April 1, 2010

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Cool Pedestrian Environments: Pedestrian Mobility & Accommodation
At some point during every trip, and on most days, we are all pedestrians. Walking is the universal mode of transport, available to persons of all ages and income levels and in every geographic setting: large, small, urban, suburban, and rural. Though it is the most basic mode, providing for pedestrian safety and mobility is a complex task…. This website is a resource for pedestrian planning, design, and safety documents, and includes web links to other resources.

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility in Europe
Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths accounted for 14 percent of U.S. highway fatalities in 2008. The Federal Highway Administration…. sponsored a scanning study of five European countries to identify and assess effective approaches to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety and mobility.

The scan team gathered information on strategies and approaches in the areas of engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement, and evaluation. The team learned that many of the countries studied have established an urban street user hierarchy that gives the highest priority to walking, biking, and public transit.

Walking as a suspicious activity
Long Branch, N.J., police answered a call about a suspicious-looking person walking in a suburban neighborhood in a light rain. The man had stopped on the sidewalk to look at a house for sale. The officer, asked the aging pedestrian, his curly salt-and-pepper hair partly covered by a hood, his purpose in the neighborhood. 'Walking,' the man said. She asked his name. 'Bob Dylan.' She asked for identification. He had none. The officer put Dylan, 68, in the back of the squad car and took him back to a nearby hotel parking lot, where the legendary musician's tour buses were parked, so he could present valid ID..."

CHILDREN
Are children and adolescents less active if parents restrict their physical activity and active transport due to perceived risk?
Social Science & Medicine Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Alison Carver, Anna Timperio, Kylie Hesketh and David Crawford

The findings demonstrate that constrained behaviour exhibited by parents may result in lower levels of active transport and of MVPA outside school hours. In particular, this was true for children and adolescent girls. Social interventions to improve perceived safety and physical interventions involving redesign of the built environment to improve actual safety may help to ease parental restriction of their children’s active transport and physical activity in their neighbourhood.

CDC Youth Physical Activity Guidelines Toolkit
Use this new toolkit to help promote physical activity in young people.

Effect of a Two-Year Obesity Prevention Intervention on Percentile Changes in Body Mass Index and Academic Performance in Low-Income Elementary School Children
American Journal of Public Health April 2010, Vol 100, No. 4

The authors conclude: School-based interventions can improve health and academic performance among low-income schoolchildren.

Online resources for identifying evidence-based, out-of-school time programs: A users guide
Child Trends produced this Guide to assist funders, administrators, and practitioners in identifying and navigating online resources to find evidence-based programs that may be appropriate for their target populations and communities.

Understanding parental physical activity: Meanings, habits, and social role influence
Psychology of Sport and Exercise Article in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Kyra Hamilton, and Katherine M. White

Parents had clear understandings of what constitutes PA and engaged in various activities which were integrated with or independent of the children. Being active with children, however, was not always constructed favorably in which many parents described the difficulties of being active with their children.

MENTAL HEALTH
Best practice guidelines for mental health promotion programs: Older adults 55+
Note this is a “web-resource”.
This web resource is the second in a series of guides to promoting positive mental health across the lifespan. It provides health and social service providers (“practitioners”) with current evidence-based approaches in the application of mental health promotion concepts and principles for older adults and is intended to support practitioners, caregivers and others involved in developing programs in incorporating best practice approaches to mental health promotion initiatives that are directed towards older people (55 years of age and over).

OLDER ADULTS
Physical Activity Resources and Changes in Walking in a Cohort of Older Men
American Journal of Public Health April 2010, Vol 100, No. 4

We evaluated the influence of physical activity resources and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) on walking among community-dwelling older men. Uncovering reasons that proximity to parks and trails is not associated with maintenance of walking activity among men in low-SES neighborhoods could provide new insight into ways to promote physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
2009 Australia Conference of Science and Medicine in Sport, Seventh National Physical Activity Conference, Sixth National Sports Injury Prevention Conference, Be Active '09
Journal of Science and medicine in Sport Volume 12, Supplement 2

This Journal has published abstracts from the October 2009 sports medicine, sports science, sports injury, and physical activity promotion conference.

