Parks, trails, and greenways are an important part of a community. They are places where people can move, relax, and enjoy time with others. A new Community Preventive Services Task Force (CPSTF) recommendation shows that science backs up the idea that these places can help people be physically active. But simply having these community spaces …
Gardening goes in and out of fashion over time, but the COVID-19 pandemic ushered in a new, younger wave of gardeners, many of whom grow in one of the more than 29,000 community garden plots located in city parks in the 100 largest U.S. cities. Community gardens have many benefits, including promoting healthy eating and …
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, more employees have shifted to hybrid and remote work in office work, telehealth, information technology, education and other fields; however, there are many jobs that cannot be performed remotely, such as transportation, hospitality, manufacturing, food service, supermarket and other retail work and the majority of healthcare positions. Therefore, …
Without question, activity friendly spaces—those that support walking and bicycling for leisure and transportation—are good for both personal health and the environment. When trips that are usually taken via automobile are taken by foot or bike instead, there is reduced traffic, congestion and pollution. But are these spaces good for businesses? You can bet your …
Have you ever gone to sleep at night and woke up the next day feeling groggy and unrested? Or not be able to fall asleep at all due to stress? The need for and benefits of quality sleep cannot be overemphasized, but how can people actually get to a point where they are reaching adequate …
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of the holiday season? You are not alone. Seasonal illnesses, end-of-year work pressures, potential holiday tension and cold weather challenges can add up this time of year, and can all lead to negative physical and mental health outcomes. Unchecked stress can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease as …
I am a poor sleeper. I am not the only one: The CDC reports one third of the U.S. population does not get the recommended amount of sleep. I recently decided to redouble my efforts to get more sleep. I am generally healthy, as I eat well and exercise regularly, so I primarily focused on …
Daily sleep and physical activity each have individual impacts on a variety of health outcomes and risk factors (1,2,3). There may be reciprocal relationships between sleep and physical activity, but the extent of these relationships remains unclear. Common questions include: Does sleep duration affect physical activity intensity or duration? How much sleep loss can one …
When Sports Illustrated subscribers thumbed through the final issue of 1960, they encountered the usual assortment of sporting news. Bart Starr led the Packers past the Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Indiana men’s basketball team continued their winning ways, breezing by Missouri and Nevada on the shoulders of Walt Bellamy. But the sportswriters …
School-aged children should get at least 60 minutes of moderate- or vigorous-intensity physical activity every day of the week. Only 26% of adolescents met these physical activity guidelines in 2018, and that percentage has remained stable since 2011. The COVID-19 pandemic made it even more difficult for children to meet these guidelines. At the start …
The American Fitness Index is a valuable tool and resource to researchers and practitioners alike. As an educator, I believe it has a place in the classroom as well. I teach an undergraduate upper-level, small class titled Physical Activity and Public Health. Throughout the semester we cover many topics including physical activity epidemiology, measurement, public …
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