What Can Be Done About Childhood Obesity?

The Twitter Exercise and Motivation Team is a fantastic resource that combines a dedicated blog and the clever use of the hashtag #temt to motivate hundreds of tweeps into getting fit and living healthier lives! I have been encouraged by the collaboration and kind words of support from team members, inspiring blogs, links to useful resources, and insightful tips such as this tweet from @cybraryman1: "Keep motivated to exercise by setting realistic goals & keeping an exercise journal #temt Make time to exercise in your busy schedules". BTW, you can keep track of the #temt exchange and some interesting statistics at the What Hashtag address:http://wthashtag.com/Temt .

As I read another of many disheartening articles on obesity, I thought how educators in the TEMT team could extend its collaborative model by taking steps to reduce childhood obesity through programs in schools. There is an abundance of information on obesity. For example, a Google exact search for "Obesity in America" for the past week brought up 14,300 results. The most significant findings on adult obesity were recently reported by the CDC. In brief the number of obese adults living in the United States increased by 2.4 millions in just two years (2007 to 2009) and in nine states more than 30% are obese. Flip through the pages of this Slideshare slideshow to see how the trend rapidly increased the past 25 years and in particular the increase from 5 to 9 states with rates greater than 30% for the past reporting year (2008 - 2009). The original PowerPoint is located at the CDC U.S. Obesity Trends page.

Obesity trends 2009

The news is even grimmer for children as described on the page Childhood Overweight and Obesity. All statistics stand out but perhaps this one is the most telling: "one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10-15 years were obese adults at age 25 years".

So as educators and collaborators what can we do? What have some of us already accomplished in our schools or communities? One start is to share resources, ideas on how to get started, and stories of success (present or pending). I thought about steps such as having students create a healthy eating wiki as part of a class or school project. Students could learn much from such a project: collaboration to build something really useful that they can take pride and ownership in, the value of nutrition, comparing good and bad calories, family history (recipes), skills in technology (learning how to contribute to a Wiki, add comments, insert links and photos), and so on.

There is a lot of movement in taking steps to reduce the prevalence of obesity, which is encouraging. At the same time the trend is still upward and reversing it will take considerable patience and persistence. The section What Can Be Done lists educational resources for community, schools, and self: food and nutrition, physical activity, technology, success stories, and activities that provide opportunities to raise student awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle and empower them to to integrate physical activity as a way of life.

WHAT CAN BE DONE

• What Can Be Done - The CDC lists actions steps categorized under U.S Government, States, Communities, and All People.
• First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched the Let's Move program that includes resources on food and nutrition, physical activity, and simple steps to success.
• Edutopia Article Teaching Kids About Healthy Eating and Avoid Obesity
• Alliance for a healthier Generation mission is to "To reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015 and to empower kids nationwide to make healthy lifestyle choices" includes Healthcare Initiative, Healthy Schools Program, Industry Initiative, and Kids' Movement. See the video of a success story at one HS in Alabama.
• MyPyramid.gov for Kids - resources such as games, posters, family tips, worksheets, and classroom materials.
• The CDC has a site on Tips for Parents - Ideas to Help Children Maintain a Healthy Weight
• Using Technology to Combat Obesity by the Innovator Educator.

RELATED LINKS

• Obesity Rates Keep Climbing in the U.S.
• Obesity "often set before the age of two"
• CDC Vital Signs Report on Adult Obesity
• U.S. Obesity Trends

The Joy of Walking

Greetings all! I would like to share with you my personal experiences in walking for exercise and good health, enjoyment, and the thrill of accomplishment. The beauty of walking to stay fit and feel better is that most anyone can participate and the goals you set are your own.

About 6 or 7 years ago my doctor warned me of my increasing weight (borderline obese), family risk factor of heart disease, and a dangerously high cholesterol ratio (HDL to LDL). He prescribed Lipitor to manage the HDL cholesterol level but recommended regular exercise and diet to manage the other factors. That was the challenge - playing competitive basketball anymore was not an option because of repaired cartilage and aging joints, especially the knees. And I don't use treadmills in large part because I work long hours underground and can't bear the thought of missing any daylight that is left.