Application of the Transtheoretical model to physical activity in older adults with Type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease
Psychology of Sport and Exercise Article in Press
Alison Kirk, Freya MacMillan and Nikki Webster

Findings support the theoretical predictions of the TTM and the use of this model in older clinical populations.

Disparities in Data on Healthy People 2010 Physical Activity Objectives Collected by Accelerometry and Self-Report
American Journal of Public Health April 2010, Vol 100, No. S1

We compared findings on physical activity from national accelerometry data and Healthy People 2010 self-report data to identify differences in disparities by sociodemographic characteristics, gender, age, race/ethnicity, education level, and disability status

Dissemination of effective physical activity interventions: are we applying the evidence?
Health Education Research 2010 25(2):185-198

For physical activity researchers and practitioners, we have effective intervention approaches and analytic tools available for use, such as the Community Guide. However, it is now widely recognized that the mere existence of scientific knowledge is not sufficient to ensure effective application.

This study was undertaken to better understand the importance of studying context as a crucial step in the dissemination of physical activity interventions, focusing particularly on the evidence-based reviews in the Community Guide… One-size does not fit all as illustrated by our study. We must learn about context and capacity before attempting to actively disseminate the Guide's recommendations…..

Global Consultation on the "Toronto Charter for Physical Activity"
The consultation will close on 16th April 2010

URBAN DESIGN
The Built Environment and Location-Based Physical Activity
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 38, Iss 4, April 2010, P 429-438

Findings are consistent with studies showing that certain attributes of the built environment around homes are positively related to physical activity, but in this case only when the outcome was location-based.

Fixing the Great Mistake: Autocentric Development
According to a Feb. 25th StreetFilms entry, "'Fixing the Great Mistake' is a new Streetfilms series that examines what went wrong in the early part of the 20th Century, when our cities began catering to the automobile, and how those decisions continue to affect our lives today."

"In this episode, Transportation Alternatives director Paul Steely White shows how planning for cars drastically altered Park Avenue. Watch and see what Park Avenue used to look like, how we ceded it to the automobile, and what we need to do to reclaim the street as a space where people take precedence over traffic."

Perceived characteristics of the neighborhood and its association with physical activity behavior and self-rated health
Health & Place Article in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Willibald J. Stronegger, Sylvia Titze and Pekka Oja

Results suggest that local infrastructure facilities should be designed so as to ensure accessibility by both walking and cycling.

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.

February 26, 2010

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Canadian Tax Exempt Transit and Cycling Benefits
A Cost Estimate of Proposed Amendments to the Income Tax Act to Exempt Certain Employer-Provided Transportation Benefits from Taxable Income.

Who owns the roads? How motorised traffic discourages walking and bicycling
Injury Prevention 2009; 15: 369-373
This article examines the impact of vehicle traffic on walking and bicycling activity. It indicates that real and perceived danger and discomfort imposed by traffic discourages walking and bicycling, and interventions to reduce traffic speed and volume can improve public health by increasing walking and bicycling activity.

CHILDREN
APPLE Schools: Alberta Project Promoting active Living and healthy Eating
APPLE Schools aim to make the healthy choice the easy choice by changing the school environments. The easy choice for students will be healthy lunches and snacks and an active lifestyle. We aim to create and sustain supportive physical and social environments that foster lifelong health and learning.

Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning: Guidelines and Literature Review.
The project began in November 2007 and is to continue until March 2010. Its main objective is to develop sets of guidelines for municipal transportation and land-use planners, one set for each of Canada’s ten provinces.

The Guidelines are being developed as tools for achieving transportation and land-use arrangements that meet the needs of children and youth — and everyone else.

Neighborhood, Route, and School Environments and Children's Active Commuting
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Vol 38, Issue 3, March 2010, Pages 268-278

Objectively measured neighborhood and route factors are associated with walking and cycling to school. However, distance did not moderate the associations found here. Creating safe environments by improving urban design may influence children's commuting behavior. Intervention studies are needed to confirm the findings from this observational cross-sectional study.

