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.

April 11, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Special issue of preventive medicine
http://tinyurl.com/4x7rbf
The January 2008 special issue of Preventive Medicine (Volume 46, Issue 1: pp. 1-84) focuses on self-transportation, public transportation, and health. Many of these articles are related to physical activity. Access is free.

BEHAVIOUR CHANGE

Choosing health: Making healthy choices easier:
Executive summary
http://tinyurl.com/2mld8w
Physical activity is mentioned many times.

Kings fund - Kicking bad habits: Resources
http://tinyurl.com/3nja27
Many interesting behavior change papers here.

Low-income groups and behavior change interventions:
A review of intervention content and effectiveness
http://tinyurl.com/4jlhob
Many physical activity interventions are included.

Partnerships for better health - Small change, big difference
http://tinyurl.com/2smqws
The Partnerships for Better Health report highlights the government's role in influencing non-statutory, commercial and not-for-profit sectors in securing public health goals. Through the report, case studies and best practice tips we are encouraging the greater use of such partnerships for health at a local level.

CHILDREN

Active education: Physical education, physical activity and academic performance
http://tinyurl.com/3wpvy4
It “summarizes peer-reviewed research on the relationship between physical activity and academic performance among children and adolescents”.

Childhood obesity
http://tinyurl.com/4kv5em
Facts and statistics (USA)

Childhood obesity toolkit
http://tinyurl.com/4pknny
“This Tool Kit provides (USA) policymakers with resources, data, trends and examples of solutions being implemented or considered by states and legislators across the country that aim to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic.”

Designing for active living among children
http://www.rwjf.org/files/research/builtdesign.pdf

Increasing preschoolers' physical activity intensities:
An activity-friendly preschool playground intervention
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet
_Article_Commentary_3
Find out how to effectively increase physical activity in preschoolers.

Promoting good nutrition and physical activity in child-care settings
http://tinyurl.com/4rgg9o

Push play parents (New Zealand)
http://www.sparc.org.nz/getting-active
/push-play-parents
"....ideas to help you get your kids moving. Choose the age group that applies to your child and you'll be well on your way to becoming a Push Play Parent."

Unplug and play - Parent campaign (Australia)
http://tinyurl.com/ytvysd
The Unplug + Play Parent Campaign targets parents in Western Australia, to increase their awareness of the urgent need for children to spend more time in active play and less time using TV, electronic games and the Internet for entertainment.

CHRONIC DISEASE

Talking points on preventing disease through physical activity
http://tinyurl.com/2gxlb5
“Describes the effects of being inactive, benefits of PA, associated disparities, and action items for state legislators.”

Trends alert: Cost of chronic disease
http://tinyurl.com/469too
From the USA – published in 2006

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Balance: a report on state action to promote nutrition,
increase physical activity and prevent obesity
http://www.healthyeatingresearch.org/
uploads/Balance122006.pdf

CDC community health resources
http://www.cdc.gov/communityhealthresources
The site features direct links to hundreds of resources, including program guidelines and recommendations, campaign materials, handbooks, fact sheets, evaluation frameworks, and behavioral and risk factor data, among other topics. For physical activity information, click on "Physical Activity" under "Browse by health topic."

Getting to know the competition: A content analysis
of publicly and corporate funded physical activity advertisements
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet
_Article_Commentary_4
Learn more about what was discovered when a content analysis of physical activity advertisements was carried out.

HEALTH PROMOTION

Ontario prevention clearinghouse now the Health Nexus
http://www.healthnexus.ca
Effective April 1, 2008 the Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse became Health Nexus. This is a bilingual web-site.

OLDER ADULTS

Keeping the aging population healthy
http://tinyurl.com/53a4fr
“This (USA)Legislator Policy Brief provides policymakers with key information to develop strategies to enhance health and preserve independence in the growing aging population.”

