America On The Move(R) Launches New Online Program For Families

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 08 May 2008 - 2:00 PDT

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Parents looking for fun and educational ways to teach their children about healthy eating and active living can now turn to a new online program, created by America On the Move® Foundation Inc., the national nonprofit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities make positive changes in their health.

The America On the Move Family Program (http://www.americaonthemove.org) features information and tools that allow families to set their own physical activity and nutrition goals and track their progress either on or offline. The Family Program's online portal features the America On the Move Family Toolbox, which also provides downloadable resources like tip sheets, healthy recipes, fun quizzes and games and health-related news. The entire Family Program can be accessed from any computer with Internet access 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and is free of charge.

"We want to provide user-friendly information and tools that everyone can use to help them achieve and sustain practical lifestyle changes," says Dr. James Hill, co-founder of America On the Move Foundation Inc., and director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado Denver. "All family members, no matter their level of physical activity or health, can participate in this small-changes program."

The America On the Move Family Program was inspired by a 2007 study published in Pediatrics, Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, that demonstrated that increasing physical activity by 2000 steps per day and eating 100 fewer calories each day (with an emphasis on replacing dietary sugars with SPLENDA® Brand Sweetener) lowered or maintained the body mass index (BMI) of overweight children.

All of the study participants were given a pedometer, or "step counter." Pedometers are electronic instruments that are usually worn on an individual's waistband to calculate his or her steps.

Karen Cranford and her 11-year-old son Cody both participated in the Pediatrics study and used pedometers to help them log their activity.

"We were quick to get creative about all the ways we could achieve our extra 2000 steps," says Cranford. "Cody would walk with friends to their babysitting jobs or I'd drop him off farther away from school each morning. I would walk to the store or the post office. If the weather was bad, we'd head to the mall together and walk there. Or we'd simply walk around our house if we discovered we hadn't gotten enough steps during the day. We came to know exactly how many steps it took to walk the upstairs level, and how many steps it took to walk the downstairs level!"

"Participating in the program was a great way to spend some extra time with my son, who was at risk for becoming overweight when we enrolled in the study," Cranford adds.

"Today, he's a very active teen and spends eight months of the year swimming competitively."

Brenda Fletcher's family got so excited about using their pedometers that her three children turned their steps into an ongoing competition.

"At the end of each week, the child who had the highest number of average daily steps would receive a special prize. It was a great way to keep them occupied - especially during the summer months - and not just sitting in front of the TV or playing video games," says Fletcher.

"It is imperative that Americans understand that even small, simple changes in their lifestyles can significantly improve their health," says Dr. Hill. "And there is a body of scientific research to support the family-based approach as the best way to address excessive weight in children."

Recent national data estimates that about 17 percent of children in the United States are overweight, and that an additional 15 percent of children are at risk for becoming overweight. Excessive weight in children is associated with an increased risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, pulmonary complications, such as asthma and sleep apnea, abnormal growth patterns and musculoskeletal and psychological problems.

Pedometers are available for sale on America On the Move's Web site (http://www.americaonthemove.org).

About America On the Move Foundation Inc.

America On the Move® Foundation Inc. is a non-profit organization leading the fight against the obesity epidemic by providing easy-to-adopt solutions for individuals, families, organizations and communities. America On the Move's research shows that small, specific changes in food and physical activity can have a positive effect on health and effectively stop weight gain. Through its science-based programs and outreach, America On the Move aims to support Americans of all ages manage their weight effectively through energy balance. For more information, please visit http://www.americaonthemove.org.

America On the Move, with the support of SPLENDA® No Calorie Sweetener, proudly presents the America On the Move Family Toolbox, designed to show families how small changes in physical activity and nutritional behavior can lead to a healthier lifestyle.

America On the Move Foundation Inc.