In 2010, through a process that engaged hundreds of professionals, researchers, and public and private organizations, the first U.S. National Physical Activity Plan (the Plan) was released. The Plan was a "living document" of a comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives designed to increase physical activity in seven societal sectors: business and industry; community recreation, fitness and parks; education; health care; mass media; public health; and transportation, land use and community design. The overarching goal of the Plan is to create environments that support physical activity where people live, work, and play in order to improve health, prevent disease and disability, and enhance quality of life, and to be updated on a regular basis. In April 2016, the ...
Nuevos vídeos de 30 segundos producidos por Sesame Street y la Organización Panamericana de la Salud (OPS) tienen como objetivo enseñar a los niños cómo evitar contraer el virus, informa la NBC. Los videos explican a los niños la importancia de cubrir y sellar todos los contenedores de agua para evitar que los mosquitos se reproduzcan y les recuerda usa mangas largas lo mas que sea posible. Mira el video ...
A growing list of countries around the world are starting to tax sugar-sweetened beverages in hopes to combat the health risks associated with them, including South Africa. The tax is aimed at helping decrease future associated health risk costs related to diseases like obesity. According to a recent article Professor Tess van der Merwe says half of South African adult women and a third of adult men are "overweight" and obesity rates are rising sharply in african children. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported obesity rates of children under five have nearly doubled. The levy, announced in February this year by Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in his budget is set to take effect in April 2017. Copy & Share on Twitter: South Africa to have #sodatax in April 2017 ...
Health organizations around the world are asking the largest beverage industries, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo to adopt changes in regards to marketing to kids ages 16 and younger. Gathering with the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in Wash. D.C., groups such as The World Public Health Nutrition Association, World Obesity Federation, Healthy Latin America Coalition, Alianza por la salud Alimentaria, and more wrote to big soda's CEO's and institutional investors to consider the soda-related health risks that communities in low-income countries continue to face with rising rates of diabetes, obesity, and heart disease. Billions of dollars is spent in marketing soda world-wide and much of the "core demographic" according to CSPI's recent article, are teens and low-income ...
A non-profit committee made up of 12,000 physicians, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM), is asking hospitals to re-consider fast food chains and set an example with healthier food options within hospital's facilities. The movement is a play on Chick-fil-A signs that ask consumers to "Eat more chicken", but physicians hold signs asking consumers to "Eat more chickpeas". In a recent article, Angie Eakin, MD, one of the doctors on the ads explains, "Many of the hospitals that host Chick-fil-A are in states with high rates of diet-related diseases, making hospitals part of the overall toxic food environment. Hospitals should be fast-food-free, and patients should eat more chickpeas, vegetables, fruits, and other foods that can promote healing and prevent ...
A report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) finds that, while the rate of cigarette smoking among U.S. teens did not increase, the use of e-cigarettes and other tobacco vaping products has been on the rise over the last four years, according to Mashable. "E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, and use continues to climb," CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden said in a release. "No form of youth tobacco use is safe. Nicotine is an addictive drug and use during adolescence may cause lasting harm to brain development." The CDC collected data from 20,000 middle and high school students between 2011-2015. The rate of high school students who reported using an e-cigarette at least once in the last month increased from 1.5% in 2011 to 16% in ...
Do you walk? American Public Health Association (APHA) is asking people to get active by walking everyday and entering in their miles or steps towards their overall goal of a billion steps. Even if you only walk 15 minutes a day, or 10 minutes walking the dog, and 10 more going to work, you can enter in your total and help achieve the APHA goal. Learn about how to count your time walking into counting steps or miles here. Each week they will award a $25 Amazon gift card to a participant. On May 31st, 2016, all challenge participants will be eligible to win the grand prize of a Fitbit Charge HR. Learn more and enter your steps now here! Copy & Share on Twitter: Help @PublicHealth reach a billion steps today! Enter to #win prizes! ...
Many Latino kids are faced with unhealthy snack choices and often are marketed these high- sugary options in candy and sodas more than their peers. The Center for Science in the Public Interest is asking parents to ask General Mills and Betty Crocker to stop confusing kids with advertising candy as fruit snacks. Nutritional facts are often hard to understand for parents, and studies show children are influenced by mascots and cartoons and foods advertised on television and in phone apps. To learn more about how you can get involved, click here. Copy & Share on Twitter: What are your kids eating? #SaludAmerica Learn more on what @CSPI is asking @GeneralMills ...
The Be Healthy School Grant Program will make $250,000 of money available for up to 25 schools to be awarded $10,000 grants from the 2016-2017 school year. This Blue Cross Blue Shield grant program allows schools across the state of Alabama, who enroll students in grades K through sixth and apply into the Healthy School Grant Program, a chance to implement school-based health and wellness programs that increase exercise, nutrition and parental involvement throughout the school year. Grant requests and applications will be accepted from now to March and schools considered for grant dollars schools must be located in Ala., serve students in grades K-6, and be public, private or non-profit. Only schools can be awarded the grant dollars, those not supported are for profit schools, ...