Silversneakers fitness program
http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/
jan/07_0148.htm
A CDC-funded study conducted by Group Health and the University of Washington reports that older adults who participated in the SilverSneakers Fitness Program visited their primary and specialty physicians more often, were admitted to the hospital less, and had lower overall healthcare costs compared to a control group of over 9,000 people who were the same age and gender.

WOMEN

Physical activity, pregnancy & postpartum inventory of resources
http://tinyurl.com/3vak8o

March 28, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Be aware of cyclists
http://www.dothetest.co.uk/
Great cycling ad from the UK

Halifax Regional Municipality active transportation plan
http://www.halifax.ca/TDM/
activetransportation/index.html

CHILDREN

A comparative case study on active transport to and from school http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/
2008/apr/07_0064.htm
This study investigates active-transport-to-school initiatives through the Active Living by Design Community Action Model framework. The framework outlines five strategies that influence physical activity: preparation, promotion, programs, policies, and physical projects.

Not gonna kill you
http://www.notgonnakillyou.ca/
A new web-site managed by the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion. The target audience is youth.

Rural-urban differences in physical activity, physical fitness, and overweight prevalence of children
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/
AusPAnet_Article_Commentary_7
This research looked at the differences in physical activity prevalence, physical fitness, and overweight levels of children living in urban, semi-urban and rural areas in Iowa in the United States.

Transition game
http://www.lin.ca/Files/10200/
Spelling.htm
“One of the greatest times of risk working with children and youth is a lull in classroom and recreation activities when your guard is down. A transition game can be a bridge between different classroom and recreation activities...”

WANTED: Schools to participate in the SMART tool Project
Ever Active Schools has teamed up with the Centre for Health Promotion – Children, Youth, and Women’s Health Service South Australia to pilot their SMART tool in 100 schools in Alberta. Ever Active Schools is currently seeking schools to participate in the SMART Tool Pilot Project. For more information or to participate in the project survey please contact Jardath Nelson at jnelson@brsd.ab.ca

CHRONIC DISEASE

The Sydney Resolution - February 2008
Healthy people in healthy places on a healthy planet
http://www.oxha.org/meetings/
08-summit/sydney-resolution
An advocacy call to take action to halt the impact of chronic disease.

CONFERENCES

Integrated Chronic Disease Prevention: Taking Action Together
http://www.cdpac.ca/conference/
content.php?sec=5
CDPAC 2008 Conference Ottawa November 26th – 28th.

GENERAL HEALTH

Health literacy and health promotion: A compilation
http://tinyurl.com/2pwrds
“Research shows a strong link between low health literacy and poor health, and that low health literacy may contribute to higher health service costs.”

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Commission to build a healthier America
http://www.commissiononhealth.org/
AboutUs.aspx
“The Commission will look beyond the medical care system to investigate how factors such as education, environment, income, housing and personal health choices impact the health of all Americans.”

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Step conversion chart
http://www.corp.delta.bc.ca/stepsout/
steps_equivalencies.pdf
Comprehensive 12 page listing of conversions - with references to academic research. From the Delta, BC web-site.

Walking the way to health Wales
http://www.ww2h.org.uk/
Designed for health professionals.

MENTAL HEALTH

Physical activity and likelihood of depression in adults: A review.
http://tinyurl.com/2wvvpm
This review presents up to date evidence on the links between physical activity and the risks of developing depression.

MULTILINGUAL & MULTICULTURAL RESOURCES

Canadian Cancer Society
http://tinyurl.com/ypqvm6

Canadian Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.ca/
section_main/translations.asp

Cultural adaptations of Canada's food guide to healthy eating
http://www.nutritionrc.ca/guide.html

Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
http://tinyurl.com/2y289p

Ontario Public Health Association: Physical activity guides
http://www.opha.on.ca/resources/
multilingual/physical.html

OLDER ADULTS

Community-wide campaign to promote activity among midlife & older adults: Lessons learned from AARP's Active for Life campaign and a synopsis of evidence-based interventions
http://assets.aarp.org/www.aarp.org_/
articles/health/pagefive.pdf
Find out what makes an effective physical activity campaign for adults over 50 years of age.