Pan-Canadian Online Survey to Determine a "Communities Perspective" on Children/Youth and their Connection with Nature
This survey will only be available online until the end of day on March 12th, 2010.
An online survey designed to seek input on strategic matters pertaining to children and youth and their perceived lack of engagement/connection with nature (the out-of-doors). The survey should take between 20-30 minutes to fully complete. The survey does not have to be completed in one session.

Programs for Children and Youth in a Community Context
Participants in a recent Child Trends Roundtable explored how evidence-based programs might be integrated into community initiatives to strengthen outcomes for children…. Insights from this Roundtable provide valuable guidance to policymakers and foundations considering investments in similar initiatives and to communities seeking to build or improve a system of services for disadvantaged children and youth.

MISCELLANEOUS
A cross-sectional study of the number and frequency of terms used to refer to knowledge translation in a body of health literature in 2006: a Tower of Babel?
The study of implementing research findings into practice is rapidly growing and has acquired many competing names (e.g., dissemination, uptake, utilization, translation) and contributing disciplines. The use of multiple terms across disciplines pose barriers to communication and progress for applying research findings. The authors of this article sought to establish an inventory of terms describing this field and how often authors use them in a collection of health literature published in 2006.

Guidance for Developers of Health Research Reporting Guidelines
A reporting guideline gives a set of recommendations regarding the information that should be included in the report of a research study. The authors of this article hope this guidance on how to develop a reporting guideline, including an 18-step checklist, will fill a gap in the literature and be of help to potential and practicing developers.

This strategy assumes the involvement of an executive group to facilitate the guideline development and the expectation of having a face-to-face meeting as part of the reporting guideline development.

MENTAL HEALTH
Mental Health and Physical Activity
A new edition of Mental Health and Physical Activity (MENPA) has been released. MENPA is an academic peer-reviewed journal that promotes high-quality research in understanding the link between mental health and physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
The potential role of physical exercise in the treatment of epilepsy
Epilepsy & Behavior Article in Press, Corrected Proof
Ricardo Mario Arida, Fulvio Alexandre Scorza, Sérgio Gomes da Silva, Steven C. Schachter and Esper Abrão Cavalheiro

The beneficial effects of exercise for people with epilepsy, including reduction of seizure susceptibility, improvement of quality of life, reduction of anxiety and depression, and better social integration, have increasingly been reported. We present data from human and animal studies supporting the role of exercise as a therapy for epilepsy complementary to standard treatments.

URBAN DESIGN
Where We Want To Be: Home Location Preferences And Their Implications For Smart Growth
Updated 20 January 2010

September 4, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Rosanne will be on holidays next week :) Info Round Up will return September 18.

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Communities in Motion: Bringing active transportation to life
From the Federation of Municipalities and Green Municipal Fund. Learn how your municipal government can take action to integrate active transportation into your planning.

The Economic Benefits of Bicycle Infrastructure Investments
This article highlights the impact the bicycle industry and bicycle tourism can have on state and local economies, describes the need for bicycle facilities, discusses the cost effectiveness of investments, points out the benefits of bike facilities for business districts and neighborhoods, and identifies the cost savings associated with a mode shift from car to bicycle. The evidence demonstrates that investments in bicycle infrastructure make good economic sense as a cost effective way to enhance shopping districts and communities, generate tourism and support business.

CHILDREN
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Take Action to Increase Physical Activity for Children and Youth
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, August 14, 2009 - Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers responsible for Sport, Physical Activity, and Recreation, at their annual meeting, agreed to take specific key measures to increase physical activity levels for children and youth.

Interventions for treating obesity in children
A review by Health Evidence – With a ‘strong’ review quality rating.

Physical activity in young people—Assessment and methodological issues
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 2009, 12: 513-514
Learn about useful strategies to engage parents to increase physical activity in young people.

School Bicycling and Walking Policies: Addressing Policies that Hinder and Implementing Policies that Help
A tip sheet by the National Center for Safe Routes to School and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Sept. 1, 2009

Why Kids Need Hangouts
Do kids have a hangout place in your neighborhood? If they don’t, they probably won’t spend much time there.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
Alberta Interactive Health Data Application
Provides information on health status and determinants of health. The IHDA contains many health indicators derived from various sources, in topics such as Children's Health, Chronic Disease, Demographic Patterns, Immunization Events, Injury Patterns, and Mortality Patterns in Alberta.

