WIN Wyoming and WIN the Rockies

Thought Bullets
for
August 2002

I recently heard a new definition for a spectator sport - it’s when 22,000 fans in need of physical activity watch 22 athletes in need of rest. The thought bullets this month are dedicated to physical activity. They are based on the WIN the Rockies workshop conducted by the Cooper Institute and held in Jackson, Wyoming, from June 4-6, 2002. The workshop was presented by Ruth Ann Carpenter and Erin Sinclair and focused on developing lifestyle community-based physical activity programs.

• The highest protection from premature death from chronic disease comes when individuals move from the low fit category to the moderate fit category. There is only a modest additional improvement in mortality rates when individuals move from the moderate fit category to the high fit category.
• "Given what we know about the health benefits of physical activity, it should be mandatory to get a doctor’s permission not to exercise." - Dr. P-O Astrand
• According to the Surgeon General’s Report of 1996, 63% of adults are sedentary. Of the non-sedentary adults, 22% engage in regular low to moderate physical activity, and 15% engage in regular vigorous activity.
• What is moderate physical activity? Moderate intensity activities are performed at 3 to 6 times a person’s resting metabolic rate. For most healthy adults, that is equivalent to walking a mile in 15-20 minutes.
• Major studies at the Cooper Institute (Project Active and Project PRIME) compared improved fitness levels of individuals implementing either a structured intervention (such as gym membership) or a lifestyle intervention (taking the stairs, walking during breaks at work, walking from the furthest parking spot, etc.). The two studies found increased fitness levels in both structured and lifestyle interventions.
• Studies at the Cooper Institute support the Surgeon General’s physical activity recommendation of at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most or all days. The goal can be reached in a number of ways (one 30-minute walk; three 10-minute walks; taking the stairs, walking the dog, and mowing the yard - the possibilities are endless). When it comes to benefits of physical activity, it is less important how a person gets at least 30 minutes of moderate daily physical activity; what is crucial is that physical activity becomes a part of daily living.
• Family support is one of the strongest predictors of a person’s ability to maintain physical activities over time.
• We can change our environments so that daily physical activity is encouraged and inactivity is discouraged. Here are a few ideas:

• At the community level - Are community roadways designed to encourage safe walking and bike riding? Are there a variety of park and recreation facilities? Are there physical activity options available in the community for adults and children of all ages and skill levels?
• In the home - Are sedentary options (TV, computer, video games) balanced with physically active choices (gardens, bicycles, exercise equipment, etc.)?
• In the workplace - Do work policies allow employees daily physical activity time?
• In the schools - Are recess times and PE classes offered daily?

Source: The Cooper Institute, 12330 Preston Road, Dallas, Texas 75230, 800-635-7050. Workshop presented by Ruth Ann Carpenter, MS, RD, LD, Associate Director for the Division of Research, and Erin Sinclair, BS, CHES, research associate.

Compiled by Betty Holmes, MS, RD, Regional Project Coordinator, WIN the Rockies;  bholmes@uwyo.edu

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