March 12, 2010

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Indigenous Sport Council Alberta
ACE Communities is working with the Indigenous Sport Council (Alberta) to support the use of recreation, sports, arts, culture and heritage in Aboriginal Communities.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active travel strategy
The strategy highlights plans to put walking and cycling at the heart of local transport and public health strategies over the next decade. The guiding principles for the strategy are that walking and cycling should be everyday ways of getting around – not just for their own sake but also because of what they can do to improve public health, tackle congestion, reduce carbon emissions and improve the local environment.

Journal of the Transportation Research Board - Volume 2140 / 2009
There are many, many good articles dealing with pedestrians and cyclists in this issue.

Paths for All
Paths for All is a national charity promoting walking for health and the development of multi-use path networks (Scotland).

Physical activity in the Active People Survey: Developing an indicator that includes walking and cycling for transport
This paper analyses the Sport England Active People Survey data to estimate the percentage of adults participating in moderate intensity physical activity for 30 minutes or more on at least three and five occasions per week that includes walking and cycling for transport.

Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030
Bicycling creates safer streets, reduces the causes of global climate change, promotes a healthy environment, and limits the effects and health care costs related to inactivity. It provides equity and access to viable, affordable transportation options and creates fun, vibrant, and livable neighborhoods. It supports Portland’s economy and is a sound investment. (Portland is very progressive when it comes to Active Transportation!)

CHILDREN
Change4Life one year on
This document reports on the first twelve months of the Change4Life campaign. Change4Life, which launched to the public in January 2009, is the social marketing part of the Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives cross-governmental strategy for England. In its first year, Change4Life focused on those families with children aged 5-11, who were at greatest risk of becoming overweight or obese.

Descriptive epidemiology of youth pedometer-determined physical activity: CANPLAY
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: POST ACCEPTANCE, 4 February 2010
Craig, Cora L; Cameron, Christine; Griffiths, Joseph M; Tudor-Locke, Catrine

This study demonstrates the viability of using relatively inexpensive pedometers and methods for the surveillance of young people's physical activity. The resulting descriptive data provide key information regarding the population distribution of pedometer-determined physical activity that may be useful for identifying target groups for population strategies and other interventions.

The GirlStars Program: Challenges to Recruitment and Retention in a Physical Activity and Health Education Program for Adolescent Girls Living in Public Housing
Preventing Chronic Disease Volume 7: No. 2, March 2010

Although physical inactivity is a concern for all adolescents, physical activity levels are especially low among minority adolescents and minimal among girls from low-income families. After-school programs can reduce high-risk behaviors and strengthen schools, families, and communities.

Preventing childhood obesity through lifestyle change interventions: A briefing paper for commissioners
This briefing paper aims to support commissioners by providing a brief guide to current
best available evidence on effective obesity prevention interventions for children and
young people Physical activity is mentioned 12 times in this 10 page document.

Upstart: Low Cost Recreation Space
Take advantage of this Government of Alberta rental rate subsidy that helps community groups run recreational programming for children and youth during out-of-school hours in Calgary and the Rocky View.

Using accelerometers and GPS units to identify the proportion of daily physical activity located in parks with playgrounds in New Zealand children.
Preventive Medicine Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Robin Quigg, Andrew Gray, Anthony Reeder, Alec Holt, Debra Waters

These findings, using accelerometers and GPS units to investigate the location of children’s physical activity, demonstrates that only a small percentage of children’s daily physical activity levels is carried out in parks with playgrounds. It is likely that the provision of parks alone may not be enough to increase physical activity levels in children.

CHRONIC DISEASE
A prediction of obesity trends for adults and their associated diseases
the National Heart Forum Modelling Team compare trends including the most recent data from Health Survey for England (2000- 2007) to the analysis conducted for the Foresight report for adults in three age groups. Furthermore, updated predictions for the burdens of diseases that are attributable to obesity are presented, specifically arthritis, coronary heart disease, diabetes, gall bladder disease, hypertension, stroke and the following cancers: breast, colorectal, endometrial, kidney, oesophageal and liver.

MENTAL HEALTH
Do exercise and fitness buffer against stress among Swiss police and emergency response service officers?
Psychology of Sport and Exercise - Article in Press
Markus Gerber PhD, Michael Kellmann PhD, Tim Hartmann MS and Uwe Pühse PhD

The findings indicate that exercise and fitness can help foster a healthy and thriving workforce that takes less sick leaves and feels better prepared to cope with chronic stress.

Minding our bodies: Physical activity for mental health
Minding Our Bodies is a two-year project (2008-2010). Our goal is to increase capacity within the community mental health system in Ontario to promote active living and to create new opportunities for physical activity for people with serious mental illness to support recovery.

OLDER ADULTS
Changes in leisure-time physical activity and sedentary behaviour at retirement: a prospective study in middle-aged French subjects.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2010, 7:14

These findings highlight that retirement provides opportunities to increase physical activity, but increasing leisure-time can also lead to increased sedentary behaviour.

International Federation on Aging
The IFA believes in 'generating positive change for older people throughout the world by stimulating, collecting, analyzing, and disseminating information on rights, policies, and practices that improve the quality of life of people as they age.'

