Children need physical education and children need physical activity. The most innovative program I saw in 2004 provides both. Not only that, but it has a cognitive component where customized questions can be flashed onto the screen to promote learning, reinforce previous instruction and take advantage of the link between movement and cognition.

Cool Zebra™ uses a DVD format to teach high energy hip-hop routines with the video demonstrations led both by professionals and youth instructors. The music is contemporary and the flexible format means that kids can get physical activity in spaces other than a formal gymnasium. There will be a major feature on Cool Zebra™ in Summer 'Well' 2005.

Enough is Abundance to the Wise, But Not the Eyes

Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign report dramatic evidence of the importance of visual cues in the control of food intake in the current issue of Obesity Research, a leading nutrition journal.

The researchers served a free soup lunch to 54 adults, half of whom ate from normal 18-ounce soup bowls, while the other half ate from identical bowls that, unbeknownst to the participants, were slowly refilled through tubing connected to out-of-sight soup cauldrons. (What will these researchers think of next?)

Those who ate out of the refilling bowls consumed 73 percent more soup than did participants who ate from the normal soup bowl during the 20-minute lunch.

Although they averaged 113 more calories than those eating from normal bowls, those eating from the bottomless bowls believed they consumed the same number of calories as the other participants and rated themselves as being no more full.

"People use their eyes to count calories and not their stomachs," lead researcher Brian Wansink, professor of marketing and of nutritional science at Illinois, said. "This can be dangerous to our diets."

Because we appear to judge our food intake by visual cues, such as an empty bowl, Wansink said that people worried about overeating should carefully consider the size of portion servings in restaurants and in their kitchens.

General Motors Weighed Down with Medical Costs

General Motors spends more on health (sick) care than they do on steel. 30% of their work force are obese and the average annual cost for an obese employee is $6,500. Drug spending has increased 270% in 10 years. These bloated costs add more than $1500 to the cost of each vehicle GM produces. This is not necessarily the fault of GM, who offers negotiated discounts at gyms nationwide for their employees. It's easy to understand why manufacturing and some service jobs are sent offshore.

Jamie Oliver Does School Dinners

I love the fact that the Cockney super chef Jamie Oliver has now turned his attention to the least fashionable meal we know, the school dinner. Go to his site.

Now that most kids have access to cell phones with cameras Jamie is encouraging them to take pictures of their school meals and email them in to create a gallery of shame and fame. The site is full of practical ideas to involve kids in the food they eat.

I believe our goal should be to make our schools a place where students get exposed to decent nutrition. This means getting all soft drinks and soft drink signage out of schools, purging vending machines of high calorie, low nutrition snacks and making sure that any food served in the schools has healthy ingredients.

Note: I've heard many educators say that "If we don't sell the pop and junk food, somebody else will." There might be some truth to that, but it also happens to be the rationale of virtually every drug pusher who sells drugs to kids.

Feeling the Heat

It's said that people don't change when they see the light, but when they feel the heat. It appears as though politicians, academics and administrators are finally feeling the heat of unfit, overweight children. Every state and province seems to have multiple initiatives to get children moving and to improve their nutrition. I'm glad to see it, but you have to be careful of those leaders whose primary activity is jumping on and off the bandwagons. I suspect that much of the money spent on 'research' would be better invested putting trained physical educators into all elementary schools and supporting quality daily physical education.

This might sound a little cynical but it's not, right now children need practical programs of play. In fact, you could do a little riff on the letter 'P'.

Children need:

1. Parents who set an example of active living.
   
2. Parks and open spaces.
   
3. Physical education daily and of high quality in their schools.
   
4. To become Pedestrians. The decline in the number of school children who walk to school over the past 25 years has been dramatic. Parents drive children to school for safety reasons, not considering what is really 'unsafe' for their child is to be inactive and overweight.
   
5. Programs. Creative, high-energy programs in schools, recreation centers, parks and at home, which will encourage vigorous movement.
   
