrates how nonspecialists used Google EarthTM, to create community maps.

WORKPLACE

Building the case for wellness
This report considers the wider business case for workplace health and wellbeing and then specifically the economic benefits for workplaces in the UK. It also provides a framework for program implementation and management.

Healthy active workplaces
Access workplace physical activity and health information and resources from the Department of Sport & Recreation website in Western Australia.

Well at work
Find out about the results of a large-scale workplace physical activity & health program in the United Kingdom.