WHO Age-Friendly Environments Program
The WHO is the focal point for age friendly cities/communities/environments – this website is now operational and we invite you to go online and join The Global Network. At this time the IFA is temporarily closing its AFC website and transferring relevant information to our main site over the next few weeks. Age Friendly environments remains one of IFAs key priorities and we look forward to sharing new information from the IFA 10th Global Conference in the very near future.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Pedometer Use Among Adults at High Risk of Type 2 Diabetes, Finland, 2007-2008
Preventing Chronic Disease Volume 7: No. 2, March 2010

Sedentary adults can be motivated to use a pedometer if we inform them that regular users find it a useful instrument for increasing their level of exercise. These adults should set realistic goals for walking and receive adequate instructions for using pedometers.

Physical activity and physical health functioning among middle-aged Finnish employees
Preventive Medicine - Article in Press
Jouni Lahti, Mikko Laaksonena, Eero Lahelmaa and Ossi Rahkonena

The objective of the study was: “To examine whether physical activity contributes to physical health functioning five to seven years later among middle-aged employees.”

URBAN DESIGN
The Built Environment and Health: 11 Profiles of Neighborhood Transformation
Highlights neighborhood-level changes to the built environment that can have a positive influence on the health of community residents, especially in low-income communities. The profiles demonstrate how health practitioners, community members and many others can work together to improve community well-being by making changes to the built environment.

Community Health and the Built Environment
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then residents from North Central Edmonton have glowing stories to share about their community.

It takes more than stores to build a winning town center
According to a Feb. 28th Washington Post article, "The nation's two largest groups -- baby boomers shedding their houses as they become empty nesters and millennials reaching their 30s and moving into their own homes -- largely prefer densely populated, walkable communities, experts say." Urban planners project that 86 percent of the growth in new households will be single people or couples without children at home -- and neither group wants to live in remote suburbs or in houses surrounded by big lawns.

Ottawa Neighborhood Study
Evidence is mounting that the neighborhoods and communities in which we live affect both the health and the gap in health between rich and poor. Our aim is to better understand the physical and social pathways through which neighborhoods in Ottawa affect health.

WOMEN
Influence of habitual physical activity on body composition, fat distribution and metabolic variables in early postmenopausal women receiving hormonal therapy
European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology Article in Press
S. Lara, G. Casanova and P.M. Spritzer

Habitual physical activity plays a major role in preserving a favorable cardiovascular profile in postmenopausal patients using HRT.

December 4, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Recreational Tool Kit for Rural, Northern & Remote Aboriginal Communities
This toolkit contains information and resources to help guide you through creating, planning, implementing and evaluating your Recreational Programs. It is designed in a way to educate and remind individuals of the four aspects of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Within each section you will find information pertaining to personal, emotional, spiritual and physical growth.

CHILDREN
Couch Kids: The nation's future
A new report from the BHF which serves to outline the current picture of children’s physical activity levels in the UK. This comprehensive report includes the latest statistics and evidence relating to: Activity levels among children and young people in the UK and why physical activity is so important; Differences in participation by gender, age, socio-economic status and ethnic origin; Screen based sedentary behaviour; and Prevalence of overweight and obesity and trends over time.


Healthy Hearts
An initiative of the Black Gold Regional School District, designed to help parents and teachers connect with resources that will help create and maintain a healthy learning environment.

Shaping the Future
The first Ever Active Schools Health Promoting Schools Conference is taking place Jan. 14-16, 2010

COMMUNITY
An Innovative Approach to Great Neighbourhoods
After researching leading practices across North America, the City of Edmonton is embarking on a new, comprehensive approach to creating and sustaining great neighbourhoods. All city departments will work together, and with its partners and citizens, to deliver services more effectively and efficiently, synchronize planning efforts and facilitate improved two-way communication with residents

Attitudes Toward Physical Activity
New Data discussion from the 2008 CFLRI Physical Activity Monitor

Bridging the Terminology Gap in Support of Active Communities: Land-use Planners and Public Health Professionals
This report will be of interest to those working in the area of: land-use planning; built environment; active transportation and chronic disease prevention through community design. Includes an overview of the development of a joint glossary of terms for land-use planners and public health professionals based on provincial terms. This joint glossary of terms consists of an alphabetical listing of 130 terms and their corresponding sources.

Understanding Your Community: The Key to Building an Impactful, Sustainable Coalition
Through research, extensive experience and practical application, LiveWell Colorado has gained tremendous insight into coalition building, serving as a champion of the importance of community partners, as well as utilizing the broad reach of community members.

HEALTH GENERAL
What Does it Take to Make a Healthy Province?
A benchmark study of jurisdictions in Canada and around the world with the highest levels of health and the best health behaviors.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Fit vs. Fat – Acting on Your New Year’s Resolutions – CFLRI Lifestyle Tips
The new December issue,

The Gift of an Active Lifestyle – CFLRI Research File
The new December issue.

Making the Link from Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity
This research brief presents an overview of findings demonstrating the potential impact of infrastructure investments and other transportation programs on walking and bicycling for transportation, and on related health outcomes. It focuses on public transit, greenways and trails, school-related infrastructure and programs, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, and efforts to manage car traffic.

Rating Canada’s Regional Health
Latest statistics from CFLRI

Social Determinants of Health and Physical Activity – Online workshops
This workshop will present information and considerations on ways to address the social determinants of health when developing physical activity programs and services.
January 14th and February 3rd, 2010.
By the end of the workshop you should:
1. Have a good understanding of what the social determinants and health inequities are and the connection to physical activity.
2. Be aware of some existing physical activity programs that address the social determinants of health.
3. Understand how to create physical activity programs that address the social determinants of health.
4. Have increased knowledge of current research in the area of physical activity and the social determinants of health.

