IOWA CITY, Iowa — Parents intent on getting their kindergartners to sit still might want to reconsider.
A University of Iowa study shows that being active at age 5 helps kids stay lean as they age, even if they are not as active later in childhood. But that doesn't mean parents should be complacent once their children are past age 5.
Lead author Kathleen Janz said the health benefits of remaining active are well known. "You get something from activity whenever you do it," said Janz, UI professor of health and sport studies.
The study, published this month in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, indicates that kids who are active at age 5 end up with less fat at ages 8 and 11, even when controlling for accumulated activity levels. Researchers call the effect "banking" because kids benefit later in life. "The implication is that even 5-year-olds should be encouraged to be as active as possible because it pays off as they grow older," Janz said. UI researchers measured the bone, body fat, muscle tissue and activity level of 333 Iowa children at ages 5, 8 and 11. The children wore accelerometers, a type of high-tech pedometer that measures acceleration. Janz said participants reflected Iowa: mostly white kids from middle-income families in both rural and urban areas. The average 5-year-old participant got 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise daily. For every 10 minutes beyond that, the kids had one-third of a pound less fat tissue at ages 8 and 11. Boys were more likely to show sustained benefits than girls.
Further study is needed to see if the active 5-year-olds didn't develop as many fat cells, improved their insulin response, or had something happen metabolically to provide later benefits.
Janz doesn't want the study to spawn preschool exercise classes or other mandates.
Rather, parents should allow their children unstructured outdoor play time and avoid long periods — more than an hour — of being sedentary.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
June 1-7 is National CPR & AED Awareness Week!
Click www.americanheart.org/cpr&aedweek to check out a cool interactive map where you can see how many people have been trained in Iowa.
Remember: during a cardiac arrent, every second counts. Learn CPR today!
Click www.americanheart.org/cpr&aedweek to check out a cool interactive map where you can see how many people have been trained in Iowa.
Remember: during a cardiac arrent, every second counts. Learn CPR today!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
May is Stroke Month- Get Your 2009 Soul Food Cookbook
The power is in your hands to prevent and overcome stroke, and the American Stroke Association will provide the information and tools to support you every step of the way. Power To End Stroke is an education and awareness campaign that embraces and celebrates the culture, energy, creativity and lifestyles of Americans. The Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership is a National Sponsor of Power To End Stroke movement.
Join the Power To End Stroke movement. Registration is FREE, and you will receive a monthly e-Newsletter to help keep you in the know about stroke and its risk factors. Take the first step towards reducing your risk for stroke by signing up now!
Sign up today and get your 2009 Soul Food Cookbook!
For more information, please visit: http://www.powertoendstroke.org/.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
AHA Volunteers Help Public Health Programs Stay Strong!
2009 Iowa Legislative Summary
The 2009 legislative session presented many challenges, but the American Heart Association’s advocacy team and volunteers helped protect important public health laws impacting the health of all Iowans. Advocates also helped maintain funding for a key public health program even though many other state programs sustained deep cuts. These successes took the efforts of many, including American Heart Association staff and advocates who contacted their legislators throughout the session. Thanks to all of you for your work on behalf of the American Heart Association’s policy agenda.
Tobacco Cessation Funding Protected!
A large budget shortfall created a challenging environment for many state agencies and programs. As the legislature searched for ways to balance the budget, many state public health programs faced large budget cuts, including a proposed 28% cut to tobacco cessation programs. As tobacco control and public health advocates planed for the legislation, the goal of maintaining current levels of funding for the state tobacco cessation program became priority. With the passage of the tobacco tax in 2007 and the statewide Smokefree Air Act in 2008, tobacco cessation programs were in high-demand across the state and preventing cuts to these important and needed programs was imperative. Tobacco control advocates were successful in protecting tobacco cessation programs from deep cuts. Thanks to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition and strategic lobbying, this program’s budget was only cut 7%, far less than many other health and human services programs. Thank you for helping protect this important program! Because of your efforts, tobacco control programs will continue to help people quit or never begin the habit in the first place. This is a major victory for public health!
