Physical Activity

Friend groups may encourage kids to be more active

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Kids in after-school programs often increase their own physical activity if they make friends who run and jump around more than they do, a new study from Tennessee has found. Though not completely surprising, that finding could be important as parents, after-school teachers and camp counselors try to encourage youngsters to move more and head-off obesity before it starts, researchers said. The results are also in line with research that's been done in teens and adults, who tend to look like the rest of their friend group in terms of weight and fitness level. ... read more..

source:http://yhoo.it/KzkiZ8

Ottawa Public Library-Physical Activity-Steps Per Day-Councillor-Pedometer

Councillors Track their Steps with Ottawa Public Library Pedometers

Every day, beginning with our first steps as a child, we walk. But do you know that for adults ages 18 to 64 it is recommended that you reach 10,000 steps per day? Ottawa Public Health (OPH) and the Ottawa Public Library (OPL) invite you to use a pedometer to track your steps!To mark the end of Physical Activity Month, OPH staff, Board of Health members Katherine Hobbs and Mathieu Fleury, and Councillors and OPL Board trustees Jan Harder and Shad Qadri are wearing pedometers all week. They will be tweeting their step counts and trying to reach the 10,000 a day goal. Follow #ottawawalks and #ottawamarche to see how they’re doing!Walking is a free, accessible and low impact form of physical activity that can be incorporated throughout the day. To increase your daily steps:

• Walk to work or school
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
• Take a lunch time walk
• Walk to the movies or local grocery store

Ottawa Public Library offers a pedometer lending program at all of its branches. With a library card, residents can borrow a pedometer for three-week periods to count their steps and watch their walking increase over time.  Every step counts – put your best foot forward and try to reach the daily step goal for your age. For more information on the pedometer lending program and to view pedometer availability, please visit biblioottawalibrary.ca.Wearing a pedometer will show the number of steps taken each day and it will help to compare your current walking activity level with what is recommended for your age. Daily step goals include:

• Children (5 to 11 years): 12,000 to 16,000 steps per day
• Youth (12 to 17 years): 11,000 to 12,000 steps per day
• Adults (18 to 64 years): 10,000 steps per day
• Older adults (65+): 6,000 to 7,000 steps per day

Follow Councillor Harder @BarrhavenJan, Councillor Qadri @ShadQadri, Councillor Hobbs @Katherine_Hobbs and Councillor Fleury @MatheiuFleury and use #ottawawalks and #ottawamarche to participate and reach your goal! Let us know what you’re doing to increase your daily steps! read more..

source:ottawa.ca

Prostate Cancer Surgery-Physical Activity-Prostate Surgery-Prostate Removal

Men's hopes for robot prostate surgery unrealistic

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Robot-assisted surgery for prostate cancer has been heavily hyped, and a new study suggests that men's expectations of the surgery may be too high. Researchers found that of 171 men facing prostate cancer surgery, those having robotic surgery expected a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker return to their usual physical activity and sex life. But those hopes may not be realistic. Prostate removal is one treatment option for prostate cancer, and in the U.S., a majority of those surgeries are now done with the help of a "robot. ... read more..

source:http://yhoo.it/wmFwPd

Toast to romance with vino: Have a 5-ounce glass with dinner for a steamier even...

Toast to romance with vino: Have a 5-ounce glass with dinner for a steamier evening—here's why http://on.self.com/yGFNIOSuperfoods for Better Sexon.self.comMake every romp feel like a sizzling summer fling. Not only will these foods help keep you slim (and staying in shape is the ultimate formula for... read more..

source:self.com

Transportation Committee Chair-Physical Activity-City Of Ottawa-Residents

The City of Ottawa has two campaigns this month that will...

The City of Ottawa has two campaigns this month that will encourage people to put their bodies to work, including cycling and walking to their workplace. The month of May is both Bike to Work and Physical Activity Month.“Walking and cycling are great ways to get around our city that also benefit your health and the environment at the same time,” said Mayor Jim Watson. “Ottawa is committed to providing the pathways and cycling lanes needed to promote active transportation and with the price of gas, people can save money while getting more physically fit.”The City’s Planning and Infrastructure Department, Ottawa Public Health (OPH), and EnviroCentre are working together to get residents to cycle to work and take up other forms of exercise, like walking, to become physically active.“Bike to Work Month focuses on encouraging residents to try cycling as a clean and healthy choice to commute to work,” said Councillor Marianne Wilkinson, Transportation Committee Chair. “We encourage workplaces across the city to sign up and get their colleagues to discover cycling. We are pleased so many businesses and organizations have supported and accommodated cyclists by providing such amenities as showers, change rooms and bike racks.”Bike to Work Month includes various activities throughout May, including an online pledge at biketoworkottawa.com where participants input their commuter cycling distances travelled to learn how much money they saved and how healthy activities contributed to cleaning the air. All registrants will be automatically eligible to win many prizes, including a new bike.“Cycling and walking are great forms of transportation and activities to ensure you are exercising every day,” said Councillor Diane Holmes, Chair of the Board of Health. “May is Physical Activity Month and we encourage residents to leave their cars at home and bike or walk to work – it’s a great way to integrate physical activity into your daily routine.”One of the key objectives in OPH’s Healthy Eating and Active Living Strategy is to increase active transportation and walking. Research has shown that adults who get 150 minutes of moderate-vigorous physical activity per week reduce their risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis and certain types of cancers, such as breast and colon cancer. Residents can find tips for getting active at ottawa.ca/health.For more information, call 3-1-1 or visit biketoworkottawa.com or ottawa.ca/health read more..

source:ottawa.ca