March 7, 2008

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Economic assessment of transport infrastructure and policies: Methodological guidance on the economic appraisal of health effects related to walking and cycling
http://tinyurl.com/2nll3h
This new document from the WHO provides guidance on approaches to the inclusion of health effects through transport-related physical activity in economic analyses of transport infrastructures and policies.

CHILDREN

Assessment of an after-school physical activity program to prevent obesity among 9- to 10-year-old children: a cluster randomized trial.
http://tinyurl.com/3e3zf2

Gym class can boost other grades
http://tinyurl.com/2oy6ac
The Vancouver Sun (Fri 29 Feb 2008 Source: Reuters) reports on a new U.S. study that suggests spending time in gym class can actually help to boost elementary school children's grades.

Outcomes of Switch-Play: A trial to prevent excess weight gain, reduce screen behaviors and promote physical activity in 10-year olds
http://tinyurl.com/yuja9s
Learn about the effectiveness of the Switch-Play intervention that is based in Melbourne, Victoria.

Unplug + Play parent campaign
http://tinyurl.com/ytvysd
The Heart Foundation's Unplug + Play Parent Campaign targets parents' awareness of the need for children to spend more time in active play and less time using TV, electronic games and the Internet.

CONFERENCES

International conference on childhood obesity: Evidence and practice from Exercise Science
http://www.cuhk.edu.hk/spe/obesity
2008/announce_eng.html
Target Attendants: Exercise scientists, health professionals, PE teachers, policy makers, researchers, students in related areas, and those who have an interest in the prevention and intervention of childhood obesity.

COMMUNITIES

Age-friendly rural and remote communities: A guide
http://tinyurl.com/3dlwxz
The federal/provincial/territorial Ministers Responsible for Seniors and the Public Health Agency of Canada, in partnership with nine provinces, the Nova Scotia Department of Seniors and Guysborough County, have developed the Age-Friendly Rural and Remote Communities: A Guide. Complementing this guide is a research report detailing the focus group findings specifically from Guysborough County.

Measuring up
http://www.2010legaciesnow.
com/measuring_up/
Measuring Up helps B.C. communities assess and improve how accessible and inclusive they are for people with disabilities and for the whole community.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Motivators and constraints to participation in sports and physical recreation
http://tinyurl.com/2895kb
The Australian Bureau of Statistics has produced a new report on the associations between participation in sport and activity and motivations and constraints across different demographic groups.

Promoting or creating built or natural environments that encourage and support physical activity
http://tinyurl.com/3dm629
From the U.K. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence – 2008

With moderate exercise, you can lower your stroke risk
http://tinyurl.com/2uhff8
By engaging in moderate exercise, new research finds both men and women can lower the risk of stroke.

HEALTHY EATING

Using healthy eating and active living initiatives to reduce health disparities
http://tinyurl.com/3atplv
“Healthier eating and being physically active can significantly improve health. In low income communities and communities of color, it can reduce health disparities. This report identifies key lessons from eight (USA) national programs for making healthy eating and active living initiatives successful in reducing health disparities.”

HEALTHY WEIGHT

Motivators and constraints to participation in sports and physical recreation
http://tinyurl.com/2895kb
The Australian Bureau of Statistics have produced a new report on the associations between participation in sport and activity and motivations and constraints across different demographic groups.

MISCELLANEOUS

Mythbusters teaching resource
http://www.fcrss.ca/mythbusters/
teaching-resource.php
The CHSRFoundation's new online Mythbusters Teaching Resource is a resource to facilitate instructors of graduate-level classes to teach students how to write plain-language research summaries for policy makers, managers and others.

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.”

November 30, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

Active parents raise active kids

http://tinyurl.com/2pm8yb

The Agence France Presse English (Thu 22 Nov 2007) reports on the results of a new study published today of more than 5000 10- and 11-year olds, which suggests active parents can, by their example, encourage their children to be physically active, but the effect is less than widely thought.

