[ProCOR] May 10, 2005: Move for Health
Being physically active provides a wide range of physical, social, and mental
health benefits. It can help to prevent or control high blood pressure and has
been proven to reduce the risk of developing other chronic diseases such as type
2 diabetes, high blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
May 10 of each year is Move for Health's annual day of celebration in many countries around the
world (WHO encourages member states to celebrate "Move for Heath" on days
and in ways that best suit them). The focus for Move for Health 2005 is
"Supportive Environments." Physical activity-friendly environments encourage
people to engage and participate in physical activity.
The Global Annual Move for Health Day/Initiative in WHO Member States aims in
particular at promoting sustained national and local physical activity
initiatives, policies and programs and at increasing regular participation in
physical activity of various population groups, men and women, of all ages and
conditions, in all domains (leisure time, transport, work) and settings (school,
community, home, workplace).
A selection of interesting, inspiring institutional and government programs
promoting physical activity and supportive environments are described below.
More information can be found on WHO's Move for Health website:
http://www.who.int/moveforhealth/en/
What is your country or community doing to encourage people to "Move for
Health"? Share your successes and challenges by emailing
procor@healthnet.org. Programs featured in ProCOR's Global Dialogue will be
featured in an upcoming new section of ProCOR's website focusing on community-based interventions.
Australia: The 10,000 Steps Rockhampton project, funded by Queensland Health,
will develop, implement, and evaluate an innovative community-based and
multi-strategy health promotion program focusing on physical activity and the
social determinants of health. Its aim is to increase physical activity with a
particular focus on sedentary people from socially and economically
disadvantaged groups. The project hopes to raise community awareness of the
health benefits of moderate physical activity, increase the capacity of health
care professionals to promote physical activity, provide improved opportunities,
social support, policies, and environments for physical activity, and increase
physical activity of individuals by addressing social and environmental
determinants of inactivity.
http://www.10000steps.org.au/rockhampton/
Brazil: AGITA SAMPA is a physical activity promotion program for Sao Paulo's 10
million inhabitants. Implemented 6 years ago by the Physical Fitness Research
Center with financial support by the State of Sco Paulo's Health Secretary, the
program has been adopted as a national strategy of physical activity promotion
called Agita Brasil, supported by the Federal Health Department. Transcending
national boundaries, it is also mobilizes Latin American countries (Agita
America) and inspired the WHO General Director during the 54th World Health
Assembly to announce that the theme for World Health Day 2002 was the health
promotion through physical activity-giving birth to an international movement,
"Agita Mundo". The program provides support to countries wishing to create their
own campaigns encouraging physical activity. Following are some of their
suggestions for ways to communicate messages about physical activity: on web
sites and intranets, in telephone messages, light, water and phone bills, and on
internal radio (institution) or broadcast radio and television. Suggestions for
activities include: walking groups during the day in buildings, parks,
commercial centers, hospitals, health posts, elderly people groups, schools,
universities, gymnasiums, etc.; physical activity stations and nutritional
orientations at popular gathering places; and organized events of walking,
sports and competition during week and weekends.
www.agitasp.com.br or email sandra@celafiscs.com.br
Canada: The Public Health Agency of Canada has launched a "Stairway to Health"
website (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sth-evs/english/index.htm) to encourage
workplaces to develop Stairway to Health Programs as a fun and easy way to
encourage active employees. For example, the Saint John City Hall is a 15-story
building with most activities located on the 7th to 12th floors. The building
houses municipal employees and associated organizations, and attracts citizen
traffic as well. A study is measuring the effects of interventions on the stair
traffic in City Hall in the City of Saint John, with further phases examining
the impact of regular stair use on chronic disease risk factors. The
intervention includes "Point of choice" prompts interoffice communication to
highlight the benefits of stair use and to encourage all staff to use the stairs
(unfocused promotion to all staff); special promotions during Healthy Workplace
Week, including personal challenges, random "stair" prizes, etc.; and focused
marketing to individuals to form and join teams and complete specific climbing
challenges in a friendly competition. The effects of each intervention will
involve monitoring stair usage and completion of a questionnaire by staff at the
end of the project.
