You Asked It!

Tag: Physical Activity

Self-Reported Physical Inactivity

walkersWe all can do so much better with physical activity. New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that more than one in five adults are inactive in all but four U.S. states.

Physical inactivity is defined as not participating in any kind of physical activity outside of work activity. This includes walking, running, gardening and more. By U.S. region, the South had the highest prevalence of physical inactivity followed by the Midwest, Northeast and West. In Kansas, the prevalence is between 20%-<25%.

The underlying factors contributing to this problem include lack of safe spaces in communities such as parks, high-speed traffic on unsafe streets with no sidewalks, lack of time, lack of social supports, racial and ethnic disparities.

Steps to take to reverse this trend are comprehensive from the state level to individuals. With efforts to get 27 million Americans more physically active, there could be a reduction in at least 20 chronic diseases.

Overall prevalence of physical inactivity in the U.S. is 25.3%. Some activity is better than none!

Learn more at www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/data/inactivity-prevalence-maps/index.html.

 

Be Active Like an Olympian!

win winOlympic athletes can provide inspiration to get up an move! Here’s how you can become a winner like an Olympian.

From bobsled to hockey, teamwork is key to a win. Grab a friend or neighbor to help keep you motivated and moving every day!

The sport of curling incorporates many deep knee bends and squats. These can build up your leg strength and balance.

Figure skating involves lots of twists and turns. You can exercise your arms and feet by rotating them in circles in a forward and backward motion. Practice your balance by standing on one leg.

Lots of speed is involved in many winter Olympic sports. Start your physical activity slow and increase your activity each week. You’ll be surprised how easy it can be!

 

Benefits of Physical Activity

As we get closer to Spring and the start of Walk Kansas 2021, keep in mind of the many health benefits you receive with physical activity.

The immediate benefits include better sleep quality, less anxiety, and reduced blood pressure.

The long-term benefits include better brain health, lower heart disease risks, many cancer prevention benefits, improve bone strength, balance and coordination, and reduced weight gain.

Now get out and walk!

Source: CDC

Physical Activity Benefits

 

Eat Healthy, Be Active Community Workshops

Looking for a curriculum to teach healthy lifestyles and physical activity? The U.S. Department of Healthy and Human Services has developed six 1-hour workshops to help. The materials are available in English and Spanish.

The workshops include learning about healthy food choices, eating healthy on a budget, tips to lose weight, physical activity and more. Each section has an instructor guide and teaching videos.

The materials can be downloaded from https://bit.ly/37jsRaJ or you can order free copies at https://epublication.fda.gov/epub/, click the catalog button, then click these filters: Nutrition > Health educators > Orderable Hardcopies > Apply, and scroll down to Eat Healthy, Be Active Community Workshops.

The recording of the eXtension webinar describing this program is at https://bit.ly/2zu8D1K.

New Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

The second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans has been released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. So what’s new in this edition?

Since 2008, new knowledge has been gained on the proven benefits of physical activity for all ages and populations. New information on physical activity benefits include:

  • Health benefits in relation to brain health, fall-related injuries, and cancer.
  • Benefits for sleep, how people feel and how people function.
  • How sedentary behaviors affect overall health.
  • Guidelines for children ages 3 through 5 years.
  • Tested strategies to get people more active.

These guidelines will be incorporated into the Walk Kansas program for 2019.

https://health.gov/paguidelines/second-edition/

Promoting Classroom Physical Activity

Research has shown that students need physical activity to improve classroom concentration and attention, reduce classroom behavior issues, become more engaged in learning, and above all boost grades.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Springboard to Active Schools has released new educator resources to add physical activity in the classroom each day. Incorporate physical activity into academic instruction so that there are several activity breaks during the day. Physical activity can be added into all grade levels. These activities can also be used in other organizations such as 4-H and Scouts.

The program has many resources available at www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/physicalactivity/classroom-pa.htm.