For more information on physical activity and beginning a fitness program, contact your local health department, consult a physician or visit one of the following web sites:
American Heart Association - Exercise & Fitness --The American Heart Association is a national voluntary health agency whose mission is: "Building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke." Learn about their many guidelines and resources for promoting fitness including the Start! Program.
Shape Up America! –The purpose of Shape Up America! is to educate the public on the importance of the achievement and maintenance of a healthy body weight through the adoption of increased physical activity and healthy eating.
National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity -- The National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity's mission is to unite the strengths of public, private, and industry efforts into collaborative partnerships that inspire and empower all Americans to lead more physically active lifestyles.
The Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health Executive Summary -- This is the first Surgeon General's report to address physical activity and health. The main message of this report is that Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives.
Women's Health - Staying Active and Eating Healthy -- Women of all ages can improve their health by making wise choices about eating and physical activity.
Active Living by Design -- Active Living by Design (ALbD) provides expertise aimed at increasing routine physical activity and healthy eating through changes in community design.
Centers for Disease Control, Worksite Walkability -- Walking or biking to work is one way to increase physical activity, but for many people it isn’t an option. However, for many employees, walking while at work is a way to increase their physical activity. But how safe and attractive is the walking environment at your work place? To find out, use their walkability audit.
MedlinePlus: Exercise and Physical Fitness -- MedlinePlus will direct you to information to help answer health questions. MedlinePlus brings together authoritative information from NLM, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.
The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability -- NCPAD is an information center concerned with physical activity and disability.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation -- Planning for bicycle and pedestrian travel is a somewhat new field of study, and yet it also involves planning and engineering techniques that have been around for many years. This coursebook provides the reader with current information on pedestrian and bicycle planning and design techniques, as well as practical lessons on how to increase bicycling and walking through land use practices, engineering measures, and a variety of other urban and rural design procedures.
Walkable Communities -- Walkable Communities was established in the state of Florida in 1996. It was organized for the express purposes of helping whole communities, whether they are large cities or small towns, or parts of communities, i.e. neighborhoods, business districts, parks, school districts, subdivisions, specific roadway corridors, etc., become more walkable and pedestrian friendly.
The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports - You're it. Get fit! – www.fitness.gov is the health, physical activity, fitness and sports information website of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. You can find out about the Council and its work, view our publications, and link to the resources of other government agencies as well as to health and fitness organizations.
Bicycling Policy and Planning - Building Communities with Bicyclists in Mind -- This list of exemplary bicycle and pedestrian plans was compiled to provide easy access to a number of good examples of bicycle and pedestrian planning.
Nutrition, Physical Activity, Overweight and Obesity | DNPAO | CDC -- CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO) takes a public health approach to address the role of nutrition and physical activity in improving the public's health and preventing and controlling chronic diseases. The scope of DNPAO activities includes epidemiological and behavioral research, surveillance, training and education, intervention development, health promotion and leadership, policy and environmental change, communication and social marketing, and partnership development.
Physical Activity. BAM! Body and Mind. - BAM! Body and Mind is an online destination for kids created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Designed for kids 9-13 years old, BAM! Body and Mind gives them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. The site focuses on topics that kids told us are important to them — such as stress and physical fitness — using kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features. BAM! Body and Mind also serves as an aid to teachers, providing them with interactive, educational, and fun activities that are linked to the national education standards for science and health.
GirlsHealth.gov - The mission of the www.girlshealth.gov web site, developed by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, is to promote healthy, positive behaviors in girls between the ages of 10 and 16. The site gives girls reliable, useful information on the health issues they will face as they become young women, and tips on handling relationships with family and friends, at school and at home.
Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls - Powerful girls have powerful bones! This girl-friendly Web site helps girls understand how weight-bearing physical activity and calcium can be a fun (and important!) part of everyday life. The site is part of the National Bone Health Campaign, founded by the Office on Women's Health within the Department of Health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Osteoporosis Foundation. The site's key features include interactive games and quizzes, recipes for tasty foods with calcium, and ideas to help girls get plenty of weight-bearing physical activity.
Contact Us:
Department of Health
109 Governor St. Richmond, VA 23219
Physical Activity Coordinator, DCDP&C, VDH
