It can be done
A video of people Nordic walking in snowshoes.
Let's turn this around!
Looks like it's getting worse, and we won't like the consequences.
Main point: "As one major killer — smoking — declined, another rose precipitously to take its place: obesity."
Points:
Looks like it's getting worse, and we won't like the consequences.
Main point: "As one major killer — smoking — declined, another rose precipitously to take its place: obesity."
Points:
- "Many cancer deaths were averted after millions quit lighting up, but they are now rising because even greater numbers are unable to keep their waistlines in check."
- "...cancer risk rose in direct proportion to the degree of excess weight. In other words, the heavier you are, the more likely you will be to develop one of these often fatal cancers."
- "...experts called upon clinicians who treat children and adults to do their due diligence and spend more time assessing body mass index (B.M.I.) and counseling patients about how to avoid or reduce excess weight."
- "Many primary care doctors have little to no training in how to counsel patients who need to lose weight."
- "...patients are often turned off by what they perceive to be their health care providers’ negative attitudes toward people with weight problems."
- "...doubling in the prevalence of obesity between the childhood ages of 6 to 11, now at 17 percent, and young adulthood ages of 20 to 29, now at 34 percent."
Nordic walking meetup in Tuscaloosa County on 12/2
Join us on Saturday to find out what Nordic walking is all about! No charge; poles provided. Look for the white Nordic walking sign.
- When: 10 AM; December 2
- Where: Monnish Park (1500 Hackberry Lane, Tuscaloosa)
Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor
Why Nordic walking?
- Full body, low impact
- Increase weight loss
- Improve cholesterol
- Improve blood pressure
- Facilitate rehabilitation
- Maintain stability and balance
- Maintain posture
- Facilitate stress relief
- Support muscle toning
- Improve cardiovascular function
- Improve lung capacity
- Support immune system
- Socialize with walking companions
- You determine the intensity of your workout
Learn more about Nordic walking at my Nordic Walking Guy blog and Nordic Walking Guy Facebook page.
Nordic walking meetup in Jefferson County on 12/16
Join us on Saturday to find out what Nordic walking is all about! No charge; poles provided. Look for the white Nordic walking sign.
- When: 10 AM; December 16
- Where: McCallum Park (3332 Rosemary Lane, Vestavia Hills)
Instructor: Leroy Hurt, ANWA-certified Advanced Nordic Walking instructor
Why Nordic walking?
- Full body, low impact
- Increase weight loss
- Improve cholesterol
- Improve blood pressure
- Facilitate rehabilitation
- Maintain stability and balance
- Maintain posture
- Facilitate stress relief
- Support muscle toning
- Improve cardiovascular function
- Improve lung capacity
- Support immune system
- Socialize with walking companions
- You determine the intensity of your workout
Learn more about Nordic walking at my Nordic Walking Guy blog and Nordic Walking Guy Facebook page.
How does Nordic walking affect your walking?
I found this study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science that "analyzed the effects of Nordic walking and walking on spatiotemporal parameters and ground reaction force, so that it would be possible to suggest an efficient means of walking for people who walk for health." The researchers used a motion analysis system to compare a group of Nordic walkers with a group of regular walkers. The elements of walking studied were:
Gait
The Nordic walkers had higher steps per minute and longer step and stride length. They also had shorter step and stride times. That means Nordic walkers tended to walk faster and take longer steps.
The Nordic walkers also experienced greater force in stepping off and landing because of the stronger push-off but also experienced better load distribution because of using the poles.
I found this study in the Journal of Physical Therapy Science that "analyzed the effects of Nordic walking and walking on spatiotemporal parameters and ground reaction force, so that it would be possible to suggest an efficient means of walking for people who walk for health." The researchers used a motion analysis system to compare a group of Nordic walkers with a group of regular walkers. The elements of walking studied were:
Gait
- Steps per minute
- Step time and length (step = starts when one foot is on the ground and ends when the other foot lands on the ground)
- Stride time and length (stride = when the foot leaves the ground and ends when the same foot lands on the ground)
- Ground reaction force (how much force you apply to the ground when you walk)
The Nordic walkers had higher steps per minute and longer step and stride length. They also had shorter step and stride times. That means Nordic walkers tended to walk faster and take longer steps.
The Nordic walkers also experienced greater force in stepping off and landing because of the stronger push-off but also experienced better load distribution because of using the poles.
Is there a role for Nordic walking in public health programs?
US News and World Report ran an article about something called value-based health care that is based on population health.
Main thing:
Key points:
If you've read previous blog posts, you should understand by now that Nordic walking is an effective exercise-based approach to managing your health. There is much evidence-based research to make that point. How might it be part of a solution for managing population health?
Nordic walking as a health intervention makes sense because population health involves more than medical facilities and professionals and includes a wider range of factors. For example, a team approach involving health care providers and other community groups opens the door to a more proactive mindset and acceptance of a non-traditional health care workforce.