URBAN DESIGN
Future Health: Sustainable Places for Health and Well-being
Future health tells us how good design makes healthy places. It brings what CABE has learned about sustainable, health-promoting environments together with the latest thinking about health and well-being.

October 15, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Closing the Nutrition & Physical Activity Gap in Victoria: Victorian Aboriginal Nutrition & Physical Activity Strategy
This strategy is not merely about preventing disease. It takes a holistic view of nutrition and physical activity, incorporating the social determinants of health (from Australia).

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active Transportation: Making the Link from Transportation to Physical Activity and Obesity Research Brief
This research brief summarizes the latest peer-reviewed research that demonstrates the potential impact of infrastructure investments and other transportation programs on walking and bicycling for transportation, and on related health outcomes.

Active Travel: The Role of Self-Selection in Explaining the Effect of Built Environment on Active Travel Research Brief
This research brief highlights research that shows that creating more traditionally designed communities may lead to increase in active travel and self-selection has a role to play.

Idaho Walk Smart: Walk Safe, Walk Smart, Walk Often
This booklet contains three chapters addressing general safety guidelines, and two special chapters addressing the unique challenges children and seniors face as pedestrians.

CHILDREN
Active Education: Physical Education, Physical Activity and Academic Performance Research Brief
This research brief summarizes the latest peer-reviewed research on the relationship between physical activity and academic performance among children and adolescents.

Children and Bike Riding: Tips for Parents

Helping children reach and maintain a healthy weight
From the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. Physical activity is addressed.

Influence of the Social Environment on Children's School Travel in Walkable Neighborhoods
Presentation from the 2009 Active Living Research Annual Conference

Tired of hanging around: Using sport and leisure activities to prevent anti-social behaviour by young people
This study focuses on the role of sport and leisure activities in preventing anti-social behaviour in young people aged 8 to 19 years. These activities are part of the actions that local councils and their partners can use to tackle and prevent anti-social behaviour.

HEALTHY EATING
Act Now BC: Healthy Eating for Seniors Handbook and Videos

Dietitians of Canada Senior Friendly¹ fact sheets

Getting to Grocery: Tools for Attracting Healthy Food Retailers to Underserved Neighborhoods
Bringing a grocery store into an underserved neighborhood not only makes fresh produce and other healthy food more accessible, it can provide living-wage jobs, raise the value of surrounding property, and anchor and attract additional businesses to the neighborhood.

The Senior Chef: Cooking for One or Two
Recipes in the Senior Chef have been selected so that you may be assured of serving nutritious, economical and easy to prepare meals.

Seniors Nutrition Research and Resources
An excellent website with a great deal of information about current seniors nutrition research and resources.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
Obesity in Canada: Snapshot
A report from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community Tool
ENACT is a concrete menu of strategies designed to help you improve nutrition and activity environments on a local level. These strategies have been organized into seven environments that were carefully selected for their importance in individual and community health.

Each ENACT strategy presents useful information based on current research and practice and includes model policies and programs, hands-on tools, articles and other publications, and resources. The strategies are structured to be interactive so that implementation can become a reality.

Powering Participation: Successful initiatives to boost sports participation and club membership
Case studies presenting the approach selected sports have taken to power participation and membership in non-traditional ways. They offer successful examples of how New Zealand sports are adapting to the changing environment.

URBAN DESIGN
Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning Codes
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Smart Growth Program has released a report that explores 11 "essential fixes" that address the barriers local governments may face in implementing smart growth. Topics include mixing land uses, addressing parking requirements, modernizing street standards, managing storm water, adopting smart annexation policies, and more. Each essential fix describes actions that a community could take to overcome smart growth challenges.

August 19, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Balancing the Medicine Wheel through Physical Activity
This article highlights the findings of a research project based on the medicine wheel teachings of balance between the physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional aspects of oneself. Specifically, this traditional approach to understanding health was used to explore the impacts of physical activity on emotional, spiritual and mental well-being.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Bicycle Boulevard Planning & Design Guidebook
This new guidebook was designed to serve as a planning and conceptual design guide for planners, engineers, citizens, advocates and decision makers who are considering bicycle boulevards in their community.

International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility
Follow up to a project first reported in Info Round Up June 11th. A sample of findings include: (1) Implementing foreign practices in the U.S. will require a careful, evidence based approach. (2) Numerous factors contribute to higher rates of pedestrian and bicyclist safety improvements and higher walking and biking mode splits in the host countries (3) “Safety in numbers” (also called “awareness in numbers”) is a clear motivator behind the promotion of walking and bicycling as a safety improvement strategy.

Transit for Livable Communities
A nonprofit organization working to reform Minnesota's transportation system. Through advocacy, organizing, and research, we promote a balanced transportation system that encourages transit, walking, bicycling, and thoughtful development.

Walking and Cycling International Literature Review: Final Report
This report presents the findings from an extensive literature review aiming to help professionals and researchers in the State of Victoria understand barriers to walking and cycling as well as infrastructure and policy supports for non-motorized transportation.
The research team located almost 500 articles, papers, and reports assessing walking and cycling infrastructure, policies, programs, and models. We reviewed over 300 of them…..

