active living

The concept of active living emerged from the early work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with the release of the Surgeon's General Report on Physical Activity and Health in 1996.{{cite web|title=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|url=https://www.cdc.gov/|publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention|access-date=March 21, 2012}} In 1997, the CDC began the development of an initiative called Active Community Environments (ACEs) coordinated by Rich Killingsworth (the founding director of active living by Design{{cite web|title=Active Living by Design|url=http://www.activelivingbydesign.org/|publisher=North Carolina Institute for Public Health|access-date=March 21, 2012}} ) and Tom Schmid, a senior health scientist. The main programming thrust of ACEs was an emerging initiative called Safe Routes to School that was catalysed by a program designed by Rich Killingsworth and Jessica Shisler at CDC called KidsWalk-to-School. This program brought attention to the connections of the built environment and health, especially obesity and physical inactivity.{{cite web|title=ACES - Active Community Environments |url=https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/professionals/environment/aces.html |publisher=Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |access-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307013100/http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/professionals/environment/aces.html |archive-date=March 7, 2012 }}

In 2000, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation formally launched their active living initiative. Led by Karen Gerlach, Marla Hollander, Kate Kraft and Tracy Orleans, this national effort comprised five national programs - Active Living by Design, Active Living Research, Active Living Leadership, Active Living Network and Active for Life. The goals of these programs included building the research base, establishing best practices and community models, supporting leadership efforts and connecting multi-sectoral professionals. The overarching goal was to develop an understanding of how the built environment impacted physical activity and what could be done to increase physical activity.{{cite web|title=The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation|url=http://www.rwjf.org/|publisher=Robert Wood Johnson Foundation|access-date=March 21, 2012}}

There are many health related benefits to being physically active and living an active life. Active living can help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve overall health and well-being, reduce stress levels, minimize health related medical costs, help maintain a healthy weight, assist in proper balance and posture and the maintenance of healthy bones and strong muscles.{{cite web|title=The Benefits of Physical Activity|date=23 July 2004|url=http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/alw-vat/intro/key-cle-eng.php|publisher=Public Health Agency of Canada|access-date=March 21, 2012}} Active living can also improve sleeping patterns and aid in the prevention of risk factors for heart disease such as blood cholesterol levels, diabetes and hypertension.{{cite web|title=Active Living Benefits |url=http://asrpwf.ca/recreation-active-living/active-living.aspx |publisher=Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation |access-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320014025/http://www.asrpwf.ca/recreation-active-living/active-living.aspx |archive-date=March 20, 2012 }}{{cite web|title=Benefits of Being Active|url=http://www.dairygoodness.ca/good-health/healthy-active-living/the-benefits-of-being-active|publisher=Dairy Goodness|access-date=March 21, 2012}}

Running can reduce the level of mortality from many diseases by 27%.

There are four types of physical exercises that medical professionals recommend in order to improve and maintain physical abilities: endurance, flexibility, balance, and strength activities.{{Cite web |title=Four Types of Exercise Can Improve Your Health and Physical Ability |url=http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/four-types-exercise-can-improve-your-health-and-physical-ability |access-date=2022-03-27 |website=National Institute on Aging |language=en}}

• Endurance activities increase your heart rate and strengthen your heart and lungs. Examples include dancing, skating, climbing stairs, cycling, swimming and brisk walking.
• Flexibility activities improve your body's ability to move and assist in keeping your muscles and joints relaxed. Examples include yard work, vacuuming, golf, and stretching - when you wake up, before you exercise and after to prevent injury.
• Balance activities reduce the risk of falling and focuses primarily on lower-body strength. Examples include standing up after being seated, Tai Chi, and standing on a single foot.
• Strength activities create and maintain muscle, while also keeping bones strong. Examples include raking leaves, carrying groceries, climbing stairs, lifting free weights, and doing push-ups.

File:Bikes at Frederiksberg Allé, Denmark (38083258011).jpg

Endurance, flexibility, balance, and strength activities can be incorporated into daily routines and promote active living. For example, activities such as household chores and taking the stairs can fit into more than one of the above categories.{{cn|date=July 2023}}

In Canada, the Public Health Agency of Canada supported the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) to review the Canada's Physical Activity Guides,{{cite web|title=Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines|url=http://www.csep.ca/CMFiles/Guidelines/CSEP-InfoSheetsComplete-ENG.pdf|publisher=The Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology|access-date=March 21, 2012}} which were updated and replaced with the Get Active Tip Sheets.{{cite web|title=Tips to Get Active|date=12 January 2012|url=http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/hp-ps/hl-mvs/pa-ap/04paap-eng.php|publisher=Public Health Agency of Canada|access-date=March 21, 2012}} The Get Active Tip Sheets are broken down into 4 age categories (5–11, 12–17, 18–64, and 65 & older).

The Get Active Tip Sheets recommend that children aged 5–11 and youth aged 12–17 should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity each day. The recommendation for adults 18–64 and for older adults 65 years and older is at least 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week. These minutes do not all need to be done at the same time, but the recommendation is a minimum of 10 minutes at a time.{{citation needed|date=June 2021}}

In Canada, there are many active living initiatives currently in place. One of the most well-known programs is the ParticipACTION program, which aims to encourage Canadians to move more and increase their physical activity levels. Their mission statement is "ParticipACTION is the national voice of physical activity and sport participation in Canada. Through leadership in communications, capacity building and knowledge exchange, we inspire and support Canadians to move more." Since the 1970s, ParticipACTION has been motivating Canadians to live actively and participate in sports.{{cite web|title=About ParticipACTION |url=http://www.participaction.com/en-us/About-Participaction/About-ParticipACTION.aspx |publisher=ParticipACTION |access-date=March 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403131834/http://www.participaction.com/en-us/About-Participaction/About-ParticipACTION.aspx |archive-date=April 3, 2012 }}

• {{Annotated link|Active mobility}}
• {{Annotated link|Automobile dependency}} - automobile oriented transportation
• {{Annotated link|Automotive city}}
• Basal metabolic rate - the rate at which the body uses energy while at rest to maintain vital functions such as breathing and keeping warm
• {{Annotated link|Bicycle-friendly}}
• {{Annotated link|Cycling mobility}} - transport on cycle
• {{Annotated link|Effects of the car on societies}}
• {{Annotated link|Human-powered transport}}
• National Physical Activity Guidelines
• {{Annotated link|Obesity and walking}}
• {{Annotated link|Pedestrian village}}
• Sedentary lifestyle - a lifestyle with a lot of sitting and lying down, with very little to no exercise
• {{Annotated link|Social influences on fitness behavior}}
• Urban vitality - the extent to which a place feels alive or lively

{{Reflist}}

Category:Urban planning

Category:Health promotion

Category:Physical exercise

Category:Health and transport