The focus on populations also means health care needs to scale (existing resources able to serve a larger population). If you check around, you'll see that community leaders concerned about health will be open to solutions that help them scale. One way to do that is to introduce activities like Nordic walking so people can have a form of exercise that's straightforward and quickly learned. The personal and social benefits of Nordic walking have shown up in a number of research journals, making Nordic walking a sensible solution to proactive community health management.
US News and World Report ran an article about something called value-based health care that is based on population health.
Main thing:
- "As rising health costs strain communities and institutions, improving population health has become a focal point for health professionals who say simply treating patients in the doctor's office doesn't cut it anymore."
- "A population health approach examines how medical care, genetics, individual behavior, public health interventions and social indicators such as education and employment all play a role in determining the health of a population. For population health directors, the patient is an entire community – not just those who make it to the doctor's office or emergency room."
Key points:
- "The trifecta of population health – dubbed the "triple aim" by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement – is to improve quality of care and health outcomes for groups while lowering per-capita costs."
- "Such strategies are vital to improving health in communities with higher rates of chronic diseases and poverty and lower levels of health insurance coverage, particularly in areas where access to care is a challenge."
- "...shifting the entire health industry to a population health-centric model is a long process."
If you've read previous blog posts, you should understand by now that Nordic walking is an effective exercise-based approach to managing your health. There is much evidence-based research to make that point. How might it be part of a solution for managing population health?
Nordic walking as a health intervention makes sense because population health involves more than medical facilities and professionals and includes a wider range of factors. For example, a team approach involving health care providers and other community groups opens the door to a more proactive mindset and acceptance of a non-traditional health care workforce.
The focus on populations also means health care needs to scale (existing resources able to serve a larger population). If you check around, you'll see that community leaders concerned about health will be open to solutions that help them scale. One way to do that is to introduce activities like Nordic walking so people can have a form of exercise that's straightforward and quickly learned. The personal and social benefits of Nordic walking have shown up in a number of research journals, making Nordic walking a sensible solution to proactive community health management.
Feel full without loading up
WebMD Diabetes Magazine has some tips for filling your plate:
WebMD Diabetes Magazine has some tips for filling your plate:
- Meats at the size of your palm (that doesn't include your fingers!)
- No more starchy foods than can fit in one cupped hand
- Fruits no larger than a tennis ball
- Fats about the size of your thumb tip
- Not much fruit juice
- Lots of vegetables
Custom eating
According to WebMD Diabetes Magazine, food advice tailored to your tastes could be a more effective way of maintaining a healthy diet than generic advice to each from certain broad food groups. The article cited a study where groups that got personalized diet advice maintained healthier diets than those getting general advice.
According to WebMD Diabetes Magazine, food advice tailored to your tastes could be a more effective way of maintaining a healthy diet than generic advice to each from certain broad food groups. The article cited a study where groups that got personalized diet advice maintained healthier diets than those getting general advice.
Employer's guide to workplace wellness
A report with advice on creating a healthy workplace.
Key points:
A report with advice on creating a healthy workplace.
Key points:
- "...address both the individual risk factors affecting their employees and the organizational factors that help or hinder employees’ efforts to reduce their risks."
- "...create a culture of health, intertwining individual-level health promotion efforts with the overall company goals and objectives and ensuring that both leadership and the workplace environment provide support for healthy choices."
- "Programs are also most effective when they are clearly tailored to the goals and needs of specific populations and provide sufficient opportunities for employee engagement and input."
The report advises readers on:
- "...steps to implementing programs that address common individual risk factors, including physical activity, healthy nutrition, tobacco cessation, stress management, and more."
- "...importance of and business case for targeting these risk factors before providing a step-by-step guide to planning, implementing, and assessing the program."
- "...organizational level factors such as leadership commitment and support, strategic communications, employee engagement, and more.
- "... employers who have built successful wellness programs that have benefited both their employees and their businesses, sharing their insights and recommendations for future programs."
Social support for exercise
This study looked at Nordic skiers and found:
Nordic walkers can learn from other areas of wellness. Nordic walking offers opportunities for social support. Here are some ideas:
This study looked at Nordic skiers and found:
- "The most common forms of social support were verbal such as discussing exercise, invitations to exercise and celebrating the enjoyment of exercise."
- "Physical activity recommendations should incorporate the importance of participation in group activities."
Nordic walkers can learn from other areas of wellness. Nordic walking offers opportunities for social support. Here are some ideas:
- Mastering the classic Nordic walking technique can involve being part of a group getting coached.
- Mastering Nordic walking technique can involve sharing tips with each other.
- Nordic walking with others promotes conversation. While involving more muscles to make walking a full-body exercise, Nordic walkers can still carry on a conversation.
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