Finland: In 1994 the Finnish Rheumatism Association started a national walking
project to increase appreciation of walking as exercise and as a
health-enhancing physical activity. From its inception the project has been a
success, and walking as a daily physical activity has gained great popularity
among Finns. "A Way of Healthy Walking - A Guidebook for Health Promotion
Practice" provides professionals working in the fields of sport and public
health with information to help promote participation in walking. Case studies
of walking programs are presented.
http://www.reumaliitto.fi/walking-guide/
Ireland: Velo-City 2005 promotes physical activity through cycling. The
Velo-City 2005 conference will be held May 31-June 3, 2005 in Dublin, Ireland
with the theme "Delivering the Vision." The theme recognizes that each city is
unique and the role of cycling in each city is highly variable. "Delivering the
Vision" appeals to planners and policy makers who are wondering, "Where do we
start?", or to those who are disappointed in their achievements to date relative
to cycle-orientated cities elsewhere.
http://www.velo-city2005.com/
Netherlands: 2UKids strives to give children age 6-12 years the joy of what they
like to do the most - play. Playing gives children an outlet for energy, teaches
important socializing skills, and promotes health. 2UKids encourages teachers
and parents to organize play hours and to teach children the skills needed for
games. 2UKids filmed the street games of children worldwide in order to
motivate children to play and move more and to preserve the cultural heritage of
playing through many generations of children. A website offers information for
schools, teachers and parents, a list of games and descriptions, the PLAYTIME
DVD which will be released in May 2005, workshop and lecture information,
contact information, and relevant publications. http://www.2ukids.nl/index.html
New Zealand: New Zealanders are proud of their active, healthy lifestyles and of
their achievements as a nation in sport. Sport and Recreation New Zealand's
(SPARC) mission is for New Zealand to be recognized as a world leader in sports
and recreation. SPARC hopes to make New Zealand the most active nation, with
the most effective sport and physical recreation systems and with athletes and
teams winning consistently in events that matter to New Zealand. SPARC's
programs involve young people in sports, encourage sport volunteers, provide
professional physical activity planning services, encourage New Zealanders to
enjoy physical activity as part of their everyday lives, promote active
workplaces, and support international competition.
http://www.hillarysport.org.nz/aboutus/
Norway: The Norwegian Olympic Committee and the ministry of Culture and Church
Affairs publishes a report of Sport and Physical Activity in Norway. The report
provides international collaborators and partners with information about sport
and physical activity in Norway. All data and figures presented in the report
have been taken from surveys carried out by different research and public
polling institutions. The report includes national sport policies, physical
activity trends and reports, national goals and trends for construction and
usage of sport facilities, and fundamental values in Norwegian sport.
http://www.nif.idrett.no/t2.aspx?p=51422
Switzerland: The Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) launched the website,
"Sport & Development - international platform" as a worldwide hub dedicated
entirely to sport & development. The importance of sport for young people is
highlighted in an impact report stating: "Regular participation in school sport,
both within and beyond the curriculum, can reduce obesity, improve fitness
levels and, by improving concentration and self-esteem, help attendance,
behavior and attainment." The site provides a common working framework that
facilitates the promotion of sport as a new domain of international cooperation.
Resources include a project database, directory of key organizations and
experts, archive of news and documents, regular bulletin with detailed updates
and interviews, agenda of conferences, listing of career opportunities, and
discussion forum.
www.sportanddev.org.
United Kingdom: The Scottish Executive's target is to achieve 50% of adults aged
over 16 and 80% of all children aged 16 and under who meet the minimum
recommended levels of physical activity by 2022. Five main strategies to
increase physical activity in Scotland are: healthy public policy, supportive
environments, community action, personal skill development, and health services
for those who need them most. A website provides information about the Scottish
Executive's program and policy including guidance on ways to create active
schools, workplaces, homes, and communities.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/Introduction/Introduction
United States: The Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s
Active Community Environments Initiative (ACES) promotes walking, bicycling, and
the development of accessible recreation facilities. It was developed in
response to data from public health, urban design, and transportation planning
that suggested that proximity of facilities, street design, density of housing,
availability of public transit, and presence of pedestrian and bicycle
facilities that played a significant role in promoting or discouraging physical
activity. This initiative encourages environmental and policy interventions
that will increase levels of physical activity and improve public health.
Current activities to promote the goals of the Active Community Environments
Initiative include Kids Walk to School programs, and an Active Community
Environments guidebook for public health practitioners and city planners to
promote walking, bicycling, and access to recreation facilities.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/aces.htm
health benefits. It can help to prevent or control high blood pressure and has
been proven to reduce the risk of developing other chronic diseases such as type
2 diabetes, high blood lipids, cardiovascular disease, and obesity.
