Do changes to the local street environment alter behaviour and quality of life of older adults? The ‘DIY Streets’ intervention

<p>Background: The burden of ill-health due to inactivity has recently been highlighted. Better studies on environments that support physical activity are called for, including longitudinal studies of environmental interventions. A programme of residential street improvements in the UK (Sustrans ‘DIY Streets’) allowed a rare opportunity for a prospective, longitudinal study of the effect of such changes on older adults’ activities, health and quality of life.</p> <p>Methods: Pre–post, cross-sectional surveys were carried out in locations across England, Wales and Scotland; participants were aged 65+ living in intervention or comparison streets. A questionnaire covered health and quality of life, frequency of outdoor trips, time outdoors in different activities and a 38-item scale on neighbourhood open space. A cohort study explored changes in self-report activity and well-being postintervention. Activity levels were also measured by accelerometer and accompanying diary records.</p> <p>Results: The cross-sectional surveys showed outdoor activity predicted by having a clean, nuisance-free local park, attractive, barrier-free routes to it and other natural environments nearby. Being able to park one's car outside the house also predicted time outdoors. The environmental changes had an impact on perceptions of street walkability and safety at night, but not on overall activity levels, health or quality of life. Participants’ moderate-to-vigorous activity levels rarely met UK health recommendations.</p> <p>Conclusions: Our study contributes to methodology in a longitudinal, pre–post design and points to factors in the built environment that support active ageing. We include an example of knowledge exchange guidance on age-friendly built environments for policy-makers and planners.</p&gt

Kids walk to school

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Cover title.System requirements: Adobe Acrobat

Pediatric nutrition surveillance: 2004 report

This report summarizes selected data on child health and nutritional indicators received from state, territorial, and tribal governments that contributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pediatric nutrition surveillance 2004 report.PedNSS is produced by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.Includes bibliographical references.Polhamus B, Thompson D, Dalenius K, Borland E, Smith B, Grummer-Strawn L. Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance 2004 Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2006

Pediatric nutrition surveillance: 2003 report

This report summarizes selected data on child health and nutritional indicators received from state, territorial, and tribal governments that contributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pediatric nutrition surveillance 2003 report.U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services.Title from PDF t.p. (viewed April 12, 2007).PedNSS is produced by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.Mode of access: Internet.Includes bibliographical references.Polhamus B, Dalenius K, Thompson D, Scanlon K, Borland E, Smith B, Grummer-Strawn L. Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance 2003 Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2004

Pediatric nutrition surveillance: 2002 report

This report summarizes selected data on child health and nutritional indicators received from state, territorial, and tribal governments that contributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pediatric nutrition surveillance 2002 report.Title from PDF t.p. (viewed April 12, 2007).PedNSS is produced by the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.Mode of access: Internet.Includes bibliographical references.Polhamus B, Dalenius K, Thompson D, Scanlon K, Borland E, Smith B, Grummer-Strawn L. Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance 2002 Report. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2004

Table for calculated body mass index values for selected heights and weights for ages 2 to 20 years

Body Mass Index (BMI) is determined as follows: English Formula: Weight in pounds \uc3\ub7 Height in inches \uc3\ub7 Height in inches x 703 = BMI; Metric Formula: Weight in kilograms \uc3\ub7 Height in meters \uc3\ub7 Height in meters = BMI. The above BMI formulas have already been calculated and are presented in this table entitled Calculated Body Mass Index Values for Selected Heights and Weights for Ages 2 to 20 Years. To use the BMI table, first locate the child\ue2\u20ac\u2122s height and weight in the height and weight ranges listed in the upper right corner of each page. The table of contents contains a list of height and weight ranges and may be used to locate the page numbers for specific BMI values. Please note that some height and weight measurements are found on more than one page, so be sure that both the height and weight measurements are within the range listed at the top of the page. Weight measurements are listed in increasing sequential order. Once the exact page has been located in the table, the point where height and weight intersect represents the BMI value. This value is then plotted on the BMI-for-age growth chart to determine whether the child is within a normal growth pattern, overweight, at risk of becoming overweight, or underweight. In the table, English height measurements (inches) are shown in 1/2-inch increments for heights below 48 inches and 1-inch increments for heights between 48 and 78 inches. English weight measurements (pounds) are shown in 1/2-pound increments for weights under 60 pounds, 1-pound increments for weights between 60 and 110 pounds, and 2-pound increments for weights between 112 and 250 pounds. The corresponding metric values in centimeters and kilograms are included next to the English values in the table. Whenever a child\ue2\u20ac\u2122s specific height or weight measurement is not listed, round to the closest number in the table.Content source: Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotio

Health equity resource toolkit for state practitioners addressing obesity disparities

The purpose of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities is to increase the capacity of state health departments and their partners to work with and through communities to implement effective responses to obesity in populations that are facing health disparities. The Toolkit's primary focus is on how to create policy, systems, and environmental changes that will reduce obesity disparities and achieve health equity. For the purpose of this Toolkit, "policy" refers to procedures or practices that apply to large sectors which can influence complex systems in ways that can improve the health and safety of a population. States are already conducting activities to address obesity across populations. This Toolkit provides guidance on how to supplement and compliment existing efforts. It provides evidence-informed and real-world examples of addressing disparities by illustrating how the concepts presented can be promoted in programs to achieve health equity using three evidence-informed strategies as examples: 1. Increasing access to fruits and vegetables via healthy food retail with a focus on underserved communities. 2. Engaging in physical activity that can be achieved by increased opportunities for walking with a focus on the disabled community, and other subpopulations that face disparities. 3. Decreasing consumption of sugar drinks with an emphasis on access to fresh, potable (clean) water with a particular focus on adolescents and other high consumers. Though the Toolkit utilizes these three strategies as examples, the planning and evaluation process described in the Toolkit can be applied to other evidence-informed strategies to control and prevent obesity. This Toolkit is a unique resource as it is developed at a state level for health departments and practitioners who work with and through communities, rather than solely addressing communities themselves. Its purpose is to inform state programs that seek to address obesity with a focus on health equity. CDC is also currently developing a Health Equity Playbook, which focuses on addressing health disparities from the community perspective and updating the document Promoting Health Equity: A Resource to Help Communities Address Social Determinants of Health. As you plan and evaluate your state obesity a nd health equity programs, these resources may further enrich your understanding of health equity and social determinants of health.Introduction -- I. Purpose and Intended Target Audience of the Toolkit -- II. Toolkit Organization, Content, and Use -- III. Health Disparities in Obesity and Obesity-related Risk Factors: Scope of the Problem -- IV. Defining Key Terms -- -- Conceptual Framework -- -- Incorporating Health Equity into the Obesity Prevention Planning Processes -- I. Program Assessment and Capacity Building -- II. Gathering and Using Data to Identify and Monitor Obesity Disparities through a Health Equity -- Lens -- III. Multi-sector Partnerships, Non-Traditional Partnerships, and Community Engagement -- IV. Applying a Health Equities Lens to the Design and Selection of Strategies -- V. Monitoring and Evaluating Progress -- VI. Ensuring Sustainability -- VII. Developing Culturally Relevant Health Communication Strategies -- -- Conclusion -- References -- Appendix A. Additional Resources for Improving Access and Availability of Healthy Foods -- Appendix B. Additional Resources for Improving the Beverage Environment -- Appendix C. Additional Resources for Improving Safe, Accessible Physical Activity Environments -- Appendix D. Resources Included in the Toolkit, by SectionThis document was created to provide examples of strategies and surveillance data which can be used to inform obesity prevention initiatives. Many of the examples and success stories listed in this document were conducted by organizations outside of CDC and the federal government and without CDC or federal funding. These examples are provided for illustrative purposes and therefore do not constitute a CDC or federal government activity or endorsement.The Health Equity Resource Toolkit for State Practitioners Addressing Obesity Disparities was prepared by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with Stephen James, Lisa Hawley, Rachel Kramer, and Yvonne Wasilewski at SciMetrika, LLC.Available via the World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (4 MB, 84 p.).Includes bibliographical references (p. 56-59)

Recommended community strategies and measurements to prevent obesity in the United States

