Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: September 2006

In This Issue

EPA Launches Community Recognition Initiative
Active Aging Week is Sept. 25-Oct. 1
New Publication on Physical Activity and the Heart
Database on Chronic Disease and Medical Research Available Online
New NCPAD Personalized Online Resources
ASA ArticleSearch Receives an Upgrade
VA MOVE! Program Helps Veterans Lose Weight
American’s Waistlines Keep Expanding
New Technology Rejuvenates Old Exercise Routines

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EPA Launches Community Recognition Initiative
The Environmental Protection Agency, National Blueprint Office, Active for Life, National Council on the Aging, and other organizations have developed a pilot program to recognize communities that consider smart growth and active aging features in community planning efforts. A kick-off event for the “Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging” program will be held in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 25, during Active Aging Week.
www.agingblueprint.org

Active Aging Week is Sept. 25-Oct. 1
Each year, Active Aging Week is held the last week of September, culminating on the International Day of Older Persons, Oct. 1. Participating organizations offer free classes, educational seminars, access to fitness facilities, and health fairs and community events. Professional and consumer resources are available from the International Council on Active Aging.
www.icaa.cc/aaw.htm

New Publication on Physical Activity and the Heart
The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute has released a new publication about how physical activity benefits the heart and overall health.Your Guide to Physical Activity and Your Heart provides practical tips for incorporating physical activity in a daily routine, sample walking and jogging programs, and ideas for getting the family involved in fitness. This publication is the latest in the NHLBI Your Guide to Better Health series.
www.nhlbi.nig.gov

Database on Chronic Disease and Medical Research Available Online
The Silver Book is a searchable database from nearly 100 organizations, agencies, and experts on the latest medical research and the burden of chronic disease. The Alliance for Aging Research updates the database and reviews all submissions for accuracy. E-mail updates and new submissions to the database are available by signing up for the Silver Book E-Alerts.
www.silverbook.org

New NCPAD Personalized Online Resources
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability now offers My NCPAD, a free web resource for tracking daily physical activity movement, heart rate, and body mass index. It will also help users design a personalized exercise program and keep track of their goals. A tool on the site also helps community health promotion professionals identify physical activity programs for each of their program participants.

ASA ArticleSearch Receives an Upgrade
The American Society on Aging has expanded their online database of articles and now offers new search options, an updated list of search categories, and a “Hot Topics” feature for the latest trends in aging. The full-text of articles are available exclusively for ASA members, but all visitors can look up article citations and read the abstracts.

VA MOVE! Program Helps Veterans Lose Weight
Veterans who receive health care at VA facilities are estimated to have higher rates of overweight and obesity than the general population (70-74% vs. 64%). The Veterans Health Administration National Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention’s MOVE! Program is designed to help veterans lose weight, keep it off, and improve their health. Participants complete a questionnaire and receive a set of handouts tailored for each individual based on their answers.
www.move.va.gov

American’s Waistlines Keep Expanding
Obesity rates increased in 31 states during the past year, according to a report by Trust for America’s Health, an advocacy group. In Mississippi, which has the highest rate of obesity, an estimated 29.5 percent of the population is obese. Other states with the highest obesity rates include Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Kentucky. The only state that experienced a decrease in the obesity rate last year was Nevada. (Source: Associated Press)

New Technology Rejuvenates Old Exercise Routines
To spice up your exercise regime, consider these technological options:
• PumpPod, a portable, digital training program downloaded from the Internet to an iPod, Treo, or color Blackberry
• Virtual personal trainers with streaming videos
• Personalized programs for tracking your progress online
(Source: Medline Plus)

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The Blueprint Partners Project is an initiative of the Active Aging Partnership. For more information, contact the Blueprint Partnership Office at the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology and Community Health.
Website: www.agingblueprint.org