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Info. Monthly

The M-HPRC Info Monthly is an emailed resource which provides you with news and information on evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and reduce overweight in Maine’s children and youth.

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Current Issue: february 2008

NEWS:

FARMERS MARKETS

Vouchers that permit low-income women to shop at a local farmers’ market increase fruit and vegetable consumption in poor families, a new study shows. The research, published this month in the American Journal of Public Health, comes just as states are making important changes to national nutrition programs. For years, the federally-funded Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.) program, which subsidizes food purchases for low-income women and young children, hasn’t included fruits and vegetables, except for fruit juice and carrots for breastfeeding women. After a push by health groups and a recent report from the Institute of Medicine, the United States Department of Agriculture in December revised W.I.C. to include monthly subsidies for fruits and vegetables. States will begin implementing the new rules in February. read more...

PHYSICAL FITNESS IN CHILDHOOD AND ASOLESCENCE: A POWERFUL MARKER OF HEALTH

This review aims to summarize the latest developments with regard to physical fitness and several health outcomes in young people. The literature reviewed suggests that (1) cardiorespiratory fitness levels are associated with total and abdominal adiposity; (2) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness are shown to be associated with established and emerging cardiovascular disease risk factors; (3) improvements in muscular fitness and speed/agility, rather than cardiorespiratory fitness, seem to have a positive effect on skeletal health; (4) both cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness enhancements are recommended in pediatric cancer patients/survivors in order to attenuate fatigue and improve their quality of life; and (5) improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness have positive effects on depression, anxiety, mood status and self-esteem, and seem also to be associated with a higher academic performance. In conclusion, health promotion policies and physical activity programs should be designed to improve cardiorespiratory fitness, but also two other physical fitness components such us muscular fitness and speed/agility. Schools may play an important role by identifying children with low physical fitness and by promoting positive health behaviors such as encouraging children to be active, with special emphasis on the intensity of the activity.

Compliments of the NICHQ—Childhood Obesity Action Network

View the full article on nature.com

OKLAHOMA CITY MAYOR PUTS CITY ON A DIET

OKLAHOMA CITY -- With a button-popping spread of cornbread, sausage and gravy, chicken fried steak and pecan pie designated as Oklahoma's official state meal, it's no surprise that Oklahoma City's mayor wants to put the city on a diet. Mick Cornett has challenged the city to shed 1 million pounds as its New Year's resolution. Prompted in part by his own struggle to lose weight, Cornett wants to end Oklahoma City's dubious distinction as one of America's fattest cities. read more...

RESEARCH:

HEAD TO HEAD: IS THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC EXAGGERATED?

The UK health secretary declared last week that we are in the grip of an obesity epidemic.

Patrick Basham and John Luik believe that the problem is less clear cut, but R W Jeffery and N E Sherwood say that obesity is a growing global problem. These articles are a debate examining the two sides of opinions regarding the exaggeration of the obesity epidemic.

View the YES arguments (Patrick Basham & John Luik)

View the NO arguments (RW Jeffery & N E Sherwood)

A META-ANALYSIS OF PEDOMETER-BASED WALKING INTERVENTIONS AND WEIGHT LOSS

PURPOSE: Cross-sectional studies show that individuals who walk more tend to be thinner than those who walk less. This does not mean, however, that the association between higher step counts and lower weight is causal or that encouraging sedentary individuals to increase step counts helps them lose weight.