CHILDREN
Engaging Parents to Increase Youth Physical Activity: A Systematic Review
American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 37: 141-149.
The researchers found that a lack of uniformity in way of reporting outcomes, multiple pilot studies relative to full trials and varied measurements of physical activity outcomes meant that systematic conclusions could not be drawn. However, they suggested that interventions with educational or training programs during family visits or via telephone communication with parents appear to be promising strategies.

Obesity and the Impact of Marketing on Children: Developing an Intersectoral Policy Consensus Conference
A OHPE feature article by Manuel Arango, co-chair of the Consensus Conference on Obesity and the Impact of Marketing to Children, that describes the background issues, process, and outcomes of this March 2008 event.

COMMUNITY
Healthy Spaces and Places Web-Resources (Australia)
A national guide for planning, designing and creating sustainable communities that encourage healthy living.

Healthy Spaces and Places. A National Guide to Designing Places for Healthy Living: An Overview
This overview provides a summary of the information available on the Healthy Spaces and Places website (above), which is the primary resource.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
Health and the Natural Environment (Natural England)
Growing medical evidence shows that access to the natural environment improves health and wellbeing, prevents disease and helps people recover from illness. Experiencing nature in the outdoors can help tackle obesity, coronary heart disease and mental health problems. A great web-site with links to many more resources, feature subject pages.

OLDER ADULTS
ACSM Position Stand Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults
Physical activity – even at a moderate level of intensity – can greatly improve quality and life and longevity for adults over age 65, according to an updated Position Stand from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).

Growing Smarter, Living Healthier: A Guide to Smart Growth and Active Aging
Issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is a user-friendly handbook intended to inspire older adults to become involved in how their communities grow and develop to ensure they become more 'age-friendly.' Age-friendly communities use Smart Growth principles (development that improves the community, environment, economy, and public health) to become healthier places to grow old in - and better places for people of all ages. In addition to addressing the basic principles of neighborhood and town design, the guide helps readers understand why community design matters, and how becoming involved in decisions about growth can make better places in which to grow older.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
CFLRI Lifestyle Tips: Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Adults
Offers practical suggestions for integrating physical activity into one's daily life….

CFLRI Research File: Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Adults
Provides summaries of research findings on various topics related to physical activity…

URBAN DESIGN
Rethinking the Street Space: Why Street Design Matters
Nicely summarizes the importance of street design as a public space asset rather than just a place for driving. The article discusses why this approach to street design can be difficult, gives examples of the new trend, and identifies the benefits it brings for local economies, the environment, and physical and psychological health.

July 30, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc


Rosanne will be taking some time off to photosynthesize in the sun :) Info Round Up will return August 14th.

Alberta Centre of Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Effective chronic disease prevention interventions for Aboriginal populations

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active Commuting and Cardiovascular Disease Risk
Archives of Internal Medicine 2009;169(13):1216-1223
In what may be the first large U.S. study of health and commuting, the researchers found only about 17 per cent of workers walked or bicycled any portion of their commute. Those active commuters did better on treadmill tests of fitness, even when researchers accounted for their leisure-time physical activity levels, suggesting commuter choices do make a difference.

Association for Commuter Transportation in Canada
Link to their first newsletter. “We aim to provide timely and meaningful news to TDM practitioners and other transportation-related professionals across the country working to promote suite sustainable modes of transportation - by transit, in carpools, by bike, on foot, or through telework.”

International Scan Summary Report on Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility
In May 2009, a team of 12 transportation professionals with expertise in bicycling and walking from the United States (U.S.) visited five countries in Europe to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility. The scan team identified numerous possible approaches to improving pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility in the U.S.

Michigan Smart Commute
A new Michigan web resource has arrived on the scene, complete with tools, information and inspiration to help community leaders encourage residents to 'Smart Commute' (walk, bike, carpool, or use public transit).

Victoria Walks
This Australian website has an extensive array of resources and tools to assist people to work together to make their neighbourhoods better for walking.

CHILDREN
Child Friendly Communities: Position Statement
From the Planning Institute of Australia. Planners have the ability to help create child friendly cities and communities that can contribute positively to the development of a child's, happiness and wellbeing. With the increasing focus on Australia’s ageing population, it is important that policy makers and planners do not neglect the interests of children when managing the structure and form of Australian cities. The physical, social and economic dimensions of urban environments impacts on a child’s life by shaping their ability to form social relationships and by influencing their physical, mental and emotional health.

The Influence of the VERB Campaign on Children's Physical Activity in 2002 to 2006
American Journal of Public Health, published online 16 July 09
The authors conclude that health messages can be successfully marketed to children by applying the same savvy marketing strategies that are used to sell products to children. As in product marketing, when children are reached by an engaging message, their interest is piqued and their attitudes and behaviors can be affected if the choice for action is appealing and easy. Whereas the advertising made physical activity an appealing choice, by promoting physical activity and giving children ideas on how to ‘‘sample the product’’ in their backyards and playgrounds, the intention was for the choice to seem easy and more accessible.

PlaySport
Ophea's PlaySport is an English/French website with all kinds of great activities designed to teach kids games by playing games! PlaySport games encourage fun, free play while helping kids develop the skills needed to not only participate in all kinds of sports, but also to be healthy and active citizens throughout their lives.

