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!)