During the postpartum period clinicians can promote the importance of physical fitness, help patients incorporate exercise into lifestyle changes, and encourage them to overcome barriers to exercise. New responsibilities, physical changes, and time constraints may make exercise seem impossible. By emphasizing weight control, stress reduction, and…

Most parents are used to erratic sleep patterns and mood swings in their teenagers. When these occur in an adolescent with seizures, however, the parent may wonder if sleep and mood problems are related to seizures. Sorting out the cause and effects of sleep in an adolescent with seizures can be confusing. Since stress can be a contributor to both…

This digest provides basic information designed to help people determine which of the many physical activity guidelines are most appropriate for use in specific situations. After an introduction, the digest focuses on: "Factors to Consider in Selecting Appropriate Physical Activity Guidelines" (group credibility and purpose, benefits to…

Major community involvement can help promote physical activity and enhance supportive environments that encourage physical fitness. There must be teamwork by those in fitness, recreation, and health promotion to reduce duplication, broaden support, and combine the power of community leaders. The article examines successful partnerships and…

This offers advice on the health benefits of regular physical activity. It includes a scientifically proven fitness test to determine one's starting point and monitor ongoing progress, offering step-by-step instructions, sample programs, and insights on nutrition, weight control, motivation, and overcoming setbacks. Seven chapters examine: (1)…

Regular exercise is important for children's and adolescents' health maintenance, facilitating weight control, strengthening bones, and improving cardiovascular risk factors and mental health. Active childhoods help promote lifetime fitness. Physicians can assess children's weight and activity levels during routine exams. With simple…

The Department of Health and Human Services, working with other governmental agencies, professional groups, and individuals, has identified general areas of concern for the nation's health. This report explains how physical activity and fitness have been prominent aspects of Healthy People 2010 (HP2010), the national health promotion and disease…

Presents 10 areas where innovation is needed for comprehensive school health education to succeed at the secondary school level; contrasts these areas with characteristics of the traditional health education program. A multidisciplinary approach to alcohol and other drug prevention is outlined in a figure. (SM)

This book describes proven methods for helping people change from inactive to active living. The behavior change methods are useful for healthy adults as well as individuals with chronic physical and psychological conditions. The book describes intervention programs for individuals and groups and for workplace and community settings. Part 1,…

The Healthful Living Education program promotes behaviors that contribute to a healthful lifestyle and improved quality of life for all students. The Framework for Healthy Living Education supports and reinforces the goals and objectives of its three major components: health education, physical education, and alcohol and other drugs. When the…

Describes "HeartPower," a health promotion program for students from preschool to middle school. Designed to supplement existing class curriculum, "HeartPower" helps educators teach students to learn, live, and love the behaviors that contribute to a healthier heart for a lifetime. Information on obtaining and using…

Reviews the objectives from Healthy People 2000 that target children and youth in order to prevent cardiovascular disease in adults, identifying the status of those health objectives midway through the time frame allotted for their attainment and making recommendations for programming in light of whether the objectives will be attained. (SM)

Offers two strategies for addressing student fitness needs, focusing on students' outside-of-class participation in physical activities. The first strategy is an approach to identifying community resources; the second involves a set of terms and a student log for meeting a contracted commitment to being active outside of class. (SM)

Arizona's comprehensive health education standards begins with a health rationale for each standard, then details the seven standards: (1) students comprehend concepts related to health promotion and disease prevention; (2) students demonstrate the ability to access accurate health information; (3) students demonstrate the ability to practice…

This report summarizes recommendations for encouraging physical activity among young people so they will continue to engage in physical activity in adulthood and obtain the benefits of physical activity throughout life. The guidelines are based on an in-depth review of research, theory, and current practice in physical education, exercise science,…