Renewed elementary H&PE curriculum for Ontario
A renewed elementary H&PE curriculum for Ontario will be released this Fall. Mandatory implementation of this policy will be required by elementary schools by Fall 2010. A renewed curriculum for secondary schools will also be released in 2010 with mandatory implementation in 2011. The vision of the renewed curriculum is that students will be physically and health literate and have the comprehension, commitment and capacity to lead and promote a healthy active life in an ever-changing global society.

Study Suggests Parents Lack Confidence Necessary to Implement Healthy Behavior Changes for Children
A study published in the journal Pediatrics suggests that parents often lack confidence in implementing and enforcing the behavior changes necessary to reduce their child's risk of obesity.

CHRONIC DISEASE
Public Health Agency of Canada – Chronic Disease Infobase - Profiles
If you get a runtime error message click refresh. Once the main page comes up choose Alberta from the left hand nav column…. Lots of stats there including Leisure Time PA

PHAC Chronic Disease Infobase (homepage)
Chronic Disease Infobase profiles the epidemiology of major non-communicable diseases in Canada, including the most current cancers; and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases; by province/territory and by regional health unit. Every page that is generated retrieves data from the database on the fly, which means that every time you come back to Chronic Disease Infobase, you may get new information; since the database is updated as data become available.

PHAC Chronic Disease facts and figures
Links to many different data sources on many different chronic diseases here.

Power to Prevent: A Family Lifestyle Approach to Diabetes Prevention
Physical Activity is mentioned 236 times in this 253 page document.
It is a diabetes prevention program aimed at African Americans at increased risk for diabetes, This curriculum provides resources and activities that can help people enjoy a way of life that includes healthy eating and increased physical activity. It is designed to give people who want to adopt healthier habits a range of useful information to support their personal decisions to change their lifestyles. The program provides information on diabetes prevention; ideas for tasty and healthy eating; tools for making changes one step at a time; and suggestions for physical activities that are within reach, easy to do, relaxing, and fun.

COMMUNITY
Creating Caring Communities: A guide to establishing intergenerational programs for schools, care facilities and community groups.
This resource contains practical information and resources to support educators, care providers and community agencies in coordinating successful intergenerational (IG) programs that promote learning, understanding, and mutual respect between generations.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
CDC Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity
The CDC's DNPAO takes a public health approach to address the role of nutrition and physical activity in improving the public's health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases.

CDC Public Health Image Library
A free collection of photos, illustrations, and other media. I searched using "walking" and "exercise".... Got some strange false positives but also some useable photos. Might be worth book marking :)

Core Competencies for Health Promotion Practitioners
This is a set of health promotion core competencies for health promotion practitioners, organisations, employers, and educators. It identifies competencies for health promotion at beginner practitioner level.

Health promotion spending in US budget
Sweeping healthcare legislation working its way through Congress is more than an effort to provide insurance to millions of Americans without coverage. Tucked within is a provision that could provide billions of dollars for walking paths, streetlights, jungle gyms, and even farmers' markets. The add-ons -- characterized as part of a broad effort to improve the nation's health 'infrastructure' -- appear in House and Senate versions of the bill.

Obesity, Physical Activity and Weight Control Glossary
From the National Institutes of Health this glossary defines words that are often used when people talk or write about obesity, physical activity, and weight control. It is written for people who are overweight or obese, or interested in learning more about obesity, physical activity, nutrition, and weight control.

MENTAL HEALTH
Specific associations between types of physical activity and components of mental health
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport Volume 12, Issue 4, July 2009, Pages 468-474
These findings further our knowledge of the mental health benefits of physical activity, demonstrating the greater positive effects from sporting activity. They also suggest the potential worth of specific health recommendations for physical health and for mental health separately in different population subgroups.

OLDER ADULTS
Wheeling Walks
Wheeling Walks is a theory- and media-based community campaign that uses paid advertising to encourage walking among sedentary older adults.

OVERWEIGHT/OBESITY
F as in Fat 2009 How Obesity Policies are Failing in America
Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009, a report released by the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). In addition, the percentage of obese or overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

Prediction of Leisure-time Physical Activity Among Obese Individuals
Obesity (2009) 17 4, 706–712. doi:10.1038/oby.2008.599
Participation in leisure-time physical activity is explained primarily by a person's intentions to perform this behavior. The results also suggest that people are more able to translate their perception of control into action if they perceive the built environment as favorable, although this additional gain in prediction is small relative to intention.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Are Obesity and Physical Activity Clustered? A Spatial Analysis Linked to Residential Density
Obesity (2009) Published online 23 April 2009.
The aim of this study was to examine spatial clustering of obesity and/or moderate physical activity and their relationship to a neighborhood's built environment. Overall, the study indicates that the relationship between the urban environment and obesity is not direct.

Effectiveness of the 2006 Commonwealth Games 10,000 Steps Walking Challenge
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 2009, 41: 1673–1680
These results demonstrate initial effectiveness of the challenge linked to an international sporting event. Long term sustainability only applied for a small number of participants.

iStep Log Study
The 10,000 Steps team would like to invite all iPhone and iPod Touch users to participate in an exciting study looking at the usefulness and usability of the iStepLog app developed specifically for 10,000 Steps members.

National Physical Activity Guidelines for Ireland
These guidelines provide clear, concise and user friendly guidance to support the public, professionals and policy makers to Get Ireland Active. They present a unique opportunity to create a shared vision and framework to support everyone to be as active as they can and enjoy the innumerable benefits.