May 10 of each year is Move for Health's annual day of celebration in many countries around the
world (WHO encourages member states to celebrate "Move for Heath" on days
and in ways that best suit them). The focus for Move for Health 2005 is
"Supportive Environments." Physical activity-friendly environments encourage
people to engage and participate in physical activity.
The Global Annual Move for Health Day/Initiative in WHO Member States aims in
particular at promoting sustained national and local physical activity
initiatives, policies and programs and at increasing regular participation in
physical activity of various population groups, men and women, of all ages and
conditions, in all domains (leisure time, transport, work) and settings (school,
community, home, workplace).
A selection of interesting, inspiring institutional and government programs
promoting physical activity and supportive environments are described below.
More information can be found on WHO's Move for Health website:
http://www.who.int/moveforhealth/en/
What is your country or community doing to encourage people to "Move for
Health"? Share your successes and challenges by emailing
procor@healthnet.org. Programs featured in ProCOR's Global Dialogue will be
featured in an upcoming new section of ProCOR's website focusing on community-based interventions.
Australia: The 10,000 Steps Rockhampton project, funded by Queensland Health,
will develop, implement, and evaluate an innovative community-based and
multi-strategy health promotion program focusing on physical activity and the
social determinants of health. Its aim is to increase physical activity with a
particular focus on sedentary people from socially and economically
disadvantaged groups. The project hopes to raise community awareness of the
health benefits of moderate physical activity, increase the capacity of health
care professionals to promote physical activity, provide improved opportunities,
social support, policies, and environments for physical activity, and increase
physical activity of individuals by addressing social and environmental
determinants of inactivity.
http://www.10000steps.org.au/rockhampton/
Brazil: AGITA SAMPA is a physical activity promotion program for Sao Paulo's 10
million inhabitants. Implemented 6 years ago by the Physical Fitness Research
Center with financial support by the State of Sco Paulo's Health Secretary, the
program has been adopted as a national strategy of physical activity promotion
called Agita Brasil, supported by the Federal Health Department. Transcending
national boundaries, it is also mobilizes Latin American countries (Agita
America) and inspired the WHO General Director during the 54th World Health
Assembly to announce that the theme for World Health Day 2002 was the health
promotion through physical activity-giving birth to an international movement,
"Agita Mundo". The program provides support to countries wishing to create their
own campaigns encouraging physical activity. Following are some of their
suggestions for ways to communicate messages about physical activity: on web
sites and intranets, in telephone messages, light, water and phone bills, and on
internal radio (institution) or broadcast radio and television. Suggestions for
activities include: walking groups during the day in buildings, parks,
commercial centers, hospitals, health posts, elderly people groups, schools,
universities, gymnasiums, etc.; physical activity stations and nutritional
orientations at popular gathering places; and organized events of walking,
sports and competition during week and weekends.
www.agitasp.com.br or email sandra@celafiscs.com.br
Canada: The Public Health Agency of Canada has launched a "Stairway to Health"
website (http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/sth-evs/english/index.htm) to encourage
workplaces to develop Stairway to Health Programs as a fun and easy way to
encourage active employees. For example, the Saint John City Hall is a 15-story
building with most activities located on the 7th to 12th floors. The building
houses municipal employees and associated organizations, and attracts citizen
traffic as well. A study is measuring the effects of interventions on the stair
traffic in City Hall in the City of Saint John, with further phases examining
the impact of regular stair use on chronic disease risk factors. The
intervention includes "Point of choice" prompts interoffice communication to
highlight the benefits of stair use and to encourage all staff to use the stairs
(unfocused promotion to all staff); special promotions during Healthy Workplace
Week, including personal challenges, random "stair" prizes, etc.; and focused
marketing to individuals to form and join teams and complete specific climbing
challenges in a friendly competition. The effects of each intervention will
involve monitoring stair usage and completion of a questionnaire by staff at the
end of the project.
