THIS ISSUE AVAILABLE ONLINE WITH EXPANDED INFORMATION AND PHOTOS AT:
http://www.hhs.gov/news/newsletter/weekly
IN THIS ISSUE:
1) Improving Health Literacy
2) Surgeon General Carmona Talks to School Children about the Importance of Healthy Choices
3) Fitness Fling at HHS
4) Personal Health: Exercise and Bone Health
5) Secretary's Challenge is in Full Swing
6) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule
Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona are communicating the importance of health literacy in reducing the rate of chronic disease, obesity and overweight across America. If people understand that the choices they make on a daily basis regarding meals and moderate physical activity could affect their lives ten, fifteen, and twenty years down the road, then we could make a major impact on our health care system and productivity.
"The health of our country depends on our understanding of basic health information in order to lead a healthy life," Secretary Thompson said. "If children and adults think about the consequences of inactivity and a poor diet each day, they are beginning to take the necessary steps to lead a healthy lifestyle."
Low health literacy adds as much as $58 billion per year to health care costs. Among patients with type 2 diabetes, low health literacy is independently associated with worse glycemic control and higher rates of complications. An individual may have adequate understanding of material with familiar content, but struggle to comprehend information with unfamiliar vocabulary and concepts. With the focus on health literacy, perhaps we can reduce the number of unhealthy choices and increase the health of our nation.
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U.S. Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona visited two schools this week to talk to students about making healthy choices as they grow. Dr. Carmona's visits mark the 7th and 8th schools he has visited as part of his 50 Schools in 50 States Initiative. On Tuesday, September 23, Dr. Carmona talked to 3rd and 4th grade students at Dean Petersen Professional Development School in Las Vegas. "By choosing to stay active today, you will make sure that you are healthier tomorrow," Dr. Carmona said. Then after engaging in a dialogue with the students he swore them in as "Deputy Assistant Surgeons General" and asked them to tell their families and friends about the importance of making healthy choices like not smoking or drinking, but rather getting plenty of exercise and eating good foods.
The next day, Dr. Carmona visited the Crow Agency Public School in Crow Agency, Montana. This was Dr. Carmona's first visit to a Tribal school as part of his 50/50 initiative. He spoke to the students there about getting more exercise and joining their parents and siblings outside in physical activity. "I want you to spend more time on the playground, and less time on the PlayStation," Dr. Carmona said. Following his remarks, Dr. Carmona ate lunch with some of the students. "I always have a good time with these kids," Dr. Carmona said after lunch. "It gives me energy for the rest of the day and really makes me feel like I'm helping."
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The President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports is holding a fitness event on the National Mall to promote Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's Steps to a HealthierHHS initiative. Participants can kick a ball on the mall with Lynn Swann, NFL Hall of Fame member and former Pittsburgh Steeler Lynn Swann, the Chairman of the President's Council, Gold Medal Olympian Amanda Cromwell or Dr. Dot Richardson, Olympic softball Gold Medalist and Vice Chairwoman of the Council.
John Burke, President of Trek Bicycle will be offer a bicycling demo and Denise Austin, renowned health and fitness specialist will be demonstrating yoga and pilates in the HHS Great Hall.
Council members and HHS employees will participate in a walk around the National Mall in support of the Secretary's Challenge to promote employee health and fitness.
When: Monday September 29, 2003 from 11:45a.m. - 12:45 p.m.
Where: National Mall (outdoor activities) between 3rd & 4th St. SW
Great Hall, HHS (indoor activities)
200 Independence Ave., SW
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Physical activity is an essential factor in bone health. The skeletal benefits of exercise have been demonstrated throughout the life cycle. Exercise can positively affect peak bone mass in children and adolescents; has been shown to help maintain or even modestly increase bone density in adulthood and; can assist in minimizing age related bone loss in older adults.
Exercise and Peak Bone Mass
By age 18, skeletal growth is nearly complete. The amount of peak bone mass achieved and the subsequent rate of bone loss are the key determinants of bone density later in life. There is substantial evidence that exercise plays an important role in the acquisition of bone mass in youth. Activities that are high impact and weight-bearing, such as running, jumping, soccer and volleyball, appear to be the most beneficial to the skeleton. The gains of such weight-bearing activity seem to be more pronounced in the peripheral skeleton than in the lumbar spine.
Muscle strengthening can also yield a bone-building effect. Even muscle activity in areas distant from the spine and hip can positively impact bone density at these sites. Not all physically active youth reap the skeletal benefits of exercise. Girls and young women who experience a disruption in the menstrual cycle from excessive exercise can endure bone loss that is never fully recovered (it is estimated that the prevalence of amenorrhea in female athletes ranges from 10-45 percent.) There is significant concern that these young women are at an increased risk of stress fractures and fractures of the hip and spine.
Clearly, several factors other than exercise can affect peak bone mass. Hormonal status, body composition, nutritional intake and medication use are also important predictors of bone density.
Physical Activity in Adult Women
While 97% of bone mass is probably achieved by the age of eighteen, increases in bone density have been observed throughout the third decade of life. In some cases, even moderate increases in physical activity of women in their twenties can increase bone density and, potentially, decrease long-term fracture risk.
Most studies of pre-menopausal women demonstrate a positive bone benefit from exercise, with greater loading and higher impact activities producing the greatest skeletal benefit. The effects of physical activity tend to be the most pronounced among individuals who are the least active, an observation that has been made in other age groups, as well.
The Postmenopause and Beyond
Exercise continues to confer a skeletal benefit for many postmenopausal women. However, there is no evidence that physical activity alone is sufficient to fully offset the damaging effects of estrogen withdrawal in the first three to five years following menopause. Once the phase of accelerated bone loss is complete, regular exercise can have a protective effect on bone. As with other age groups, active postmenopausal women tend to have greater bone density than sedentary postmenopausal women.
Due to musculoskeletal concerns, older women are less likely to participate in higher impact activities. Regular activity such as walking, weight training and low impact aerobics can safely help to offset age-related bone loss, decrease fracture risk and improve the quality of life for older women.
Prevention of Falls and Fracture
Skeletal muscle mass and strength also decrease with age. Increased muscle weakness can compound the problem of low bone density by increasing the risk of falls and fracture. A multi-center study funded by the National Institute on Aging has evaluated the effects of intervention programs designed to minimize fracture risk in the elderly. The FICSIT trials (Frailty and Injuries: Cooperative Studies of Intervention Techniques) evaluated the effects of various physical activities in reducing the risk of falls. Strategies such as resistance training, computerized balance training and Tai Chi have shown promise as effective interventions for reducing falls and fall-related fractures.
This information is from the National Institutes of Health Web site.
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Week two of the Secretary's Challenge is in full swing as HHS employees are beginning to walk the walk - 30 minutes a day, five days a week for six weeks. On Sept. 15, Secretary Thompson launched The Secretary's Challenge: Steps to a HealthierHHS, an innovative employee health promotion program designed to get HHS employees moving and into physical activity.
"Health is this department's first name," Secretary Thompson said. "Physical activity is more than just going to the gym and running on the treadmill. It's excellent if you can do that. But I want Americans to know that just being active for 30 minutes, five days a week can significantly reduce their risk of chronic illnesses. That's why my Challenge is offering a variety of activities for employees."
Additional activities will be available for employees throughout the six-week Challenge. The program is being pilot-tested in Washington, D.C., with plans for national expansion in 2004.
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Secretary Tommy G. Thompson's public schedule:
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Last updated September 29, 2003
United States Department of Health and Human Services
Contact the HHS Newsletter Team.