Systematic Literature Reviews (SLRs) from the Diet and Cancer Report
The site has been updated with all the systematic literature reviews (SLRs) that underpin the Expert Report. These SLRs were conducted by nine independent teams of scientists from institutions around the world, who carried out reviews on the different types of cancer, as well as on cancer survivors, obesity, and authoritative reports on other chronic diseases such as heart disease and diabetes.

MENTAL HEALTH
The effectiveness of exercise in the management of post-natal depression: Systematic review and meta-analysis
They conclude: Due to heterogeneity, it is uncertain whether exercise reduces symptoms of PND.

OLDER ADULTS
Expected values for pedometer-determined physical activity in older populations
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:59
The purpose of this review is to update expected values for pedometer-determined physical activity in free-living healthy older populations.

National Seniors Australia- Promoting Productive Ageing Online
Minister for Ageing, Justine Elliot today officially launched two online tools developed by National Seniors Australia to help recognize and promote productive ageing in Australia. The Productive Ageing Centre website and The Atlas of Productive Ageing.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Correspondence of perceived vs. objective proximity to parks and their relationship to park-based physical activity
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:53
Poor levels of correspondence were observed between self-reported and objective proximity to parks, but certain individual, neighborhood, and park variables increased the likelihood of a participant being aware of local parks. Future research should examine how people conceptualize parks and what urban and park planners can do to increase awareness and use of these community assets.

New Zealand Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2009 - 2015

URBAN DESIGN
Applying health impact assessment to land transport planning
The New Zealand Transport Agency has released a report that examines the application and incorporation of a health impact assessment into transportation planning in New Zealand.

Walking the Walk: How Walkability Raises Housing Values in U.S. Cities
The report, analyzed data from 94,000 real estate transactions in 15 major markets provided by ZipRealty found that in 13 of the 15 markets, higher levels of walkability, as measured by Walk Score, were directly linked to higher home values.

WOMEN
Girls Only Incentive Program
Its goal is to facilitate the development of new sport programs that are tailored specifically to the needs of girls and women in communities across BC. The project provides workshops and seed funding to BC communities to aid in the implementation of girls only programming.

WORKPLACE
British Heart Foundation – Health at Work website
The website replaces the old Think fit! website, and has been redesigned with a new, fresh, vibrant look, easier navigation, lots of new content and exciting features.

The website contains up-to-date information on physical activity, healthy eating and mental wellbeing, plus lots of ideas, practical tools and downloads for the workplace health promoter to create a health club at work.

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.

June 26, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Bike Belles
This website aims to dispel the myths and barriers that sometimes prevent girls from cycling.

Cycling awareness
From the London Telegraph…. “Cyclists were encouraged to slow down thanks to this crater-sized 'hole' in the middle of a towpath. But the hole is an optical illusion, a three-dimensional drawing of a canyon, in an attempt to make careless cyclists hit the brakes rather than ride dangerously and ignore pedestrians..."

Cyclist Harassment A Misdemeanor in Columbia (MO)
Harassment of bicyclists, including shouting threats and honking for the purpose of frightening a cyclist (is now) a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by $1,000 fine or a year in jail.

Town Hall Presentation
10-minute video featuring Dan Burden of Walkable Communities, Inc.;

Way To Go, Seattle!
Way to Go, Seattle! is the City’s umbrella for all of our various, coordinated efforts to increase walking, biking, transit use, carpooling and other eco ways to get around. We’re your resource for Seattle’s “drive less” programs, as well as useful tools and tips to help you get around without driving.

CHILDREN
Bones4Life
The site is divided into two sections. One section is designed for teachers and hosts a variety of resources to use in the classroom to educate children about bone health. The second section is for children and provides interactive games and quizzes to enhance their learning of bone health.

The Built Environment: Designing Communities to Promote Physical Activity in Children
The American Academy of Pediatrics has issued a strong policy statement that encourages pediatricians to advocate for policy changes to enable children to safely walk and bicycle in their communities.