Finland: In 1994 the Finnish Rheumatism Association started a national walking
project to increase appreciation of walking as exercise and as a
health-enhancing physical activity. From its inception the project has been a
success, and walking as a daily physical activity has gained great popularity
among Finns. "A Way of Healthy Walking - A Guidebook for Health Promotion
Practice" provides professionals working in the fields of sport and public
health with information to help promote participation in walking. Case studies
of walking programs are presented.
http://www.reumaliitto.fi/walking-guide/
Ireland: Velo-City 2005 promotes physical activity through cycling. The
Velo-City 2005 conference will be held May 31-June 3, 2005 in Dublin, Ireland
with the theme "Delivering the Vision." The theme recognizes that each city is
unique and the role of cycling in each city is highly variable. "Delivering the
Vision" appeals to planners and policy makers who are wondering, "Where do we
start?", or to those who are disappointed in their achievements to date relative
to cycle-orientated cities elsewhere.
http://www.velo-city2005.com/
Netherlands: 2UKids strives to give children age 6-12 years the joy of what they
like to do the most - play. Playing gives children an outlet for energy, teaches
important socializing skills, and promotes health. 2UKids encourages teachers
and parents to organize play hours and to teach children the skills needed for
games. 2UKids filmed the street games of children worldwide in order to
motivate children to play and move more and to preserve the cultural heritage of
playing through many generations of children. A website offers information for
schools, teachers and parents, a list of games and descriptions, the PLAYTIME
DVD which will be released in May 2005, workshop and lecture information,
contact information, and relevant publications. http://www.2ukids.nl/index.html
New Zealand: New Zealanders are proud of their active, healthy lifestyles and of
their achievements as a nation in sport. Sport and Recreation New Zealand's
(SPARC) mission is for New Zealand to be recognized as a world leader in sports
and recreation. SPARC hopes to make New Zealand the most active nation, with
the most effective sport and physical recreation systems and with athletes and
teams winning consistently in events that matter to New Zealand. SPARC's
programs involve young people in sports, encourage sport volunteers, provide
professional physical activity planning services, encourage New Zealanders to
enjoy physical activity as part of their everyday lives, promote active
workplaces, and support international competition.
http://www.hillarysport.org.nz/aboutus/
Norway: The Norwegian Olympic Committee and the ministry of Culture and Church
Affairs publishes a report of Sport and Physical Activity in Norway. The report
provides international collaborators and partners with information about sport
and physical activity in Norway. All data and figures presented in the report
have been taken from surveys carried out by different research and public
polling institutions. The report includes national sport policies, physical
activity trends and reports, national goals and trends for construction and
usage of sport facilities, and fundamental values in Norwegian sport.
http://www.nif.idrett.no/t2.aspx?p=51422
Switzerland: The Swiss Academy for Development (SAD) launched the website,
"Sport & Development - international platform" as a worldwide hub dedicated
entirely to sport & development. The importance of sport for young people is
highlighted in an impact report stating: "Regular participation in school sport,
both within and beyond the curriculum, can reduce obesity, improve fitness
levels and, by improving concentration and self-esteem, help attendance,
behavior and attainment." The site provides a common working framework that
facilitates the promotion of sport as a new domain of international cooperation.
Resources include a project database, directory of key organizations and
experts, archive of news and documents, regular bulletin with detailed updates
and interviews, agenda of conferences, listing of career opportunities, and
discussion forum.
www.sportanddev.org.
United Kingdom: The Scottish Executive's target is to achieve 50% of adults aged
over 16 and 80% of all children aged 16 and under who meet the minimum
recommended levels of physical activity by 2022. Five main strategies to
increase physical activity in Scotland are: healthy public policy, supportive
environments, community action, personal skill development, and health services
for those who need them most. A website provides information about the Scottish
Executive's program and policy including guidance on ways to create active
schools, workplaces, homes, and communities.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/Introduction/Introduction
United States: The Center for Chronic Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s
Active Community Environments Initiative (ACES) promotes walking, bicycling, and
the development of accessible recreation facilities. It was developed in
response to data from public health, urban design, and transportation planning
that suggested that proximity of facilities, street design, density of housing,
availability of public transit, and presence of pedestrian and bicycle
facilities that played a significant role in promoting or discouraging physical
activity. This initiative encourages environmental and policy interventions
that will increase levels of physical activity and improve public health.
Current activities to promote the goals of the Active Community Environments
Initiative include Kids Walk to School programs, and an Active Community
Environments guidebook for public health practitioners and city planners to
promote walking, bicycling, and access to recreation facilities.
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/aces.htm
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