A new study of more than 14,000 women links physical fitness and breast cancer mortality, revealing an inverse association between aerobic fitness and likelihood of death from the disease.
Archive for category Physical Activity
Of 5th and 7th grade students in Georgia half didn’t reach minimum standards for healthy aerobic fitness. Powell and his team determined body mass index (BMI) and tested fitness and physical activity levels of 5,248 students from 93 schools across Georgia. They found, while nearly a quarter didn’t make the grade in terms of muscle fitness, endurance or flexibility.
Enjoy this 124 page popular publication from the US.
New research has found that an individual’s personal beliefs about the causes of weight problems are a reliable indicator of whether he or she will support public policies designed to combat the problem. The study surveyed 1,009 people on their views about the causes of obesity and their level of support for 16 policy responses, taking demographics, health characteristics and political attitudes into account.
Multivariate regression models was used to estimate associations between adolescent obesity and proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools for over 500,000 youths in California. The researchers found that students with fast-food restaurants within one half mile of their schools (1) consumed fewer servings of fruits and vegetables, (2) consumed more servings of soda, and (3) were more likely to be overweight or obese than were youths whose schools were not near fast-food restaurants. Exposure to poor-quality food environments has important effects on adolescent eating patterns and overweight. Policy interventions limiting the proximity of fast-food restaurants to schools could help reduce adolescent obesity. See also: http://www.foodpolitics.com/2009/03/influences-on-teenage-obesity-fast-food-proximity/
Many children spend too little time outdoors and too much time in front of the TV — and a lack of suitable outdoor spaces seems partly to blame, an Australian study suggests. The study, of nearly 1,400 10- to 12-year-olds, found that 37 percent typically spent a half-hour or less being active outside. Few were outdoors for two hours or more on a typical day.
Unstructured, creative, and spontaneous physical activities that may be reminiscent of child-like play are beneficial, healthy activity options for adults. Calorie-burning, mind-stimulating play that children often do shouldn’t be left behind as people age. Tossing a Frisbee, dancing and rock climbing are great ways for adults to incorporate play into their exercise routines.
A new study by researchers at the University of British Columbia suggests taking public transit may help you keep fit. The study, published in the Journal of Public Health Policy, finds that people who take public transit are three times more likely than those who don’t to meet the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada’s suggested daily minimum of physical activity.
This 58 page report summarizes state legislation proposed and passed in two broad policy categories (a) Healthy Eating and Physical Activity and (b) Healthy Community Design and Access to Healthy Food. The first category addresses policy approaches aimed primarily at nutrition and physical education in schools. The second category focuses on the built environment: land use, transportation and agriculture options. Enjoy reading.
This study sought to integrate perceived and built environmental and individual factors into the Theory of Planned Behavior model to better understand adolescents’ physical activity. Geographical Information Systems (GIS) software was used to measure the physical environment (walkability, access to physical activity facilities). Physical activity was assessed using the ActiGraph accelerometer and the Physical Activity Questionnaire for Adolescents. 110 youngsters aged 12 to 17 years from Auckland in New Zealand participated. Social cognitive variables were better predictors of both subjective and objective PA compared to perceived environmental and built environment factors.