Total mortality after changes in leisure time physical activity in 50 year old men: 35 year follow-up of population based cohort
British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2009; 43: 482.
These findings, from a well-designed, high quality study, highlight the fact that it is never too late to start being physically active as those who increase activity levels in middle age and older have a similar reduced rate of mortality to those who were active as younger adults and maintained their activity, at least in men. This message should be communicated to populations as a motivator for initiating and maintaining physical activity.

URBAN DESIGN
Assessing urban and rural neighborhood characteristics using audit and GIS data: derivation and reliability of constructs
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:44
Measures to assess neighborhood environments are needed to better understand the salient features that may enhance outdoor physical activities, such as walking and bicycling for transport or leisure. The purpose of this study was to derive constructs to describe neighborhoods using both primary (neighborhood audit) and secondary (geographic information systems) data.

The Built Environment and Walking: Position Statement
From the Australian Heart Foundation. The built environment can either facilitate or discourage walking: land use systems, transportation systems and urban design coalesce to create a pedestrian environment that impacts upon people’s decisions to walk. There are two key conduits for increasing walking: encouraging more walking for transport, and/or encouraging more walking for recreation.

Civilised Streets
A briefing presenting a future that is about removing the dominance of the car – creating civilised streets that work for all.

This way to better residential streets
For the past 50 years we have thought only of the car, in effect providing parking spaces and access routes for drivers between home and the outside world. Things have to change – we must not let the car dominate when a well designed street can help create sustainable communities, enable people to get around, promote walking and cycling, civic pride and identity, provide safe play for children and allow the community to interact.

WOMEN
Australian Womensport and Recreation Association
The Australian Womensport and Recreation Association Inc (AWRA) is an enthusiastic and dynamic national volunteer association "to provide leadership and advocacy for Australian women and girls in sport and active recreation". AWRA is linked with the International Association for Physical Education and Sport for Girls and Women.

Count Us In: Developing Physical Activity Programs for Women
This guideline has been developed on findings from a three year research project titled 'Count Us In: Developing Physical Activity Programs for Women' conducted by Victoria University, Australia. The guidelines are targeted for program providers in private, community and leisure organisations, located in metropolitan and regional areas.

WORKPLACE
Do walking strategies to increase physical activity reduce reported sitting in workplaces: a randomized control trial
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:43
Interventions designed to increase workplace physical activity may not automatically reduce high volumes of sitting, a behaviour independently linked to chronic diseases such as obesity and type II diabetes. This study compared the impact two different walking strategies had on step counts and reported sitting times.

May 4, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Vancouver 2010 Aboriginal Education Resources
Developed in collaboration with the BC Ministry of Education and Aboriginal teachers from across the province, the lesson starters can be used in a number of curriculum areas, such as language arts, geography, science, social studies, health, career education and drama.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
"How times have changed" - active transport literature review
There are many studies which report on how children get to and from school and negotiate their neighbourhoods, but very few explore in detail the cultural context in which children’s independent mobility has been curtailed. This paper will explore a number of key areas which relate to children’s independent mobility.

CHILDREN
A Kid’s Guide to Building Great Communities
This manual is designed to provide planners and educators with ideas, exercises and materials for use with children and youth – in a variety of settings. It is particularly useful for school settings as the topics fit easily into a number of areas of existing curriculum in subjects such as social studies, language arts, science and mathematics.

After-School Program Impact on Physical Activity and Fitness: A Meta-Analysis
American Journal of Preventive Medicine – article in press.
The limited evidence suggests that after-school programs can improve physical activity levels and other health-related aspects.

BHF: Active School Pack
The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has released a new version of the popular Active School resource pack for Primary Schools.

Guidelines for using external providers for physical activity in Out of School Hours (OOSH) centres
Guidelines to assist NSW OOSH centres which plan to engage an external provider to deliver formal physical activity programs. The guidelines are also meant to assist management committees/coordinators to inform their decisions about whether or not to select an external provider. There are four parts to the Guidelines: Background, choosing a provider, responsibilities of the OOSH centre and further information.

Guidelines for using contracted external providers for physical education and school sport
Guidelines to help school Principals (or relevant people) decide whether or not they want to hire an external provider to enhance physical education and sport provision within their school. If they choose to engage an external provider, the guidelines may also be used by Principals to make decisions about which provider to select. There are four parts to the Guidelines: Background, choosing a provider, responsibilities of the school and further information.

Vancouver 2010 Education Resources
Teachers can access and share resources related to the Olympic and Paralympic Games as well as the three Vancouver 2010 pillars of sport, culture and sustainability….. (*Also be sure to click on the “About/EDU” link – lots of good info/resources there.)

HEALTH GENERAL
Get Healthy Action Plan
From the new Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service from NSW Health - a free phone and web based service aimed at supporting adults to make lifestyle changes.

Get Healthy Goal Sheet
From the new Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service from NSW Health - a free phone and web based service aimed at supporting adults to make lifestyle changes. Incorporates SMART goal setting.

Healthy parks, healthy people - The health benefits of contact with nature in a park context: A review of relevant literature
The significance of the health and wellbeing benefits from interacting with nature, including in park settings, the implications for public health, and the need for collated up-to-date information on this topic cannot be over-estimated.

