To mark the beginning of International Walk to School month [1 – 31 October 2008], BMA Scotland has today (Wednesday 1 October) published a briefing paper highlighting the health and social benefits of encouraging children to have an active lifestyle. To get Scotland moving, the Scottish Government should: 1) Develop an effective strategy to encourage teenagers and young adults to take part in regular exercise 2) Encourage doctors to prescribe exercise for the overweight/obese (e.g. reduced cost/free access to local authority sports centres) 3) Improve access to subsidised sporting facilities for both children and parents. Easy access for those from lower socio-economic groups is particularly important 4) Take assertive action to improve communities and make them clean, safe and healthy for our children.
Archive for category Environment
This cross-sectional study of 68 schools and 1347 students. Physical environment characteristics were assessed through questionnaires completed by the principals. Most students were interested in more opportunities for physical activity in school. Students attending schools with many facilities had 4.5 times higher odds of being physically active compared to students in schools with fewer facilities.
Learn how 316 schools with 166,600 students in 37 Utah school districts have made 2,205 policies and 2,121 environmental changes.
Researchers compared the walking habits of about 500 65+ year-old adults in Portland, Oregon to their neighborhood characteristics. The researchers conclude that built environment may not play a significant role in whether older adults walk, but, among those who do walk, it is associated with increased levels of activity.
Intervention guidance on workplace health promotion with reference to physical activity. This guidance is for employers and professionals in small, medium and large organisations.
The influence of built environment on physical activity and BMI may differ by sociodemographic subgroups. Prople are more likely to walk if they lived in neighbourhoods with greater residential density, greater street connectivity and greater land use mix.
The number of bike-related deaths among children younger than 16 fell by more than half after a Canadian bike-helmet law went into effect, a new study shows.
A small Swiss study released on Monday showed that walking up and down stairs for three months, without recourse to the lift, increased levels of fitness dramatically.
The addresses of 1554 sixth-grade girls were mapped. Distance from home to school was compared to physical activity level. Distance to school was inversely associated with weekday PA. For every mile the girls lived from their schools, they engaged in an average of 13 fewer minutes of PA per week. Distance to school is inversely associated with PA. Time spent commuting could explain reduced time for physical activity.
This is a focus group study. Spouse’s and friend’s health behaviour and support, poor neighbourhood aesthetics, safety concerns and access to facilities, availability of fruits and vegetables at home was perceived as important. Lower socioeconomic groups expressed more price concerns.