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

May 2, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

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

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

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

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

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

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

CONFERENCES

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

HEALTH PROMOTION

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

MENTAL HEALTH

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

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

NUTRITION

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

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

OLDER ADULTS

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

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

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY GENERAL

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

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

WOMEN

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

February 15, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

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

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

CONFERENCES/ LEARNING

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

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

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

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

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

HEALTHY WEIGHT

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

URBAN DESIGN

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

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

WALKING

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

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

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

WELLNESS

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

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

WORKPLACE

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

February 1, 2008

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

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

CHILDREN

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

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

BEST PRACTICES/EVIDENCE

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

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

INTERNATIONAL RESOURCES

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

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

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

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

January 25, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

CHILDREN

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

CHRONIC DISEASE

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

COURSES

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

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

GENERAL HEALTH

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

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

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

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

MENTAL HEALTH

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

NUTRITION

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

WALKING

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

WORKPLACE

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

January 18, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

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

CHILDREN

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

Previous research suggests that school characteristics may influence physical activity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES/PROGRAMS

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

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

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

DISABILITY

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

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

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

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


GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

Exercise is medicine
www.exerciseismedicine.org

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

It calls on doctors to prescribe exercise to their patients.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MENTAL HEALTH

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

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

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

NUTRITION

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

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

OLDER ADULTS

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

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

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

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

URBAN PLANNING/RECREATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WOMEN/GIRLS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

December 21, 2007

Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

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

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

CHILDREN

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

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

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

Renewed Nova Scotia Active Kids Healthy Kids strategy

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

CHRONIC DISEASE

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

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

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

COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION INITIATIVES/PROGRAMS

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

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

NUTRITION

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

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

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

OLDER ADULTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

AARP advice for walking indoors or outdoors during winter months.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY — GENERAL

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

URBAN PLANNING/RECREATION

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WORKPLACE

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

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

November 22. 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living





ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

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

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

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

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

CHILDREN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

CHAINs are multi-professional and cross-organizational.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OLDER ADULTS

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

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

The guide also includes program elements such as:

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

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

RECREATION

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

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

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

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

URBAN PLANNING

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

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

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

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

The paper is being released following yearlong research and consultation.

WOMEN

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

WORKPLACE

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

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

November 9, 2007

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

CHILDREN
An Introduction to Active Movement/Koringa Hohiko: Guidelines booklet resource
http://www.sparc.org.nz/filedownload?i
d=0a1527e7-b4f8-442f-b861-c8fefa313929
This resource focuses on educating the key influencers of children up to five years old about the importance of quality physical movement activities for children of this age group.
It includes information for parents/caregivers and educators, scientific research findings on how movement can assist with a child’s brain development and suggested readings for more information.

Perceived athletic competence, sociometric status, and loneliness in elementary school children
http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/
summary_0286-32835194_ITM
A new Canadian study that looks at the connections between athletic skill and social acceptance among school children has found that kids place a great deal of value on athletic ability, and youngsters deemed unskilled by their peers often experience sadness, isolation and social rejection at school.

RECREATION
Asset management guide: Sport and recreation and facilities
http://tinyurl.com/2bspof
This guide contains a series of practical tools to help you through the process of developing an asset management plan so that your facilities are productive and sustainable.

Decision-making guide: Sport and recreation facilities
http://tinyurl.com/2x6wp8
This decision-making tool helps determine the need for community and recreation services. While the model is mostly for facility planning, it has been structured so that it can also be applied to program-based solutions.

How to undertake a feasibility study for a proposed sport or recreation facility
http://tinyurl.com/ywpdao
The aim of this kit is to provide local government authorities, state sporting associations and other providers of sport and recreation facilities with a practical guide to undertaking a feasibility study.
The kit highlights the planning issues that need to be considered, the various ways of gathering information and the outcomes that should be achieved.
This kit provides an overview of the issues to be considered in this type of study, whether the client intends to undertake the feasibility study in-house or engage an external consultant to undertake the research.

How to develop a management plan for your facility
http://tinyurl.com/27gnh8
This kit will help facility managers prepare a management plan for their recreation or leisure centre. Each management plan will be different.
There is no set formula for either the content or process of preparing a management plan.
However, there are a number of key principles that should be considered. The information provided in this kit constitutes a guide to more efficient management practices, which should ultimately result in more effective service delivery.

Life cycle cost guidelines
http://tinyurl.com/2bspof
These Life Cycle Cost Guidelines provides facility owners, architects and engineers with tools to develop life cycle cost reports to be used by departments of sport and recreation considered publicly owned or funded facilities.
The guidelines mean analysis and reporting can be standardized to ensure a timely and accurate technical review of your facility or project.

WORKPLACE

Comprehensive workplace health strategy
http://www.thrivingworkplaces.ns.ca/
provincial_strategy.shtml
A workplace strategy and web resource from Nova Scotia.