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Funding is on the Horizon
In these tough economic times, opportunities to fund new programs were limited. American Heart Association staff and advocates attempted to secure $345,000 for the newly created Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program at the Iowa Department of Public Health with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even though we could not secure the funding this year, key legislators demonstrated interest in this program. They encouraged us to look for opportunities to educate lawmakers about this essential program and build support for next session. We hope you will help us build this support by sharing your passion and stories about the importance of prevention in saving lives!
Access to Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) Gains Momentum
An opportunity to increase access to automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) presented itself at the legislature this year. While the intent of the bill was good, American Heart Association volunteers raised concerns about details in the legislation that would have required AEDs in fitness centers. The Heart Association is supportive of this effort, but asked the House Committee reviewing the bill to consider additional clarification to improve implementation of the law. Committee members agreed that our proposed changes were worthwhile, but the looming end of the legislative session forced us to delay work on the bill until next session. This provides advocates the opportunity to address these issues and build support for passage next year!
Smokefree Air Act Stays Strong
Throughout the legislative session, many amendments and bills were introduced in attempts to weaken and even repeal the Smokefree Air Act. In fact, a last minute, late night effort was launched on the final day of session in hopes that the law could be weakened without much attention. Due to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition effort, strategic lobbying and legislative champions, these efforts were not successful! The statewide smokefree air law remains strong and unchanged.
Healthy Kids Act Remains Intact
The Healthy Kids Act also weathered attacks! This important piece of legislation helps students develop the knowledge, skills, behaviors, attitudes, and confidence needed for an active, healthy life, including requiring students to learn the life-saving skill of CPR. This important legislation stayed strong due to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition effort, strategic lobbying and legislative champions! Thanks to everyone who responded to our calls for assistance. In early May the Department of Education adopted rules to carry out the legislation that was approved in 2008.
Iowans Fit for Life Secures Funding
Iowans Fit for Life, Active and Eating Smart, is a CDC-funded program at the Iowa Department of Public Health that addresses nutrition and physical activity to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases. The Iowans Fit for Life Partnership is a network of statewide partners, including the American Heart Association, with a vested interest in nutrition and physical activity. The partnership has written a comprehensive state plan to address nutrition and physical activity for Iowans of all ages. To help advance these efforts, this program secured $146,000 in this year’s budget and the American Heart Association is committed to ensuring this program remains strong and active!
For more information about specific policies or legislative efforts, please contact Kevin Walker, kevin.walker@heart.org, 913-652-1906.
The 2009 legislative session presented many challenges, but the American Heart Association’s advocacy team and volunteers helped protect important public health laws impacting the health of all Iowans. Advocates also helped maintain funding for a key public health program even though many other state programs sustained deep cuts. These successes took the efforts of many, including American Heart Association staff and advocates who contacted their legislators throughout the session. Thanks to all of you for your work on behalf of the American Heart Association’s policy agenda.
Tobacco Cessation Funding Protected!
A large budget shortfall created a challenging environment for many state agencies and programs. As the legislature searched for ways to balance the budget, many state public health programs faced large budget cuts, including a proposed 28% cut to tobacco cessation programs. As tobacco control and public health advocates planed for the legislation, the goal of maintaining current levels of funding for the state tobacco cessation program became priority. With the passage of the tobacco tax in 2007 and the statewide Smokefree Air Act in 2008, tobacco cessation programs were in high-demand across the state and preventing cuts to these important and needed programs was imperative. Tobacco control advocates were successful in protecting tobacco cessation programs from deep cuts. Thanks to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition and strategic lobbying, this program’s budget was only cut 7%, far less than many other health and human services programs. Thank you for helping protect this important program! Because of your efforts, tobacco control programs will continue to help people quit or never begin the habit in the first place. This is a major victory for public health!
Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Funding is on the Horizon
In these tough economic times, opportunities to fund new programs were limited. American Heart Association staff and advocates attempted to secure $345,000 for the newly created Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention program at the Iowa Department of Public Health with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Even though we could not secure the funding this year, key legislators demonstrated interest in this program. They encouraged us to look for opportunities to educate lawmakers about this essential program and build support for next session. We hope you will help us build this support by sharing your passion and stories about the importance of prevention in saving lives!
