Alberta Centre for Active Living
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ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION
This report
synthesizes academic behaviour change literature with the practical application
of cycling programs to present an adaptable, evidence-based guide to the
development of a “toolkit” to accelerate the adoption of cycling for
transportation.
CHRONIC DISEASE
American Journal of Preventive Medicine
Volume 44, Issue 4, Supplement 4, Pages
A1-A4, S297-S400 (April 2013)
This supplement includes articles
related to prevention and the role of physical activity.
Exercise
& Sports Science Australia (ESSA) position statement on exercise and
chronic kidney disease
Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport
published online 25 February 2013
Due to the high prevalence and incidence of
co-morbidities in CKD patients, exercise training programs should be prescribed
and delivered by individuals with appropriate qualifications and experience to
recognize and accommodate co-morbidities and associated complications.
HEALTH GENERAL
Canadians understand the connection
between their lifestyles and their health, an Ekos survey for the Conference
Board of Canada's Canadian Alliance for Sustainable Health Care has found.
Although Canadians understand the importance of lifestyles, the Conference Board
points out that only a fraction of the 6.2 per cent of government health
expenditures on public health goes to health promotion.
OLDER ADULTS
Best Practice & Research Clinical
Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Online 14 March 2013
Exercise could probably be tailored to
increase cardiovascular health or to prevent bone loss. It is of great
importance for healthcare providers to recommend slowly increased frequency,
duration and intensity and to help find activities that suit the individual in
order to increase compliance….. Overall, dietary and exercise modifications
seem to be strong promoters of healthy ageing.
PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
Physical inactivity is one of the
leading risk factors for death and disability in the UK. New statistics
released by the South West Public Health Observatory and charity Sustrans show
that lack of physical activity could cause as many as 36,815 premature deaths
in England each year.
This data is part of the new Health
Impact of Physical Inactivity (HIPI) tool. This web-based tool estimates how
many excess deaths and cases of certain diseases could be prevented in each
local authority in England, if the population (aged 40-79) were to engage in
recommended amounts of physical activity.
Physical
Activity Research Group (University College London)
In response to growing interest in the
field of physical activity epidemiology at UCL, the Physical Activity Research
Group (PARG) was established in December 2010 in the Research Department of Epidemiology
and Public Health, and is now part of the Population Health Domain. The key aim
of PARG is to act as a platform to promote multi-disciplinary collaborations
and enhance the presence of UCL in several strategic areas.
URBAN DESIGN
This manual focuses on all users and all
modes, seeking to achieve balanced street design that accommodates cars while
ensuring that pedestrians, cyclists and transit users can travel safely and
comfortably. This manual also incorporates features to make streets lively,
beautiful, economically vibrant as well as environmentally sustainable.
Great public places are the heart of any
vibrant and people-oriented city. Parks, markets, public squares and lively
streets are popular spots for neighbours to socialize, relax, play and engage
with their community. People Make Places is 8-80 Cities’ unique place-making
process. It is designed to revitalize underperforming public spaces, by
creating inviting community destinations, through authentic community
participation.
Featuring nine ways to create streets
that are community assets, this project guides planners, engineers, advocates,
elected officials, and community members to rethink what streets would look
like if they accommodated people of all ages and abilities, promoted health,
business, and the environment. In addition to strategies to improve mobility
and access for people of all ages, abilities, and modes of travel, the guide
includes best practices and case studies to support commerce, wayfinding, and
green infrastructure
American Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Volume 44, Issue 4, April 2013, Pages e41-e47
This project aimed to develop and
evaluate the utility of a computerized, tablet-based participatory tool
designed to engage older residents in identifying neighborhood elements that
affect active living opportunities….. Elements identified as affecting active
living were commensurate with the existing literature (e.g., sidewalk features,
aesthetics, parks/playgrounds, crosswalks). However, within each housing site,
the profile of environmental elements identified was distinct, reflecting the
importance of granular-level information collected by the tool.
WORKPLACE
American Journal of Preventive Medicine,
Volume 44, Issue 4, April 2013, Pages 406-415
A systematic literature search was
conducted identifying RCTs, published before June 2012, evaluating the effect
of a WHPP aimed at smoking cessation, physical activity, healthy nutrition,
and/or obesity on self-perceived health, work absence due to sickness, work
productivity, or work ability… The effectiveness of a WHPP is partly determined
by intervention characteristics and statistical analysis. High-quality RCTs
reported lower effect sizes.