Birth of inactivity? A review of physical activity and parenthood

http://tinyurl.com/yuja9s

How does being a parent affect physical activity levels? This review explores this new area of research.

Childhood obesity: Views on who can make a difference

http://tinyurl.com/yqjto2

This WSJcomHarris Interactive survey finds that most adults believe parents, schools and the food industry can make a difference in battling childhood obesity.

Social support for youth physical activity

http://tinyurl.com/295ryl

Find out about the impact that social support, family, friends and school has on participation in physical activity of high school students.

Talking back to grownups: Healthy children, healthy communities — Report on the social determinants of health and middle childhood in Canada

http://www.unac.org/hchc/files/
Talkingbacksm.pdf

This resource is the concluding report to the research that the Healthy Children, Healthy Communities project conducted between May 2006 and March 2007.

Throughout this time, the project team travelled to 12 communities across Canada engaging with child health stakeholders and with young people themselves in order to understand the perceptions and priorities which exist around the health of children (age nine to 12).

In addition, UNA-Canada surveyed 1,200 Canadian adults to understand how they are thinking about the health of this age group.

The study showcases the social determinants of health with the largest impact on children’s lives (such as parental involvement and attachment to the community) and provides recommendations for tackling health disparities from a population health perspective.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Advancing the future of physical activity measurement and guidelines in Canada

http://www.csep.ca/main.cfm?cid=574
&nid=8363

Provided is the link to the press release and backgrounder.

Community exercise classes and adherence

http://tinyurl.com/2svvav

This intervention, implemented over a 20-week period, aims to increase exercise participation and adherence in sedentary, middle-aged adults.

Exercise adherence

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwfit/
adherence.html

A web resource with lots of information from Georgia State University.

“Exercise is Medicine” program

http://tinyurl.com/37duzu

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Medical Association (AMA) have launched a new program to encourage physicians to prescribe exercise to patients.

Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer

http://www.dietandcancer
report.org

A report from the American Institute for Cancer Research, “Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity, and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective” ...

This report, based on the most comprehensive study of the association between cancer and obesity, concludes that excess body fat triggers up to a third of all cancer cases.

The consumption of even moderate amounts of alcohol, red meats and processed meats were also found to be associated with cancer.

Healthy eating — Healthy action

http://www.moh.govt.nz/healthyeating
healthyaction

Healthy Eating — Healthy Action (HEHA) is the New Zealand’s Ministry of Health’s strategic approach to improving nutrition, increasing physical activity and achieving healthy weight for all New Zealanders.

Healthy living e-bulletin

http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/
ebulletin/index-eng.html

The E-bulletin is a quarterly newsletter designed to inform healthy living stakeholders about efforts to promote physical activity, healthy eating and healthy weights across the country.

It is produced by the Public Health Agency of Canada on behalf of the Healthy Living Issue Group of the Intersectoral Healthy Living Network.

OLDER ADULTS

Global age friendly cities: A guide

http://www.who.int/ageing/publications/
Global_age_friendly_cities_Guide_English.pdf

WHO regards active ageing as a lifelong process shaped by several factors that, alone and acting together, favour health, participation and security in older adult life.

Informed by WHO’s approach to active ageing, the purpose of this Guide is to engage cities to become more age-friendly to tap the potential that older people represent for humanity.

Retraining promotes physical fitness in seniors

http://tinyurl.com/34sbnw

The CBC.CA News (Sun 18 Nov 2007) writes that “attribution retraining” may be the key to convincing seniors that advanced age is no excuse for being physically unfit, according to American researchers.

Scientists at the University of California, Los Angeles, used the technique, which changes a person's perceptions and patterns to boost seniors' activity levels.

RECREATION/COMMUNITY

Community-based participatory research training manual

http://individual.utoronto.ca/sadaf/
resources/cbpr2007.pdf

Based on a training workshop for community workers, the authors adapted their training modules and handouts, and consolidated them into a comprehensive training manual for building the research capacity of community-based team members.