Teams in Action: Primary Health Care Teams for Canadians
The report found that teams look different across the country and that they could be made up of two or more health care professionals, usually from different disciplines, working together in a coordinated, integrated effort to provide a patient's basic health care.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The International Prevalence Study on Physical Activity: results from 20 countries
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:21
This study demonstrated the feasibility of international PA surveillance, and showed that IPAQ is an acceptable surveillance instrument, at least within countries. If assessment methods are used consistently over time, trend data will inform countries about the success of their efforts to promote physical activity.

WORKPLACE
Listen to Professor Fiona Bull speak about Healthy Active Workplaces

http://www.nzwellatwork.co.nz/
This website makes it easy to develop and implement a wellness program for your workplace. Whether you're just starting out or have had a program in place for some time, this site can help. (The Getting Started section includes a workplace environment audit tool).

Workplace BUG Guide (Bicycle User Group)
This guide features practical information about what workplace Bicycle User Groups do and how to start one, with case studies of existing groups included for inspiration.

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 10, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
The determinants of First Nation and Inuit health: A critical population health approach
It’s the 2nd article in this journal issue. Be sure to check out the rest of the table of contents too! There are many other interesting physical activity related articles in there.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Neighbourhood walkability and its particular importance for adults with a preference for passive transport
It’s the 13th article in this journal issue. They note that “Further analyses showed that living in a high walkable neighbourhood was associated with taking more steps, especially in adults with a preference for passive transport and/or a low intention to walk or cycle. In a health promotion context, these results are very promising.”

Transportation Cost and Benefit Analysis Techniques, Estimates and Implications
Be sure to scroll down and click on the link to section 5.3 Safety and Health.

CHILDREN
2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey - Main Findings

Active and safe routes to school - January newsletter

Gaining children's perspectives: A multiple method approach to explore environmental influences on healthy eating and physical activity
It’s the 27th article in this journal issue.

What do parents and preschool staff tell us about young children's physical activity: a qualitative study.
Found in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2008, 5:66
Their findings support the relevance of the socioecological model of behavioural influences to young children's physical activity. In this age group, efforts may best be directed at emphasising national guidelines for small screen recreation and educating families and carers about the importance of creative, free play to reinforce the child's inherent nature to be active.

MENTAL HEALTH
Alberta healthy living network – Mental health common messages
These mental health common messages are intended for use by practitioners in the areas of health promotion and chronic disease prevention. As the information provided refers to the general population, the messages may need to be tailored to the specific individual.

Exercise and Depression
A fact sheet produced by the Black Dog Institute, which is attached to the Prince of Wales Hospital and affiliated with the University of New South Wales.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Adiposity, Physical Activity, and Pancreatic Cancer in the National Institutes of Health–AARP Diet and Health Cohort
Found in American Journal of Epidemiology 2008 167(5):586-597.
“The authors observed no association with physical activity. Their results suggest a positive association between adiposity and pancreatic cancer.”

Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and Bladder Cancer in a Large Prospective Study
Found in Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2008;17(5):1214–21
In conclusion, these findings provide support for a modest adverse effect of adiposity on risk for bladder cancer. In contrast, our results do not suggest a relation between physical activity and bladder cancer.

CHN FAQ’s now on ACAL web-site
… in English, French, as .pdf for easy printing.

Television, Physical Activity, Diet, and Body Weight Status: the ARIC Cohort
Found in International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2008, 5:68
Their results support the hypothesis that time spent watching TV is associated with deleterious effects on physical activity, diet, and BMI.

OLDER ADULTS
Leisure time physical activity differences among older adults from diverse socioeconomic neighborhoods
It’s the 11th article in this journal issue.


WOMEN
Physical Activity and Postmenopausal Breast Cancer Risk in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
Found in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention 2009;18(1):289–96.
“Conclusions: Physical activity was associated with reduced postmenopausal breast cancer risk, particular to ER-negative tumors. These results, along with heterogeneity in the physical activity-breast cancer relation for subgroups of menopausal hormone therapy use and adiposity, indicate that physical activity likely influences breast cancer risk via both estrogenic and estrogen-independent mechanisms.”

Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and endometrial cancer risk in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study
Found in International Journal of Cancer Published Online: 9 Oct 2008

Prospective study of physical activity and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer
Found in Breast Cancer Res. 2008; 10(5): R92. Published online 2008 October 31
“Our findings suggest that physical activity acts through underlying biological mechanisms that are independent of body weight control.”

URBAN DESIGN
Capacitycheck
Capacitycheck is a method of appraising and developing urban design skills. It can help professionals to free themselves from their silos; politicians to become effective champions of design; communities to be empowered; students to learn how to work in an urban context; and landowners and developers to discover the value of making places.

Impact of Urban Sprawl on Overweight, Obesity, and Physical Activity in Sydney, Australia
Found in Journal of Urban Health published online 04 December 2008.
They found: Living in more sprawling suburbs increases the risk of overweight/obesity and inadequate physical activity despite the relatively low levels of urban sprawl in metropolitan Sydney. Modifications to the urban environment to increase physical activity may be worthwhile.