Access to Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) Gains Momentum
An opportunity to increase access to automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) presented itself at the legislature this year. While the intent of the bill was good, American Heart Association volunteers raised concerns about details in the legislation that would have required AEDs in fitness centers. The Heart Association is supportive of this effort, but asked the House Committee reviewing the bill to consider additional clarification to improve implementation of the law. Committee members agreed that our proposed changes were worthwhile, but the looming end of the legislative session forced us to delay work on the bill until next session. This provides advocates the opportunity to address these issues and build support for passage next year!
Smokefree Air Act Stays Strong
Throughout the legislative session, many amendments and bills were introduced in attempts to weaken and even repeal the Smokefree Air Act. In fact, a last minute, late night effort was launched on the final day of session in hopes that the law could be weakened without much attention. Due to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition effort, strategic lobbying and legislative champions, these efforts were not successful! The statewide smokefree air law remains strong and unchanged.
Healthy Kids Act Remains Intact
The Healthy Kids Act also weathered attacks! This important piece of legislation helps students develop the knowledge, skills, behaviors, attitudes, and confidence needed for an active, healthy life, including requiring students to learn the life-saving skill of CPR. This important legislation stayed strong due to grassroots advocates, a strong coalition effort, strategic lobbying and legislative champions! Thanks to everyone who responded to our calls for assistance. In early May the Department of Education adopted rules to carry out the legislation that was approved in 2008.
Iowans Fit for Life Secures Funding
Iowans Fit for Life, Active and Eating Smart, is a CDC-funded program at the Iowa Department of Public Health that addresses nutrition and physical activity to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases. The Iowans Fit for Life Partnership is a network of statewide partners, including the American Heart Association, with a vested interest in nutrition and physical activity. The partnership has written a comprehensive state plan to address nutrition and physical activity for Iowans of all ages. To help advance these efforts, this program secured $146,000 in this year’s budget and the American Heart Association is committed to ensuring this program remains strong and active!
For more information about specific policies or legislative efforts, please contact Kevin Walker, kevin.walker@heart.org, 913-652-1906.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Federal Lobby Day Attendee Shares Her Thoughts
Angie Overton is a stroke coordinator in the Quad Cities and an active member of the Iowa State Stroke Task Force. Angie attended her first American Heart Association Congressional Lobby Day, You’re the Cure on the Hill 2009. Below she shares her experience:
What an experience!!!! Being in Washington D.C. in the spring and lobbying-the perfect combination! Initially, the Iowa advocates spoke with Congressman Bruce Braley's staff for approximately 15 minutes. Before heading to DC, I did my homework and visited the Congressman’s webpage! I was concerned initially because there was nothing about healthcare so was not sure where he stood on issues. His staff quickly reassured me that the website had been updated and healthcare tab was now available (I checked, it was). I spoke with Representative Braley’s staff about my concerns that 20 years ago my mother had a stroke in her eye and didn't even know what it was. As a stroke coordinator, 20 years later, the Iowans are unware of the signs and symptoms of stroke and that there is a treatment available. I informed his staff that I wanted Congressman Braley to support a meaningful healthcare reform and increased funding for the NIH and CDC. These programs would provide funding to the state of Iowa for prevention, education, treatment, and recovery and research regarding stroke and heart disease.
To my surprise, Congressman Braley returned from session shortly after we were done talking with his staff. I spent another 5-10 minutes with Congressman Braley as he emphatically stated that he will support all element of research, education, and prevention in line with what American Heart Association/American Stroke Association was proposing. I also took the time to thank him for cosponsoring the FDA regulation of tobacco. I was very pleased with my first experience in Washington D.C. and look forward to being more involved in the American Heart Association’s state and federal advocacy efforts. Thanks to American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for being an advocate for all of us in our fight to raise awareness about stroke and heart disease.
To my surprise, Congressman Braley returned from session shortly after we were done talking with his staff. I spent another 5-10 minutes with Congressman Braley as he emphatically stated that he will support all element of research, education, and prevention in line with what American Heart Association/American Stroke Association was proposing. I also took the time to thank him for cosponsoring the FDA regulation of tobacco. I was very pleased with my first experience in Washington D.C. and look forward to being more involved in the American Heart Association’s state and federal advocacy efforts. Thanks to American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for being an advocate for all of us in our fight to raise awareness about stroke and heart disease.
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