Journal of park and recreation administration

http://hotel.unlv.edu/recreation/journal/index.html

The Journal of Park and Recreation Administration has issued a special issue call for papers on Physical Activity, Health and Wellness.

WALKING/PEDOMETERS

Using pedometers to increase physical activity and improve health

http://tinyurl.com/35y9a9

This study evaluated the association of pedometer use with physical activity and health outcomes among outpatient adults.

The results suggest that the use of a pedometer is associated with significant increases in physical activity and significant decreases in body mass index and blood pressure.

Whether these changes are durable over the long term is undetermined.

WORKPLACE/COMMUNITY

Physical activity in the workplace

http://www.bhfactive.org.uk/
workplace/index.html

From the British Heart Foundation ... Be sure to check out all the different resources (you’ll find the links in the left hand Navigation column.)

Think fit – Be active

http://www.bhf.org.uk/thinkfit/
index_home.asp?SecID=1590

A website from the British Heart Foundation …

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.

October 26, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

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

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

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Bicycling and walking in the U.S.

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

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

Preventing chronic disease: Public health research, practice and policy

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

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

NUTRITION

Canada’s nutrition and health atlas (CNHA)

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

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

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

My food guide servings tracker

http://tinyurl.com/2bra7g

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

WORKPLACE

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

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

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

October 19, 2007

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc, Alberta Centre for Active Living

CHILDREN

2007 Report Card on Nutrition for School Children
http://www.breakfastforlearning.ca/english/resources/
index_ReportCard2007.html
Breakfast for learning’s 2007 Report Card on Nutrition for School Children gives Canadian children and adolescents a “D” when it comes to meeting the recommendations of the new 2007 Canada’s Food Guide.

Are schools making the grade? School nutrition policies across Canada
http://www.cspinet.org/canada/pdf/makingthe
grade_1007.pdf
A resource from the Centre for Science in the Public Interest.

CDC school health index
http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/shi/Static/paper.aspx
This resource includes:

• Module 3: Physical Education and other physical activity programs.
• Module 4: Nutrition Services. You can choose between an index for elementary schools or middle/high schools.

You can access a “customizable paper format and select only those health topics you wish to address. After selecting the health topics, you will be able to print and complete the SHI on paper.”

Childhood obesity: An environmental scan among health region partners of the Southern Alberta Child & Youth Health Network: 2006 http://www.sacyhn.ca/media/pdf/external_childhood
_obesity_scan.pdf
Prepared by the Joint Consortium for School Health Secretariat in June 2006 (updated by the Canadian Association for School Health Feb, 2007), this document is full of active links to many other documents and reports.

Communities and schools promoting health
http://www.safehealthyschools.org/index.htm
“This gateway website provides access to many resources in school health promotion as well as being home for the Canadian School Health Centre and the Canadian School Health NGO Network. There is also reference to the School Health Research Network as another part of the school health promotion community in Canada. These organizations, as well as many others initiatives are linked in an effort to create the Canadian School Health Knowledge Network.”

Dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Australian secondary students in 2005
Scully M., Dixon H., White H., & Beckmann K. (2007). Dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour among Australian secondary students in 2005. Health Promotion International, 22(3), 236–245.

Environmental scan of childhood obesity in the Calgary region: 2005 http://www.sacyhn.ca/media/pdf/Environmental
_Scan_Obesity.pdf
A resource prepared for the Southern Alberta Child & Youth Health Network.

Environmental scan of Pan-Canadian activities related to schools and nutrition
http://www.safehealthyschools.org/Nutritionand
Schools.pdf
This report comes from the Joint Consortium For School Health Secretariat.

How to conduct a school health audit
http://www.chdf.org.au/i-cms_file?
page=824/hpsbook07.pdf
This resource even has sample questions.

Physical activity measurement in children 2–5 years of age
http://www.cpah.health.usyd.edu.au/pdfs/2007
_pa_measurement_farrell.pdf
Here’s another resource from Australia.

