Club News and Happenings - October
STUDY FINDS THAT PAYING EMPLOYEES TO LOSE WEIGHT WORKS
The Toronto Star (Sep 20, 2007 Source: Reuters News) writes that according to a new study, giving money to overweight workers can be a good incentive for them to drop those extra pounds and cost effective for companies. Researchers found that people paid to trim down lost more weight than hefty employees who had not been given a financial boost to get fit. Dr. Eric Finkelstein of the non-profit research organization RTI International in North Carolina and his colleagues divided 207 people, who had an average weight of 200 pounds (91 kilograms), into three groups to compare their weight loss. The first group were not offered any financial incentive to slim down. But the second group received $7 for every percentage point of their body weight they lost, while the third group was offered $14. The researchers, who reported their findings in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, discovered that after three months, people in the $14 group lost an average 4.7 pounds, compared to three pounds in the $7 group. People who had not been paid lost about two pounds. He added that people in the $14 group were more than five times more likely to lose a clinically relevant 5 per cent of their body weight.
ALBERTANS URGED TO EAT SMART, MOVE MORE
Albertans urged to eat smart, move more September 20, 2007 Create A Movement campaign encourages kids and parents to join healthy living movement
Edmonton… A new public awareness campaign called Create A Movement has been launched to encourage Albertans to take aggressive action to lead healthier lives. The $2-million campaign aims to encourage young people and their parents to eat healthy and be more active to reduce their risk of obesity and chronic disease.
“The Create A Movement campaign is part of our overall strategy to improve the health of our children and youth,” said Dave Hancock, Minister of Health and Wellness. “While there is increased awareness that eating better and being active are essential to good health, the growing rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes show that we’re not doing enough to be healthy. This campaign urges Albertans to put their knowledge into action - to eat smart and move more and enjoy the benefits of better health.” The Create A Movement campaign includes a series of television, radio, public transit, print and cinema advertisements directed at young people and parents. A website www.createamovement.ca has been designed to engage and motivate youth to take action on the challenges of healthy living, as well as link them to reliable information on healthy eating and physical activity.
The Create A Movement campaign is supported by Alberta Sobeys stores and the Edmonton Valley Zoo and Calgary Zoo. All partners will promote the Create A Movement campaign through complementary programs and activities that encourage regular physical activity and healthy eating.
The province-wide Create A Movement campaign will build on the successes of the government’s Healthy U campaign, which released television ads this week to encourage older adults to eat healthy and be more active. Healthy U was launched in 2003 to raise awareness of the benefits of healthy eating and physical activity.
BLUEPRINT FOR ACTION AIMS TO GET PEOPLE MOVING
The Metroland - Halton Division (Wed 05 Sep 2007 Byline: Krissie Rutherford) writes that the Halton Active Living Network (HALNet) launched a report yesterday, geared at increasing the number of Halton residents who are regularly physically active by 20 per cent by the year 2012. The Blueprint for Action doubles a goal outlined by the Ontario government, which has pledged to ensure the number of active residents in the province grows 10 per cent by 2010, MPP Kevin Flynn said. The Blueprint for Action has taken more than a year and a half to complete. The combined effort of many Halton organizations in areas including fitness, sport, education and health, some of the plan’s initiatives are underway now, with others to be phased in over the next few years. Supporting physical activity in schools and organizing community events to promote fitness are among the short term actions, while implementing more active transportation and changing policies in schools are just some of the initiatives the plan outlines for the future.
NEW BRUNSWICK LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR HEALTHY LIVING
The Globe and Mail (Thu 06 Sep 2007 Source: CP) reports that the New Brunswick government has launched a two- year marketing campaign to encourage New Brunswickers to live a healthier lifestyle. The province has the most physically inactive population in Canada, and some of the most obese children in the country. The government is spending $500,000 over the next two years on a campaign that includes television, print and radio ads. The ads encourage parents to become active and set an example for their children.
PLAYGROUND FOR SENIORS - B.C.
The Vancouver Sun (Fri 31 Aug 2007, Byline: Catherine Rolfsen) reports that the Tsawwassen Lions Club has built a senior-specific wellness park at a cost of $150,000. The idea Came from a similar facilitiy in Beijing. Playground j for seniors makes sense in British Columbia which has the oldest population of any province except Quebec and the most active seniors in Canada. The human kinetics department at Langley’s Trinity Western University, led by Prof. Daryl Page and his recreation leadership designed the park to focus on fall prevention, flexibility and strength training. Equipment includes the “pod step,” a series of platforms at various heights, the “ramp walk,” a gently sloping track, and a balance beam a few centimetres high with built-in hand rails. More equipment is on order.
From the Coalition for Active Living www.activeliving.ca
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