Fitness is Fun!
October 2004

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the October 2004 issue of Fitness is Fun, the official e-mail distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly e-mails will keep you updated on our program, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to health and fitness.

GOVERNMENT/PCPFS NEWS:

President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports Honor Award
The PCPFS Honor Award is given annually to an individual who has made a major contribution to the advancement and promotion of the science of physical activity, in addition to being an advocate of the mission of the PCPFS. Nominations from individuals and organizations are welcome. The nominations will be screened and finalist(s) recommended to the PCPFS Executive Director by a committee of former honor award winners. Nominations for the 2005 Honor Award should be submitted to the PCPFS office no later than December 1, 2004. You may download the form at: http://www.presidentschallenge.org/misc/news_research/announcements/SportsAwardApp.pdf.

President's Challenge State Champions
Each year, President's Challenge honors three schools in each state for their accomplishments in physical fitness. State Champions are determined by the number of Presidential Physical Fitness Awards earned relative to the school's total enrollment. State Champion winners for 2003-2004 were announced October 1st. Congratulations to all our winners and thanks to all schools who entered. A complete list of winners can be found on our Web site at http://www.presidentschallenge.org/educators/school_recognition/state_champs_03_04.aspx.

PCPFS Science Board
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) Science Board is made up of the foremost educators and researchers in the fields of exercise physiology, kinesiology, and health promotion. The purpose of this board is to help ensure that the PCPFS programs and publications are scientifically sound and that they promote a message consistent with the executive mandate of the PCPFS. The Science Board serves in a voluntary capacity in order to bring the latest science to the general population in lay language.

HealthierFeds
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports have teamed up to challenge the federal workforce to get active.

The HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge, launched by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and OPM Director Kay Coles James in October 2004, encourages federal employees to engage in regular moderate physical activity and to log their activity on the President's Challenge Web site. In addition, the HealthierFeds Physical Activity Challenge serves as a model for employers nationwide on how they can promote healthy lifestyles and active living to their employees. For more information on the HealthierFeds Challenge, visit http://www.healthierfeds.gov.

Testimony by Lynn Swann
President's Council Chairman Lynn Swann made a testimony before The Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions about combating childhood obesity. In the testimony, Swann refers to exercise as being the "magic" remedy available to combat heart disease, stroke, anxiety, and other various health problems that plague Americans. He also highlights the specific efforts and partnerships of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sport. To read more, visit http://www.hhs.gov/asl/testify/t041005b.html.

Healthy People 2010 companion document focuses on youth heath issues
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) have released a companion document to Healthy People 2010 focusing on America's youth, entitled Improving the Health of Adolescents & Young Adults: A Guide for States and Communities. Of the 467 Healthy People 2010 objectives, 107 are related to this population, which comprises adolescents and young adults aged 10 to 24 years. The guide focuses on 21 of these specific Healthy People 2010 objectives, referred to as the 21 Critical Health Objectives, and represent the most serious health and safety issues: mortality, unintentional injury, violence, substance use and mental health, reproductive health, and chronic diseases.

The guide incorporates sections about national, state, and local efforts to improve adolescent health and includes information on the importance of data, how to assess needs, how to start a program, and how to communicate with the community and disseminate information about adolescent health promotion efforts.

The Guide was developed by CDC's Division of Adolescent and School Health and HRSA's Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Office of Adolescent Health, in collaboration with the National Adolescent Health Information Center (University of California, San Francisco).

The guide, in its entirety or by chapters or summaries of chapters, is available to download and print at http://nahic.ucsf.edu/index.php/companion/index/.

Printed versions or CD-ROMs of the guide may be obtained free of charge at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/NationalInitiative.

SPOTLIGHTS:

Advocate Spotlight - Sweat Every Day
The Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) of Bloomington, IN recently launched this program to encourage all students in the school corporation to be physically active each day. Funded by the Foundation of Monroe County Community Schools (FMCCS), Sweat Every Day has its own web page that links to the President's Challenge online tools. Students keep track of their physical activity and earn President's Challenge awards made possible by FMCCS.
This unique program serves as a model for other school corporations and organizations that are looking for ways to encourage their own students to Sweat Every Day! To view this website visit visit http://www.mccsc.presidentschallenge.org. For more information on how your district can get involved email the President's Challenge preschal@indiana.edu

Fitness Spotlight - Out While on the Road
This month, President's Challenge traveled to Reno for a National Recreation and Park Association convention and to Chicago to Club Industry. While on the road, exhibitors, as well as attendees, face the challenge of adhering to their regular fitness routine. Even individuals with the best of intentions to stay active let their new surroundings get the best of them.

The American Council on Exercise suggests making the most of a city's staircases, stadiums, and tall buildings if you don't have access to exercise machines during your stay. Remembering to pack lightweight exercise equipment such as an exercise tube and jump rope can offer you countless workout options. A quick trip to the concierge for a map will let you know which of your destinations are reachable by foot. Walking in a city is a great way to burn calories, save money on taxis, and soak in the sights and sounds of a new place. ¹

If you want a fitness facility and do not have one in your hotel, ACE recommends asking if the hotel has an affiliation with a local gym for possible day passes and reduced rates. Travelers can also check the day rates of local university recreation centers. Some hotels have even started offering in-room treadmills to fitness-minded guests. Go to http://www.inroomfitness.com/hotel-finder.php to find hotel locations that offer this option.¹

A little planning is all it takes for a traveler to stick with a fitness routine. For more tips, visit http://www.healthytravelnetwork.com/ where you can also sign up for a free newsletter exclusively dealing with travel fitness.

REMINDERS:

Call for Proposals
Active Living Research has released Call for Proposals * Round 4. This round makes up to $500,000 of funding available for Case Study research that examines:

The active living related policy-change process
Policy innovations that impact physical activity

Proposals may request up to $30,000 for single case studies and up to $60,000 for studies of multiple cases. The study timeline is 12 months. Funding is expected to begin summer 2005. The deadline for proposals is December 1, 2004. The Call for Proposals * Round 4 is available online at www.activelivingresearch.org.

Active Living Research is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is administered by San Diego State University. Active Living Research supports research that will promote active living for all Americans by expanding knowledge of how environments, policies, and practices influence physical activity. Contact by e-mail at kreese@projects.sdsu.edu or by telephone at (619) 260-5538.

SPECIAL THANKS

We would like to extend a special thanks to all of the President's Challenge Advocates. Please visit the Advocates area on the www.presidentschallenge.org web site to see how companies, organizations and groups are making a difference with the President's Challenge.

FEEDBACK

We would like to hear from you. If you have any topics that you would like to see addressed in Fitness is Fun or any comments regarding this list, please let us know. You can provide them by emailing us at preschal@indiana.edu.

To view past issues of Fitness is Fun visit our website: www.presidentschallenge.org. Enter the site by choosing the appropriate category, then click on "news/research".

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References:
1. 1. American Council on Exercise. (2001) Travel Fitness: A Plan of Action to Keep you Active. Retrieved October 26, 2004 from http://www.acefitness.org/fitfacts/fitfacts_display.cfm?itemid=168.

Fitness is Fun! October 2004

Fitness is Fun!
October 2004