Review of physical activity interventions for children from 2 to 5 years of age
http://www.cpah.health.usyd.edu.au/pdfs/2007_pa
_interventions.pdf
This is a new resource from Australia.

This study assessed Australian secondary students’ self-reported dietary, physical activity and sedentary behaviour and also examined the relationship between television viewing and students’ dietary behaviour.

CONFERENCES/SYMPOSIUMS/WEB EVENTS

Getting children and youth to walk and cycle more: Webinar November 9, 2007

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=
UVNbsPZGBf6zEYg_2b191NCw_3d_3d

This webinar will feature two practical approaches for getting children and youth to walk and cycle more.

Dr. O’Brien will cover the Centre for Sustainable Transportation’s Child and Youth Friendly Land Use and Transport Planning Guidelines, their rationale, and her work with Ontario municipalities in implementing the guidelines.

Jacky Kennedy will present highlights of Green Communities Canada’s Active and Safe Routes to School program, including related barriers and benefits, and the results achieved and lessons learned over many years of implementation.

The first 75 qualified Canadian registrants will have their fees covered by Transport Canada’s Urban Transportation Showcase Program. Presented on Friday, November 9, 2007, 12 noon Eastern Time.

Presenters: Catherine O’Brien, Cape Breton University; and Jacky Kennedy, Green Communities Canada.

NUTRITION

“My food guide online” available to print in multiple languages
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ahc-asc/media/nr-cp
/2007/2007_145_e.html
On October 9, 2007, the Hon. Tony Clement, Minister of Health, announced that “My Food Guide Online” is now available to print in multiple languages.

Release of CCHS cycle 2.2, nutrition (2004): Nutrient Intakes from Food, Provincial, regional and national summary data tables
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/
cchs-nutri-escc/index_e.html
This first volume includes 13 sets of data tables that compile Canadians’ usual intakes from in 2004 for a set of nutrients based on the Nutrition Facts table.

Results are presented for 13 geographical areas in the country, i.e., the 10 provinces, the Atlantic Region, Prairie Region, and Canada excluding the Territories. The document does not provide any interpretation or draw conclusions.

GENERAL PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

Cost of physical inactivity: What is the lack of participation in physical activity costing Australia?
http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/AusPAnet
_Article_Commentary_4
A new report from Medibank Private, Australia s largest provider of medical insurance, has calculated a $1.5 billion cost each year to the public and private health sectors for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions attributable to physical inactivity in the adult population.

ParticipACTION launches national movement to move Canadians
http://www.participaction.com/
ParticipACTION’s public awareness campaign is targeted to all Canadians with an emphasis on parents and Canadian youth.

With only 9% of Canadian children and youth (aged 5 to 19) meeting the recommended guidelines in Canada’s Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth, ParticipACTION’s new ads seek to show the implications of youth inactivity and motivate parents to make physical activity a priority at home.

The campaign will include TV and radio advertisements that will run nationally from October 2007 to March 2008.

RECREATION

Physical activity and building stronger communities
http://www.cpah.health.usyd.edu.au/pdfs/
2007_pa_communities1.pdf
A resource from Australia.

ThemePARC: Creating healthy communities through active living
http://www.ophea.net/parc/themeparc.cfm
This resource was developed by Ontario Healthy Communities Coalition (OHCC). For more information on OHCC and their Healthy Communities and the Built Environment Project, go to http://www.healthycommunities.on.ca.

URBAN DESIGN

Linking health and the built environment: An annotated bibliography of Canadian and other related research
http://www.healthycommunities.on.ca/
publications/HCBE/index.html
This literature review reported on studies identifying and exploring the relationships between the built environment and the health of Ontario’s population, with attention to our diversity. (Scroll down the page a bit to find the link to the pdf.)

WORKPLACE

Healthy Workplace Week: October 22^–27^, 2007
http://www.healthyworkplaceweek.ca/
Canada’s Healthy Workplace Week is a yearly celebration of workplace health in Canadian organizations.