CONFERENCES
AICR Annual Research Conference on Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer
November 5th & 6th 2009. This year’s topics include: Challenges of conducting dietary clinical trials; Nutrition and behavior in cancer survivorship; Phytochemicals in herbs, spices and fruits; Bioenergetics and cancer; Turning cancer prevention policy into action and Physical activity and cancer.

International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health
May 5th – 8th 2010. The 3rd in a series of Congresses organized to better understand the research, public policies and programs pertaining to the complex relationships between physical activity and health.

Knowledge Transfer: Some Assembly Required
September 30th - October 2nd 2009. Hosted by the Health Research Network of Alberta. With the help of our expert speakers and each other, we will explore and gain an appreciation for complexity theory and complex adaptive systems and what this tells us about knowledge transfer or translation (KT), learn what tools and techniques can help facilitate KT, learn how to develop KT plans and how to assess them, and discover how we might measure the success of our KT efforts.

HEALTH (GENERAL)
Institute of Wellbeing
Launched June 11th, 2009. Their signature product - the Canadian Index of Wellbeing -will track Canada’s progress and provide a set of indicators in eight interconnected categories that will enable us to see whether we are better or worse off than we used to be, whether we will leave the world a better or worse place for the generations that follow, and what we need to change to achieve a better outcome.

MENTAL HEALTH
Guidance for Occupational therapy and physical activity interventions to promote the mental wellbeing of older people in primary care and residential care
This guidance is for all those involved in promoting older people's mental wellbeing. It focuses on practical support for everyday activities, based on occupational therapy principles and methods.

Youth Beyond Blue
A new youth mental health website to help raise awareness of symptoms of depression and anxiety, and to help youth get help. See factsheet #7 and #12 for information related to physical activity.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
A Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Developing a Physical Activity and Health Legacy from the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games
This systematic review sets out the lessons learned from the best available international evidence. It will enable us to work with greater confidence towards securing a true and lasting health and physical activity legacy from the 2012 Games.

BCPRA Physical Activity Strategy Seasonal Newsletter
Spring 2009 version of the BC Recreation and Parks Association newsletter. While visiting their website, you can also learn about how your community can support inactive adults with regular physical activity.

Early management of persistent non-specific low back pain
With regards to physical activity and exercise, this guidance recommends advising patients to stay physically active and to carry on with normal activities as far as possible.

Weighing it Up
The Australian Government's response to obesity, including several physical activity recommendations.

URBAN DESIGN
City Dwellers Worldwide Healthier than Suburban Counterparts
"No matter which country you are in, new research finds those who live in an urban neighborhood are twice as likely to be physically active the those in the suburbs. According to a San Diego State University study published in this month's American Journal of Preventative Medicine, the biggest single factor influencing physical activity around the world is accessibility to sidewalks.

Public Spaces & Public Life Perth 2009
The surveys document urban change over time and provide empirical evidence of the significant improvement in city life that result from the increase of public space quality. This study analyses the evolution of public space in Perth city centre, contrasting survey data collected in 2008/09 with their seminal study of 1993/94.

WORKPLACE
Determinants of participation in worksite health promotion programmes: a systematic review.
International Journal of Behavioural Nutrition and Physical Activity, 2009, 6:26
this review found that worksite health promotion programs that provide 1) incentives; 2) offer a multi-component strategy: and 3) focus on multiple behaviors rather than on physical activity only have a higher participation level.

Improving Diet and Physical Activity with ALIVE: A Worksite Randomized Trial
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 6, Pages 475-483 (June 2009)
An RCT, conducted in 2006, of a 16-week e-mail program offered individually tailored, small-step goals; a personal homepage with tips; educational materials; and tracking and simulation tools.

Workplace Wellness Programs: Benefits
A USA Today news article titled: Cost-conscious companies re-evaluate wellness programs. “Companies, desperate to slice fat from their budgets during this recession, increasingly are targeting workplace wellness programs ……”

June 5, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN
2009 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card
Disturbingly, despite the academic and health benefits of physical activity, for the third consecutive year, the 2009 Report Card assigned an F for Physical Activity Levels. Only 13 per cent of Canadian children and youth are meeting the minimum recommendation of 90 minutes of physical activity a day.