6. To be Participants and not spectators.
7. Play that is active.

Just a few 'P's', which will help raise the activity level of our children. A reminder to parents: 'what you do shouts so loud that your children can't hear what you say.'

I would overwhelm you if I tried to mention even a percentage of the exciting programs that are evolving around North America. One that covers a lot of the 'P's' is Silken Laumann's Active Kids Movement designed to harness the power of play through community action networks.

Silken shares a 'rowing moment' with TV Ontario host Jackie
for the Don't Sit Still Tour, at Burlington Ontario, March 2005

The old phrase "go outside and play" is more important than ever.

Silken is hosting a new 13-part parenting series on Rogers Television titled "Enfagrow Toddler Years". This series premieres on Thursday, April 7th and explores the development stages of toddlerhood and the real-life challenges of parenthood. For more information visit www.toddleryears.ca

Becel Promotes Heart Healthy Steps

My recently purchased 2 lb tub of Becel Light came with a CD ROM fitted neatly on the lid. It includes a 28-day calendar, which features daily wellness suggestions and provides a progression towards heart health. Running Room™ is obviously a major sponsor as there is a video of the charismatic Running Room™ owner, John Stanton, talking about walking and reminding us that Running Room™ has also protected the title of Walking Room™. Like the rest of the CD his talk is full of common sense and practical ideas to get moving. For legal reasons he probably has to say it, but it always seems a bit silly to me that people "see their doctor" before starting a walking program. The people who really need to see their doctor are the ones who propose to do no exercise at all. The package includes a 15% off coupon for shoes from Running Room™.

Weight Loss Pill Not the Answer

Writing in the always-interesting Ardell Wellness Report, Don Ardell reported on a new weight loss pill, which has been tested in Europe. A drug called Rimonabant appeared to help a subject sample of 1507 morbidly obese people lose an average of 16 lbs and maintain the weight loss for 2 years without some of the undesirable side-effects often associated with weight loss medications. (eg dizziness, nausea, anal leakage and depression). The pill will soon be marketed in France under the brand name of 'Acomplia'. Don points out that the control group who took a placebo lost an average of 5 lbs, which is not bad for a sugar pill.

Don's concern is a familiar one in that we are again looking for a medical solution to what is nearly always a lifestyle problem.

Small Companies Walk Their Way to Wellness

Small businesses and organizations can't afford to build gymnasia and other fitness facilities, but they can encourage their employees to walk. The Mosaic Potash 2004 Fitness Challenge is typical of the many walking programs that are springing up across the continent. The following summary was sent to Speakwell by Lynda Gordon, Executive Assistant at Mosaic Potash Belle Plaine.

Mosaic Potash 2004 Fitness Challenge

The Healthy Lifestyles Committee at Mosaic Potash Belle Plaine put together a pedometer program for their summer "2004 Fitness Challenge". Mosaic Potash purchased the pedometers, and employees were encouraged to 'buy in' by paying half the cost of their pedometer to participate in the program.

Log sheets were used and people were put to the task of achieving and maintaining 10,000 steps per day. The personal log sheets were verified and recorded by the Committee once a month for a 6-month period from June to November. Prizes were awarded along the way for achievement of a certain total of steps, including water bottles and t-shirts. Also, for every 100,000 steps completed, participants earned an entry into a draw. Three draws were held - the end of July, end of September, and the grand prize draw at the end of the program in November. There were 2 recipients for each of the July and September draws, winning portable stereo units. The grand prize was one of 4 gift certificates for a Dr. Paul Schwann Fitness Assessment at the University of Regina.

The program was a tremendous success with over 120 employees purchasing pedometers. Not everyone that purchased a pedometer actively took part in the program, but we were able to collectively walk 94,335,872 steps!!! It was a great way to encourage employees to get active and we are planning another pedometer program in the fall of 2005, this time with a new twist as we are challenging 2 of our sister sites to "get active" as well.