November 21, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ABORIGINAL
Recreation Director's Handbook: A guide for recreation delivery in Aboriginal communities
This manual offers information to help communities become involved in recreation and create programs that last. It also describes how to obtain the resources needed to develop recreation facilities and plan for the future. Note it is a large document: 329 pgs / 15MB

CHILDREN
Physical Activity and the Health of Young People
New from the CDC November 2008

Where Are Youth Active? Roles of Proximity, Active Transport, and Built Environment.
Grow HM, Saelens BE, Kerr J, Durant NH, Norman GJ, Sallis JF. Where Are Youth Active? Roles of Proximity, Active Transport, and Built Environment. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Oct.
They concluded that “active transport was strongly associated with the use of multiple recreation sites by children and adolescents, even when accounting for proximity and demographic factors. Adolescents living in neighborhoods with better traffic safety walked/biked to more recreation sites for physical activity. Findings support the need for built environments and transportation policies that facilitate safe, active transport to recreation sites for youth physical activity.”

CHRONIC DISEASE
The association of physical activity and depression in type 2 diabetes
Lysy, Z., Da Costa, D., Dasgupta, K. (2008). The association of physical activity and depression in type 2 diabetes. Diabetic Medicine, 25 (10), 1133-41.
They conclude that “studies to date suggest an association between depressed mood and physical inactivity in adults with Type 2 diabetes, although objective measures of physical activity have not been employed. Depression-specific management may improve mood and possibly activity.”

Epidemiology of walking and type 2 diabetes
Caspersen CJ, Fulton JE. Epidemiology of walking and type 2 diabetes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S519-28.
They found that “moderate to faster pace of walking seemed to enhance risk reduction. These reductions fit well with results of earlier reviews of physical activity and diabetes, and basically corresponded to 2-3 h of weekly walking.”

Reduced diabetic, hypertensive, and cholesterol medication use with walking
Williams PT. Reduced diabetic, hypertensive, and cholesterol medication use with walking. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Mar;40(3):433-43.
Their “results are consistent with the hypothesis that antidiabetic, antihypertensive, and LDL cholesterol-lowering medication use may be reduced substantially by walking more intensely and farther each week, and by including longer walks.”

Vigorous exercise, fitness and incident hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Williams PT. Vigorous exercise, fitness and incident hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Jun;40(6):998-1006.
They found that “higher cardiorespiratory fitness reduces the odds for hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and diabetes, independent of physical activity and is an important risk factor separate from physical activity.”

OLDER ADULTS
How many days of pedometer use predict the annual activity of the elderly reliably?
Togo F, Watanabe E, Park H, Yasunaga A, Park S, Shephard RJ, et al. How many days of pedometer use predict the annual activity of the elderly reliably? Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Jun; 40(6):1058-64.
They conclude that “when estimating annual step counts, seasonal and/or random sampling of data allows collection of reliable data during substantially fewer days than needed for consecutive observations.”

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Cost effectiveness of community-based physical activity interventions
http://www.ajpm-online.net/article/PIIS0749379708007708/abstract
This study assessed the cost-effectiveness of population-wide strategies to promote physical activity in adults and followed disease incidence over a lifetime.

Healthy Brandon in motion
“We are a combined Chronic Disease Prevention Initiative and in motion group. Our primary focus is those people in the age group of 30-59.”

The importance of walking to public health
Lee IM, Buchner DM. The importance of walking to public health. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S512-8.
They conclude that “walking is a simple health behavior that can reduce rates of chronic disease and ameliorate rising health care costs, with only a modest increase in the number of activity-related injuries.”

Interventions to increase walking behavior
Williams DM, Matthews CE, Rutt C, Napolitano MA, Marcus BH. Interventions to increase walking behavior. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2008 Jul;40(7 Suppl):S567-73.
They found that “mediated interventions delivering physical activity promotion materials through non-face-to-face channels may be ideal for delivering walking promotion interventions and have shown efficacy in promoting overall physical activity, especially when theory-based and individually tailored. Mass media campaigns targeting broader audiences, including those who may not intend to increase their physical activity, have been successful at increasing knowledge and awareness about physical activity but are often too diffuse to successfully impact individual behavior change. Incorporating individually tailored programs into broader mass media campaigns may be an important next step, and the Internet could be a useful vehicle.”

Keeping Albertans fit worth $500 tax credit
Private member's bill based on the expectation that a healthy body will ultimately cost health-care systems less money.

New CDC study finds community physical activity programs are money well spent
“Community-based physical activity interventions designed to promote more active lifestyles among adults are cost-effective in reducing heart disease, stroke, colorectal and breast cancers, and type 2 diabetes, according to a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.”

Pedometer accuracy during walking over different surfaces
Leicht AS, Crowther RG. Pedometer accuracy during walking over different surfaces. Med Sci Sports Exerc 2007 Oct;39(10):1847-50.
They concluded that “walking on a soft surface such as dry beach sand significantly reduced walking speed and increased pedometer error for females compared with males, possibly by exacerbating hip and walking movements. Identification of gender and softer surfaces should be considered when documenting physical activity levels in field studies.”

Physical Activity and Health: The Benefits of Physical Activity
This page was last updated November 2008.

The economic costs of physical inactivity, obesity and overweight in California adults: Health Care, Workers’ Compensation, and Lost Productivity
The study…… estimated that a five percent improvement in the rates of physical activity and healthy weight over five years could save more than $6 billion, while a ten percent improvement could save nearly $13 billion.

WOMEN
The health benefits of physical activity for girls and women: Literature review and recommendations for future research and policy
This document presents an interdisciplinary portrayal of what is known about the benefits and risks of physical activity and inactivity for the health status of girls and women.