After-School Program Impact on Physical Activity and Fitness: A Meta-Analysis
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2009, Pages 527-537
The limited evidence suggests that after-school programs can improve physical activity levels and other health-related aspects. Additional studies are required that provide greater attention to theoretical rationale, levels of implementation, and measures of physical activity within and outside the intervention.

Canada Gets Active
CPRA is working on a new project titled Canada Gets Active. Modeled after Kingston Gets Active (KGA), and in conjunction with the initiative, the main objective of Canada Gets Active is to increase Physical Activity involvement of Canadian children by increasing their access to and participation in community recreation facilities. All Letters of Interest submissions must be received by 12:00 NOON EST on July 15th 2009

Effect of a school-based intervention to promote healthy lifestyles in 7–11 year old children
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:5
The intervention produced positive changes in physical activity levels and body composition. It appeared to have little or no effect on consumption of fruit and vegetables. Schools are a suitable setting for the promotion of healthy lifestyles although more work, particularly focussed on dietary change, is needed in a variety of schools and social settings.

Feasibility, design and conduct of a pragmatic randomized controlled trial to reduce overweight and obesity in children: The electronic games to aid motivation to exercise (eGAME) study
Biomed Central BMC Public Health 2009, 9:146
The aim of the Electronic Games to Aid Motivation to Exercise (eGAME) study is to determine the effects of an active video game intervention over 6 months on: body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, waist circumference, cardio-respiratory fitness, and physical activity levels in overweight children.

Friendship groups and physical activity: qualitative findings on how physical activity is initiated and maintained among 10–11 year old children
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:4
Friendship groups affect both the initiation and maintenance of youth physical activity. Children belong to several groups and engage in different activities with different groups. Simple strategies that aim to promote physical activity via the different friendship groups could be an effective means of promoting increased physical activity in young people.

The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds
American Academy of Pediatrics
This report offers guidelines on how pediatricians can advocate for children by helping families, school systems, and communities consider how best to ensure that play is protected as they seek the balance in children’s lives to create the optimal developmental milieu.

Independent mobility in relation to weekday and weekend physical activity in children aged 10–11 years: The PEACH Project
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:2
Note: Independent mobility = children travelling unaccompanied.

Objectively measured physical activity, physical activity related personality and body mass index in 6- to 10-yr-old children: a cross-sectional study
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:25
The results of this study demonstrate that Normal Wt children spent on average 20 min per day more in Moderate to VigorousPA. PA patterns were similar in NW versus Over Wt children, although at different levels. Greatest differences in PA according to weight status were found in the afternoon during after school hours. This is the first study to show distinct PA related personality traits in OW children compared to NW peers.

Participation in organised sports does not slow declines in physical activity during adolescence
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:22
Although participation in organised physical activities during early adolescence is associated with more physical activity throughout secondary school, participation in such activities does not protect against declines in physical activity over time.

Pilot evaluation of a walking school bus program in a low-income, urban community
Biomed Central BMC Public Health 2009, 9:122
A WSB program is a promising intervention among urban, low-income elementary school students that may promote favorable changes toward active transport to school.

WHO Growth Charts – Early years
The new UK-WHO growth charts for children from birth to 4 years of age are now available. The new charts combine UK90 and WHO data. Clear instructions explain how to measure, plot and interpret the chart. New features include an adult height predictor, a body mass index (BMI) conversion chart, and guidance on gestational age correction.

COMMUNITY
09 Parks and Recreation Ontario (PRO) Education Forum
A listing and links to all of the presentations from the 2009 Parks and Recreation Ontario Forum. There are many good presentations here (accessibility, age friendly communities, High Five, healthy eating and much more).

MENTAL HEALTH
Physical activity inversely associated with the presence of depression among urban adolescents in regional China
Biomed Central BMC Public Health 2009, 9:148
This study, conducted among Chinese adolescents, strengthened the evidence that physical activity was inversely associated with depression. Our study has important implications for health officers and public health professionals to pay much attention to the relationship between physical activity and depression in Mainland China.

Physical Health in Mental Health - Final Report of a Scoping Document
A January 2009 publication from the Royal College of Psychiatrists London. Chapters 9 and 10 look at health promotion including activity and inactivity.

