London’s Middlesex-London in motion™ is seeking proposals from qualified creative firms to create a Website/Web-App that will be a driving motor behind the planned in motion™ Challenge. The Challenge is a 2013 event designed to promote physical activity, to expand over 30 days. The Web-App will be used to track user’s progress, as well as a homepage for all Challenge news and events.  There will be two aspects to this project, a modernization to the current in motion™ website, and the creation of the tracking and challenge component.

Active Healthy Kids Canada’s (AHKC) has released a Position on Active Video Games and does not recommend active video games as a strategy to help kids to be more physically active.

For more information, read the Newsletter Announcement below or visit www.activehealthykids.ca

Mary Lou Albanese, Manager Healthy Communities & Injury Prevention Team, Middlesex-London Health Unit and the NEW Chair of Middlesex-London in motion® shares information about 2 fantastic new resources now readily available for viewing and download via www.inmotion4Life.ca! They include:

Menu Maker - Healthy Eating + Regular Physical Activity = A Healthy Lifestyle!

This resource, developed by The Child & Youth Network and its Healthy Eating Healthy Physical Activity Committee, helps you plan menus & your grocery shopping, while planning & tracking your activities.

Go the extra mile! – A walking guide available in English, French, Arabic, Punjabi, Chinese (Traditional & Simplified), Somali and Spanish!

This brand new resource, published by the Ministry of Health Promotion and Sport, © Queen's Printer for Ontario, 2011, will help you move quickly towards a healthier lifestyle!

Be sure to follow us on twitter at inmotion4Life for more great tips!

The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) has released new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for apparently healthy children (5-11 years), youth (12-17 years), adults (18 – 64 years), and older adults (65 years and older). The Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines describe the amount and types of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits for Canadians and should be viewed as a minimal target. Individuals should try to exceed the minimum target as the greater the intensity, variety, and duration of physical activity, the greater the health benefits.

The new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines can be found online and are downloadable on CSEP’s web site.

To access materials in English visit www.csep.ca/guidelines

To access materials in French visit www.csep.ca/directives

Evidence over the past several decades has shown that physical activity and fitness levels in Canadians have decreased. The number of obese or overweight Canadians has steadily increased as have diseases associated with obesity and being overweight. An effective way to help prevent health risks is to engage in regular physical activity.

For additional information related to physical activity visit:

Public Health Agency of Canada at www.publichealth.gc.ca/physicalactivity

ParticipACTION at www.participaction.com

References:

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2011). Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. Background Information. Retrieved January 24^th, 2011 from http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=804

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2011). Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. Glossary of Terms. Retrieved January 24^th, 2011 from http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=804

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2011). Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines. Key Messages – Q & A. Retrieved January 24^th, 2011 from http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=804

Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology. (2011). New Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines Released. Retrieved January 24^th, 2011 from http://www.csep.ca/english/view.asp?x=804

The City of London is fortunate to have Allison Cook as the Transportation Demand Management Coordinator.  Her role is to promote more efficient use of our transportation system, by encouraging Londoners to walk, ride a bike, take the bus or carpool for more trips. Active transportation can save you time and money, increase your health, and have a positive effect on our environment!

Watch the following 4 brief videos where Allison speaks to YOU about YOUR transportation choices in the City of London!

Mary Lou Albanese, Manager of Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention, Middlesex-London Health Unit and Chair of Middlesex-London in motion® provides you with:

An update re: 2011 Middlesex-London in motion® accomplishments!

Valuable tips to help get you in motion in 2012.