"Approximately two thirds of U.S. adults and one fifth of U.S. children are obese or overweight. During 1980-2004, obesity prevalence among U.S. adults doubled, and recent data indicate an estimated 33% of U.S. adults are overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25.0-29.9), 34% are obese (BMI >=30.0), including nearly 6% who are extremely obese (BMI >=40.0). The prevalence of being overweight among children and adolescents increased substantially during 1999-2004, and approximately 17% of U.S. children and adolescents are overweight (defined as at or above the 95% percentile of the sex-specific BMI for age growth charts). Being either obese or overweight increases the risk for many chronic diseases (e.g., heart disease, type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, and stroke). Reversing the U.S. obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that uses policy and environmental change to transform communities into places that support and promote healthy lifestyle choices for all U.S. residents. Environmental factors (including lack of access to full-service grocery stores, increasing costs of healthy foods and the lower cost of unhealthy foods, and lack of access to safe places to play and exercise) all contribute to the increase in obesity rates by inhibiting or preventing healthy eating and active living behaviors. Recommended strategies and appropriate measurements are needed to assess the effectiveness of community initiatives to create environments that promote good nutrition and physical activity. To help communities in this effort, CDC initiated the Common Community Measures for Obesity Prevention Project (the Measures Project). The objective of the Measures Project was to identify and recommend a set of strategies and associated measurements that communities and local governments can use to plan and monitor environmental and policy-level changes for obesity prevention. This report describes the expert panel process that was used to identify 24 recommended strategies for obesity prevention and a suggested measurement for each strategy that communities can use to assess performance and track progress over time. The 24 strategies are divided into six categories: 1) strategies to promote the availability of affordable healthy food and beverages), 2) strategies to support healthy food and beverage choices, 3) a strategy to encourage breastfeeding, 4) strategies to encourage physical activity or limit sedentary activity among children and youth, 5) strategies to create safe communities that support physical activity, and 6) a strategy to encourage communities to organize for change." - p. 1reported by Laura Kettel Khan, Kathleen Sobush, Dana Keener, Kenneth Goodman, Amy Lowry, Jakub Kakietek, Susan Zaro.Chronic DiseasePrevention and ControlCurrentIncludes biblioghical references (p. 23-36).19629029RedmondLeonard9/02/2015Chronic DiseasePrevention and ControlCurren

Healthy hospital choices: promoting healthy hospital food, physical activity, breastfeeding and lactation support and tobacco-free choices : recommendations and approaches from an expert panel

The mission, influence and reach of hospitals make them natural leaders for worksite wellness and community-wide health promotion. As major employers and flagship health organizations within communities, hospitals can influence community norms by adopting model policies and practices that promote the health of employees and patrons of their own organization. In August 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity convened an expert panel on policy and environmental approaches to improve food, physical activity, breastfeeding and tobacco-free environments in hospitals. The panel was tasked with identifying strategies to improve these environments for employees, patients and visitors and recommending how to incorporate these strategies into hospital community outreach efforts. This article summarizes the proceedings of the meeting and presents recommendations for action for hospitals and/or public health practitioners.Andrea Wiseman, Allison Boothe, Meredith Reynolds, Brook Belay.CS12 230460-A4/6/12: date from document properiesMode of access: World Wide Web as an Acrobat .pdf file (419 KB, 16 p.).Includes bibliographical references (p. 12-13)

Preventing obesity begins in hospitals

"Childhood obesity is an epidemic. In the US, 1 preschooler in 5 is at least overweight, and half of these are obese. Breastfeeding helps protect against childhood obesity. A baby's risk of becoming an overweight child goes down with each month of breastfeeding. In the US, most babies start breastfeeding, but within the first week, half have already been given formula, and by 9 months, only 31% of babies are breastfeeding at all. Hospitals can either help or hinder mothers and babies as they begin to breastfeed. The Baby- Friendly Hospital Initiative describes Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding that have been shown to increase breastfeeding rates by providing support to mothers. Unfortunately, most US hospitals do not fully support breastfeeding; they should do more to make sure mothers can start and continue breastfeeding.." - p. 1Fact sheet released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Office of Surveillance, Epidemiology and Laboratory Services (OSELS) in association with: Vital signs: preventing obesity begins in hospitals published: MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report ; v. 60, early release, August 2, 2011, p. 1-6."CD225478B.""August 2011.""Publication date: 08/02/2011."Title from title screen (viewed August 2, 2011).Introduction -- Latest findings -- Who's at risk? -- U.S. state information -- What can be done -- Related links -- Social mediaMode of access: World Wide WebText document (PDF)