OLDER ADULTS
Socioeconomic differences in lack of recreational walking among older adults: The role of neighbourhood and individual factors
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:1
Intervention and policy strategies to reduce socioeconomic differences in lack of recreational walking among older adults would be most effective if they intervene on both neighbourhood perceptions as well as individual cognitions.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Computer-tailored physical activity behavior change interventions targeting adults: a systematic review
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:30
The evidence of effectiveness for computer-tailored physical activity interventions is inconclusive. They have potential to reach large groups of people however there is uncertainty whether reported effects are generalizable and sustained.

Distinct trajectories of leisure time physical activity and predictors of trajectory class membership: a 22 year cohort study
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2008, 5:57
There is a need for continued efforts to increase overall population levels of LTPA, particularly among socially disadvantaged groups with respect to income and education, who are most likely to experience unfavorable trajectories of LTPA.

HABITAT: A longitudinal multilevel study of Biomed physical activity change in mid-aged adults
Central BMC Public Health 2009, 9:76
HABITAT will provide unique information to improve our understanding of the determinants of physical activity, and to help identify "people" and "place" priority targets for public policy and health promotion aimed at increasing physical activity participation among mid-aged men and women.

Healthy Canadians–A Federal Report on Comparable Health Indicators 2008
Physical activity is mentioned 34 times in this new 2009 publication.

Objectively measured physical activity of U.S. adults by sex, age, and racial/ethnic groups: Cross-sectional Study.
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:31
Physical activity levels measured objectively by accelerometer demonstrated that Hispanic men are, in general, more active than their white and black counterparts. This appears to be in contrast to self-reported physical activity previously reported in the literature and identifies the need to use objective measures in situations where the contribution of light intensity and/or unstructured physical activity cannot be assumed homogenous across the populations of interest.

URBAN DESIGN
The association between health enhancing physical activity and neighbourhood environment among Swedish adults – a population-based cross-sectional study
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:8
The findings suggest that the environment is differentially related to walking and total health enhancing physical activity. This should be explored in future research to disentangle the complex relationship between different levels and aspects of physical activity and their relationship with the environment.

Measurement of the Food and Physical Activity Environments - Enhancing Research Relevant to Policy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Weight
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 4, Supplement 1, Pages A1-A6, S81-S190 (April 2009)
To reduce obesity levels and address the related issues of inadequate physical activity levels and diet quality, research interest is broadening from individual-level behavioral interventions to environmental modifications that can be addressed by public policy. The food environment and physical activity–related aspects of the built (i.e., human-made) environment are of particular interest, given their potential impact on individual-level behavior as it relates to energy balance, weight, and health outcomes.

Neighborhood Environments and Physical Activity Among Adults in 11 Countries
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2009, Pages 484-490
Results suggest neighborhoods built to support physical activity have a strong potential to contribute to increased physical activity. Designing neighborhoods to support physical activity can now be defined as an international public health issue.

WORKPLACE
Improving Diet and Physical Activity with ALIVE: A Worksite Randomized Trial
American Journal of Preventive Medicine Volume 36, Issue 6, June 2009, Pages 475-483
An RCT, conducted in 2006, of a 16-week e-mail program offered individually tailored, small-step goals; a personal homepage with tips; educational materials; and tracking and simulation tools.

May 28, 2009

By Rosanne Prinsen MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
Active Travel Workplace Toolkit
To help improve health, reduce absenteeism and increase productivity, Sustrans has published a UK-wide Active Travel Workplace Toolkit to help organizations encourage their employees to walk, cycle and use public transport for their commute. (There are lots of great resources here – planning for AT, a step by step guide, plus many supporting documents!).

Boots Across Canada
Trans Canada Trail has entered into a partnership with Keen Canada for an innovative fund development program called Boots Across Canada. Keen Canada will give TCT a $5 donation for every pair of “boots” (or shoes or sandals or rollerblades) pictured in a photo on a trail that is uploaded to Keen Canada’s website by October 31. These funds will be distributed to provincial partners, based on the number of photos from each province.

