Physical Activity
The Physical Activity toolkit is available from: http://www.newhealth.govt.nz/toolkits/physicalactivity.htmHere are links to resources on physical activity.
New Zealand
- Two NZ Conferences: see info here.
- Price, G.3, MacKay, S.3, Swinburn, B. ‘The Heartbeat Challenge Programme: Promoting healthy changes in workplaces’. Health Prom Int 15, 49-55, 2000.
Maori and Pacific
- Grant No. 998
To support data collection from Maori Health Clinics and to fund double data entry for the JOGS study.
Dr Raina Elley The JOGS study is an evaluation of the Green Prescriptions intervention, which is an intervention used by general practitioners to promote activity and improve the health of their sedentary patients. The intervention involves screening for inactivity, motivational interviewing techniques to introduce the idea of increasing activity for health within the context of the patient's lifestyle, and formulating activity goals which are written on a green prescription. Exercise specialists and the practice provide on-going support and guidance to reach activity goals. The Green Prescription has been shown to produce significant increases in physical activity in the short term
International
- Taking Action: Mobilizing Communities to Provide Recreation for Women on Low Incomes
Wendy Frisby, Fearon Blair, Therese Dorer, Larena Hill, Jennifer Fenton, and Bryna Kopelow, British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
Evidence suggests that the health and quality of life of women on low income and their families could be improved and that substantial savings to the health care system could be accrued if community recreation was seen as a preventative health promotion strategy for marginalized populations. Unfortunately, little has been done in the areas of policy development, program design or research to address the interconnected social problems of women’s poverty, poor health and lack of involvement in and access to community recreation. It has been suggested that one reason for this omission is that health and sport policy are largely designed with little or no input from those who are encountering structural barriers to participation.
More here: http://www.cewh-cesf.ca/en/publications/RB/v4n2/page10.shtml - The Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Girls and Women
Colleen Reid, Lesley Dyck, Heather McKay and Wendy Frisby, British Columbia Centre of Excellence for Women’s Health
The Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Girls and Women: Literature Review and Recommendations for Future Research and Policy is a multi-disciplinary portrayal of what is known about the benefits and risks of physical activity and inactivity for the health status of girls and women. By making linkages between some of the most prevalent health issues facing girls and women today, the study demonstrates the possibilities and potential for inter-disciplinary research.
More details here: http://www.cewh-cesf.ca/en/publications/RB/v4n2/page5.shtml - Association between lifestyle factors and mental health measures among community-dwelling older women: Kellie Cassidy; Ria Kotynia-English; John Acres; Leon Flicker; Nicola T. Lautenschlager; Osvaldo P. Almeida; Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, November 2004, vol. 38, no. 11-12, pp. 940-947(8)
- Physical Activity and Changes in Weight and Waist Circumference in Midlife Women: Findings from the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation; Barbara Sternfeld; Hua Wang; Charles P. Quesenberry; Barbara Abrams; Susan A. Everson-Rose; Gail A. Greendale; Karen A. Matthews; Javier I. Torrens; MaryFran Sowers; American Journal of Epidemiology, 01 November 2004, vol. 160, no. 9, pp. 912-922(11), Oxford University Press
Controversy exists regarding the extent to which age, menopausal status, and/or lifestyle behaviors account for the increased weight, fat mass, and central adiposity experienced by midlife women. To address this question, the authors longitudinally examined the relations of aging, menopausal status, and physical activity to weight and waist circumference in 3,064 racially/ethnically diverse women aged 42–52 years at baseline who were participating in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation (SWAN), an observational study of the menopausal transition. Over 3 years of follow-up (1996–1997 to 1999–2000), mean weight increased by 2.1 kg (standard deviation (SD), 4.8) or 3.0% (SD, 6.5) and mean waist circumference increased by 2.2 cm (SD, 5.4) or 2.8% (SD, 6.3). Change in menopausal status was not associated with weight gain or significantly associated with increases in waist circumference. A one-unit increase in reported level of sports/exercise (on a scale of 1–5) was longitudinally related to decreases of 0.32 kg in weight (p < 0.0001) and 0.10 cm in waist circumference (not significant). Similar inverse relations were observed for daily routine physical activity (biking and walking for transportation and less television viewing). These findings suggest that, although midlife women tend to experience increases in weight and waist circumference over time, maintaining or increasing participation in regular physical activity contributes to prevention or attenuation of those gains. - How feasible are healthy eating and physical activity for young women?, Ball K.1; Crawford D.1; Warren N.1, Public Health Nutrition, May 2004, vol. 7, no. 3, pp. 433-441(9)
- Yet Another Gender Difference Exercise causes different muscle capillary response in women and men, study finds TUESDAY, June 3 (HealthDayNews) -- Exercise prompts different responses in the skeletal muscle capillaries of men and women, says a Duke University Medical Center study.
More at: http://www.healthday.com/view.cfm?id=513466 - www.centre4activeliving.ca
The Alberta centre for Active Living website contains extensive Canadian and international resources related to physical activity. As well as as many of the centres own publications, topics include information about physical activity and various population groups (e.g. children, women, older adults and Aboriginal people), as well as resources on workplace activity preventing chronic disease, and population-health issues. The site also provides free quarterly research updates.
NZ Links and other resources
- LINZ® Activity & Health Research Unit Website http://www.otago.ac.nz/linz/
Overview The Unit is involved in the collection and analysis of large national surveys within the areas of physical activity, sports injuries, nutrition and health. The Unit also maintains the 1989 Life in New Zealand Survey and 1997 National Nutrition Survey databases for ongoing analysis and interpretation Further information Professor David Russell, Director, LINZ® Activity & Health Research Unit, PO Box 56 Dunedin, Tel 64 3 479 8993, Fax 64 3 479 8332, Email linz@otago.ac.nz - Grant No. 912/913
Justification of Green Scripts (JOGS). Dr Raina Elley Physical inactivity is a major contributor to cardiovascular, diabetic and other diseases in our society. The green prescription programme in general practice is designed to help motivate and support less-active people to become more active, or walk more, for the benefit of their health. #In the Waikato, 830 people between the ages of 40 and 80 are participating in the Heart Health and Activity study. Half have been randomly chosen to receive the green prescription. The study investigates whether the green prescription helps to increase activity and improve cardiovascular health and quality of life, over a twelve-month period. - http://www.aut.ac.nz/research_showcase/research_activity_areas/bcmrc/projects_assoc.shtml
Research project by AUT and other good references and theses
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