September 23, 2013

By Rosanne Prinsen, MSc

Alberta Centre for Active Living

Note: Where possible, we provide the DOI link to research papers in the Info Round-Up.  To use it, cut and paste the DOI into the text box on this webpage: http://dx.doi.org/.  Access to research articles will be dependent on your institutional rights. 

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION 

Circulating People | Ottawa Bicycle Lanes Project

This video compares a city to a human circulatory system 

Let’s create a more Liveable Ottawa

From Liveable Ottawa this advocacy video presents economic rationale for active transportation 

PEDSAFE Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System

The Pedestrian Safety Guide and Countermeasure Selection System is intended to provide practitioners with the latest information available for improving the safety and mobility of those who walk. The online tools provide the user with a list of possible engineering, education, or enforcement treatments to improve pedestrian safety and/or mobility based on user input about a specific location. 

CHILDREN 

A cluster randomized controlled trial of strategies to increase adolescents' physical activity and motivation in physical education: Results of the Motivating Active Learning in Physical Education (MALP) trial

Preventive Medicine, Available online 13 September 2013

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.09.003

Highlights:

·         We examined the impact of 3 motivational strategies on physical activity during PE.

·         This cluster randomized trial involved 288 students (mean age 13.6 years).

·         Promoting choice can increase activity and decrease sedentary behavior in PE. 

Smart Growth Community Design and Physical Activity in Children

Am J Prev Med 2013;45(4):386-392

Researchers compared physical activity of children in a neighborhood designed to be more compact and walkable and those in more conventionally designed communities. Children in the smart growth neighborhood got 46 percent more exercise – or 10 extra minutes – than those in the conventional neighborhoods.

Trends in Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior, Diet, and BMI Among US Adolescents, 2001–2009

Journal of Pediatrics Published online Sept 16^th

doi: 10.1542/peds.2013-1488

Across the quadrennial surveys, significant increases were identified in number of days with at least 60 minutes of PA, daily consumption of fruits and vegetables, eating breakfast on weekdays and weekends, and BMI. Television viewing and consumption of sweets and sweetened beverages decreased across this same period. These same patterns were seen in all racial/ethnic groups.   

COMMUNITY

Healthy Alberta Communities: Impact of a three-year community-based obesity and chronic disease prevention intervention

Preventive Medicine Available online 6 September 2013 In Press

doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.08.024

(This study assessed) the impact of a 3 year (2006–2009) community-based intervention for obesity and chronic disease prevention in four diverse “Healthy Alberta Communities” (HAC).

(Nykiforuk, Plotnikoff, Raine – authors)

OLDER ADULTS 

Moving Ahead - Strategies and Tools to Plan, Conduct, and Maintain Effective Community-Based Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults: A Brief Guide

Encouraging older adults to become and stay active has developed into an important public health priority. While the physical and emotional benefits of exercise are increasingly well known, just 40 percent of older adults are engaged in regular leisure-time physical activity. 

PHYSICAL ACTIVITY 

Active Airdrie

Helping the community of Airdrie live an active lifestyle.  “To increase and sustain a physically active Airdrie by encouraging and promoting activities that support a healthy lifestyle” 

Getting Australia Moving: Establishing A Physically Literate & Active Nation (Game Plan)

This review from the University of Canberra makes ten recommendations for any future Australian program for promoting physical literacy. 

Let’s Make Our Day Harder (video)

From the creator of 23 and ½ Hours: What is the single best thing we can do for our health Dr. Evans reviews some of the science around how our typical days have shifted and our health impacted with technology and culture. It is also a call to action about how to "Tweak your Week." 

URBAN DESIGN 

20-minute neighborhoods

·         Distance: how far can you walk in 20 minutes?

·         Destinations: is everything you need on a daily basis within that distance?

·         Density: are there enough people in the area to support the businesses and facilities you need for daily needs? 

Congress for New Urbanism

The Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) is the leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities and healthier living conditions. 

Designing Walkable Urban Thoroughfares

CNU’s street design manual was created in partnership with the Institute of Transportation Engineers. This recommended practice is being used by planners, city leaders, engineers and advocates to create walkable streets that are safe and inviting for all users. 

Poor bike/ped links push Metro commuters to park-and-rides

Metro planners are looking at how people use the system's park-and-ride lots. While they help people at the region's edges access transit, many commuters in closer-in areas drive very short distances to Metro stations because good pedestrian and bike connections don't exist.