Cycle Friendly Work Places
Businesses and Organizations should encourage making workplaces more cycle - friendly, as part of a travel plan to reduce car trips for commuting and business.
Employers may take a number of steps to make it easy and to encourage staff to travel to work by bike, or to use a bike for business travel. Includes a sample survey companies can use to audit the work-site to find out what changes are needed to encourage more people to cycle to work

Copenhagenize.com
Forty years ago Copenhagen was just as car-clogged as anywhere else but now 36% of the population choose the bicycle. Copehagenizing is possible anywhere. Check out the blog!

Fact Sheet: Costs of Complete Streets
While I can’t find a publication date, one of the references is from March 2009 – this document is recent. The National Complete Streets Coalition has consulted with practitioners across the county to develop a fact sheet on the costs of implementing a complete streets policy. The fact sheet touches on many of the issues involved in planning, designing, and operating streets that accommodate all users of all ages and abilities.

Manitoba appoints Active Transportation Advisory Group
Science, Technology, Energy and Mines Minister Jim Rondeau today appointed 11 people to the Active Transportation Advisory Group which will make recommendations for improving Manitoba’s active transportation policy and infrastructure.

Toronto Coalition for Active Transportation Newsletter
Find out the active transportation news from Canada's largest city.

Visualizing the transformation to a complete street
Shows before and then transforms to after (complete). Shows tags where changes have been made.

CHILDREN
It’s A Crime To Walk To School
While it may not be the brightest idea to force your 6-year old child to walk down a suburban arterial street during the morning rush hour all alone, the underlying problem is that we have been designing neighborhoods where it’s unsafe for children to walk or play. We’re not defending this individual case, but condemning that children in Louisville literally can’t walk to school in many parts of the city.

The Good Play Space Guide: “I can play too”
This guide is about play and its benefits for everyone. Many children and adults who have a disability are not able to use public play spaces for a variety of reasons. The purpose of this guide is to examine the reasons why play spaces can limit access to some children and identify how improvements can be made to increase participation by all children in play.

MENTAL HEALTH
The Melbourne Charter for Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental and Behavioural Disorders
Listed as a protective factor is “Sport and Recreation: participation and access”

OLDER ADULTS
America’s Streets Aren’t Ready for Aging Population
An article in the AARP Bulletin that speaks to the opportunities of complete streets in addressing the needs of older adults.

Interventions for preventing falls in older people living in the community
Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2009, 6: 289-298
This high quality review clearly confirms the value of physical activity in reducing the risk and rate of falls in older adults in the community. It is important that this population group is encouraged to maintain or initiate physical activity, particularly the types illustrated in the review, to sustain healthy independent living.

Planning Complete Streets for an Aging America: Research Report
AARP's Public Policy Institute says a wide survey of transportation planners and engineers found that a majority says they have not begun to prepare for the coming increase in Americans over 65 years old. Their report is packed with new information and calls for adoption of Complete Streets policies to address the needs of the estimated 64 million Americans who will be over 65 in 2025.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Expected values for steps/day in special populations
Preventive Medicine, 2009, article in press . Catrine Tudor-Locke, Tracy L. Washington and Teresa L. Hart
This review provides important specific information for professionals promoting physical activity in individuals and community groups living with chronic illness and disabilities. It gives clear and valid surveillance information on physical activity levels in special populations which can assist in planning and evaluating interventions specific to these groups.

National Health Survey Summary of Results – Australia
“Exercise” is mentioned 77 times in this 64 page .pdf
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) released the results of the 2007-08 National Health Survey. Approximately 22,000 people from all States and Territories and across all age groups were included. The survey was designed to obtain national benchmarks on a wide range of health issues

RECREATION
Sport and Recreation Community Building: Literature Review
The New South Wales Department of the Arts, Sport and Recreation commissioned this literature review on strategic approaches that use sport and recreation to bolster community development

URBAN DESIGN
Bike Lanes, On-Street Parking and Business
This research report published by the Clean Air Partnership in February 2009 shows that removing on-street parking to install a bicycle lane or widened sidewalk would likely increase not decrease commercial activity.

WORKPLACE
Determinants of participation in worksite health promotion programs: a systematic review
International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity 2009, 6:26
This systematic review investigates initial participation in worksite health promotion programs, the underlying determinants of participation, and program characteristics influencing participation levels

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.