Active living

Active living represents a lifestyle approach that integrates physical activity into everyday life. It encapsulates a broad range of actions, from individual daily routines to community designs and recreational activities. This interdisciplinary movement unites urban planners, public health professionals, architects, transportation engineers, activists, and other professionals in a collective goal to create environments that facilitate physical activity.

History

The concept of active living has its roots in the 1990s, particularly underscored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) after publishing the Surgeon's General Report on Physical Activity and Health in 1996. By 1997, the CDC had commenced its Active Community Environments (ACEs) initiative, under the stewardship of Rich Killingsworth (who later founded Active Living by Design) and senior health scientist, Tom Schmid. Their groundbreaking work, particularly through the "KidsWalk-to-School" program, highlighted the profound links between health and the built environment. Building on these foundations, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation initiated three substantial active living programs in 2000: Active Living by Design, Active Living Research, and Active for Life, all aiming to explore and address the impact of built environments on physical activity levels.

Benefits of Active Living

Active living bestows numerous health advantages:

Chronic Disease Prevention: It can substantially reduce risks associated with chronic diseases. General Health: Overall health and well-being see marked improvements. Stress Reduction: Physical activity has been linked to decreased stress levels. Economic Savings: By staying healthy, one can curtail medical expenses. Weight Management: Helps in achieving and maintaining a healthy weight. Postural Benefits: Aids in maintaining a good posture and balance. Musculoskeletal Health: Contributes to the strength and health of muscles and bones. Improved Sleep: Physical activity can enhance sleep quality and regularity. Heart Health: Reduces risk factors associated with heart diseases.

Types of Physical Activity

The umbrella of active living encompasses a broad array of physical activities, classified primarily into three categories:

Endurance Activities: These elevate heart rates and are instrumental in fortifying the heart and lungs. Typical examples comprise dancing, brisk walking, skating, and cycling. Flexibility Activities: These exercises enhance the body's range of motion and help relax muscles and joints. Routine activities like yard work, vacuuming, and stretching fall into this category. Strength Activities: These exercises focus on muscle building and bone strengthening. Everyday activities such as stair climbing, lifting free weights, and even raking leaves are part of this category. By recognizing and categorizing daily chores and activities, individuals can effortlessly integrate endurance, flexibility, and strength exercises into their daily lives.

Recommendations

Guidelines for physical activity vary by age:

Children (5-11 years) and Youth (12-17 years): Recommended at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity daily. Adults (18-64 years) and Seniors (65 years and older): A minimum of 2.5 hours of moderate to vigorous physical activity weekly, with each session lasting at least 10 minutes. In Canada, the Public Health Agency collaborated with the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) to update Canada's Physical Activity Guides, resulting in the "Get Active Tip Sheets" which provides age-specific recommendations.

Initiatives

Numerous initiatives globally encourage active living. In Canada, one standout program is ParticipACTION, which has, since the 1970s, been motivating Canadians towards a more active lifestyle. Their mission succinctly states their intent: "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."

See also

• Urban planning
• Public health
• Physical activity
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• ParticipACTION

Further Reading

"Impact of Built Environments on Physical Activity: An Analysis" "Active Living and Urban Design: How to Promote Physical Activity in Modern Communities" "From Sedentary to Active: Strategies and Guidelines for Encouraging Active Living"

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