BENEFITS FROM WALKING

• Manage cholesterol - extended walking will raise your LDL cholesterol but it is gradual and requires extended, regular exercise.
• Weight control - Walking can help you lose weight but it must be done regularly and you should improve your diet at the same time.
• Opportunities to reflect - walking can be boring for some but take advantage to reflect. Some of your most creative thinking may emerge. You may even want to take with you a voice recorder so you can capture some of your most inspiring reflections. And it's okay if people think you are talking to yourself!
• Listen to podcasts and audiobooks, although do be careful of your surroundings. I mix days with podcasts and music or nothing at all.
• Find where your local nature trails are and take advantage of them.
• Take photographs and share with others
• Walking can be social - walk with your spouse, friends, family, and neighbors
• You can compete in walkathons for good causes and raise money.
• Manage stress - when you improve your health and sense of well-being, then stress will naturally decrease as well.
• There is less wear and tear on the joints. The shock factor of a runner's step is 3-4 times a person's weight but walking is usually only 1 to 1.5. Sports such as basketball and tennis can reach a SF of 6 or 7.
• Manage asthma - Many folks with asthma report fewer attacks when they exercise regularly and I can attest to that personally. At the end of long walks I enter a "zone" in which there are no effects of asthma - exhilarating! (however, like death and taxes, it does come back.)
• Burning calories. There is no question that running burns more calories during the same amount of time - more bang for your buck. However, many of us do not run really fast and all of us could improve our walking speed over time. For example, if you walk for 30 minutes at 4 miles per hour you will burn 165 calories. Running 5 miles during the same amount of time burns 285 calories.
• Blood pressure - A study shows that 40 minutes of brisk walking (3 or 4 mph) will reduce blood pressure and this article explains why it works.
• UPDATE For baby boomers genes play large role in staying healthy until 65. After that exercise & nutrition more important http://usat.ly/broX9E. In particular read the short version or the in-depth article of why walking 6- 9 miles per week appears to protect the brain against shrinkage in late adulthood.

HOW TO GET STARTED

• Most Americans walk less than 6,000 steps per day and many much less than that. I have known of office managers who always work at their desk and can not manage more than 3,000 steps in one day. Get up from your desk often and take short walking breaks.
• Purchase a pedometer and start calculating how much you walk. Then set goals to realistically increase your average steps per day. The recommended average is 10,000 daily steps.
• Establish a walking route and schedule regular times to achieve your goal no matter how modest it may be.
• Finally, I recommend purchasing quality footwear (personally I have had great luck with Nike Air Monarch) and to make sure you have plenty of toe room!

RELATED LINKS

• Slideshow of my July 5, 2010 walk from Millport to Watkins Glen and back through New York State's gorgeous Catherine Valley Trail.
• More advantages of Walking
• You may have already read about the dangers of staying sedentary in your office chair. If not, be sure to read this excellent article "Stand Up While You Read This!"
• Running vs. Walking
• The Mayo Clinic list other benefits of walking
• Wow! Walk Like the Amish
• The Omron HJ-112 odometer, which I have owned for several years is durable and accurate. There is a safety clip that catches the pedometer if it disconnects from your belt.
• Walking for fitness? Make it count with a pedometer

Phone Recording Lecturecasts

Introduction

Many instructors prefer the simplicity of phoning in recordings of their lectures with a device that is familiar to them and simple to use. They do not have to worry about extra equipment and software and can bypass the multi-step process of recording with a microphone, saving the recording as a MP3 file, and then uploading the file to a podcast server. Drop.io is one of the easiest solutions to creating phone-in recordings that are almost immediately converted to podcast episodes. The first 100MB of audio lecturecasts is free, which is equivalent to approximately 400 minutes of recording time. If lecturecasts are designed for 20 minutes of delivery, then approximately 20 sessions are available. Pre-recorded lecturecasts can be uploaded separately as part of the podcast.

Getting Started

• Go to http://drop.io and create a new drop name that is appropriate for your course and has not already been taken (e.g. mylecturesdrop).
• Click the Create a Drop button.

• Type your e-mail address that will be associated with your new drop and then click the Done button.

• Log on to your e-mail account and retrieve your initial Admin password, which is sent by Drop.io.
• Click the Settings button.
• Enter your new Admin password and then click the Access This Drop button.

Log on prompt: https://drop.io/mylecturesdrop/login

• Click the Access Control tab in the left sidebar and choose Admin Password.

• Enter your new password and take note of it.