Announcements

Greetings from the office of the President's Challenge Physical Activity and Fitness Awards Program! You have received the January 2003 issue of fitnessisfun, the official e-mail distribution of the President's Challenge. These monthly e-mails will keep you updated on our program, activities of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS) and other current information pertaining to fitness.

REPLAY: PCPFS ANNOUNCES GENERAL MILLS PARTNERSHIP
The General Mills Foundation, The American Dietetic Association Foundation and the President's Challenge are partnering to improve youth nutrition and fitness across the United States. The joint initiative, General Mills Champions, will award 50 grants of up to $10,000 each to community -based groups that develop creative ways to help youth maintain a balanced diet and physically active lifestyle. In addition to the community grants, The General Mills Foundation will sponsor up to 50,000 young people to participate in The President's Challenge and earn the PALA for their commitment to a physically active and fit lifestyle. To learn more about how you can champion youth in your community visit http://www.generalmills.com/foundation.

PCPFS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ANNOUNCES DEPARTURE
Lisa Oliphant, the Executive Director of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, has announced that she will be leaving the Council effective December 1, 2002. Her energy and leadership will be greatly missed by those at the Council and the President's Challenge. For more information about the President's Council or Council members, please visit http://www.fitness.gov.

HOLIDAY FITNESS AND NUTRITION TIPS
During the hustle and bustle of the holiday season it is not uncommon for people to gain weight due to lack of exercise opportunities, lack of motivation and an increase in holiday goodies and treats. Here are some fitness and nutrition tips that will allow you to fight the holiday bulge all the way to the New Year.

SKINNY PILL FOR KIDS MAY BE HARMFUL
Introduction of a diet pill for children ages 6-12 has prompted much concern by physicians and other experts. The pill contains vitamins, minerals and herbs; however, the herbs contained include three diuretics. Diuretics cause the body to lose water and in extreme cases can cause kidney problems and electrolyte imbalances. The Physicians Desk Reference recommends that diuretics, including those found in this skinny pill for children, should not be given to children under the age of 12. Advocates of this pill ensure its safety, however, no testing has been done nor is there any substantial data to support this claim. Also, the skinny pill is not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. To read more about this topic, please visit http://www.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/diet.fitness/12/09/skinny.pills/index.html.

SHORTER WALKS AS GOOD AS LONGER ONES
A recent study published in the September issues of Medicine & Science in Sport & Exercise has found that meeting the recommended 30 minutes of daily activity through three 10-minute bouts of exercise results in just as many healthy benefits as exercising for 30 minutes at one time. A comparison of the two exercise regimes revealed similar increases in fitness level, reduction of tension and anxiety, redistribution of body fat, and a lower risk of heart disease. These finding are significant due to the high drop out rate associated with exercise plans emphasizing a single exercise bout. To read more on this study, please visit http://content.health.msn.com/content/article/50/40512.htm

OBESITY AND AFTER-SCHOOL HOURS
The Medical College of Georgia has recently begun to analyze the relationship between after-school activities of children and obesity. This study is an attempt to identify possible environmental factors and afternoon behaviors that influence the increasing number of obese and overweight children. Funding has been provided through a grant from the National Institute of Health. Specifics of the study can be found in the December 21, 2002 issue of Obesity, Fitness & Wellness Week.

SCHOOLS FOCUS ON NEW WAYS TO KEEP STUDENTS ACTIVE
Waukesha County schools in Wisconsin have begun incorporating activities that they feel will keep students active even after their school years. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that only 30% of all adults 18 and older engaged in regular physical activity during the year 2001. Physical educators in Waukesha County have implemented climbing walls into 13 of the 17 elementary schools in the district. They have also begun offering "Strength through Fitness" programs at the high school level to encourage weight training, body toning and cardiovascular fitness. These new approaches to physical activity and fitness allow those who do not take part in organized sports to meet the daily requirements for physical activity. To learn more about the Waukesha County physical education program, please visit http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/nov02/99319.asp

ACTIVE LIVING BY DESIGN: CALL FOR PROPOSALS
The Active Living by Design Call for Proposals has just been released. Information and a sample application that allows for preparation before for the brief proposal submission period can be found at http://www.activelivingbydesign.org. Brief proposals will be accepted through The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation from January 6 to January 31, 2003 with the deadline for applications also being January 31, 2003. Grants will be awarded to those proposals aimed at helping Americans become more physically active within given communities. Past grants of up to $200,000 to 25 different community partnerships across the country have been given. For more information, please visit the Active Living by Design website at the above address.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION AND TEACHER EDUCATION SEMINAR
A seminar specifically focused on the issues related to physical education for grades K-12 will be hosted by Penn State University on March 30-31, 2003. This seminar offers a chance for physical educators to listen to experts in the field of physical education, speak with fellow physical educators, take part in round table discussions on multiple topics, and so on. Some topics include student motivation, barriers to physical activity, as well as the popularity and functionality of pedometers. The seminar will be lead by George Graham, member of the Penn State Department of Kinesiology. For more information on this seminar please visit http://www.outreach.psu.edu/c&i/physicaled .

PROFILE: COUNCIL MEMBER KATHERINE S. COSGROVE
Katherine S. Cosgrove is one of the recent appointees on the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. Ms. Cosgrove resides in Overland Park, Kansas where she has founded and owns F.I.T. Bodies, a personal training and fitness consulting firm. This firm is based on the F.I.T. principle of frequency, intensity and time (duration). She continually promotes physical activity though her quarterly newsletter, columns for local publications and other guest columns in fitness related publications. She has served as a personal trainer for individuals, corporations, children and seniors. Ms. Cosgrove educational background includes her B.S. in Corporate Fitness from Southwest Missouri State University as well as her M.S. in Exercise Physiology and Sport Administration from the University of Kansas. To learn more about Katherine Cosgrove and other members of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, please visit http://www.fitness.gov.

EXHIBITING THE PRESIDENT'S CHALLENGE:

Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development
http://www.ascd.org/
San Francisco, CA
March 8-10, 2003

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
http://www.aahperd.org/
Philadelphia, PA
April 1-5, 2003

National Association of Elementary School Principals
http://www.naesp.org/
Anaheim, CA
April 11-15, 2003

FEEDBACK
We would love to hear from you. If you have any topics that you would like to see addressed in fitnessisfun or any comments on this list please let us know. You can provide them by emailing us at preschal@indiana.edu