Resources
Educational Articles
by Krista Weidner. PA County News, March/April 2010, p. 32-35.
Pennsylvania Rural Health News, Spring 2006, P. 1 and 6.
Living Well Newsletter, July/August 2006, p. 3
Pa Department of Health, PA Osteoporosis Coalition, 2004
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Surgeon General, 2004.
Supplement Facts - Vitamin D A new extension publication by Dr. Lynne Brown provides helpful information about Vitamin D.
Strength Training Articles
Physical activity is essential for maintaining health and function with age, especially among women. Strength training exercises combat weakness and frailty and mitigate the development of chronic disease. Community-based programs offer accessible opportunities for strength training.
Fitness on MSNBC.com; Women are pumping more iron, with nearly 1 in 5 doing twice-a-week workouts, a new federal study shows. The desire for a more attractive body, along with worries about bone loss, probably contribute to the trend, experts said.
If you're interested in feeling stronger, healthier, and more vital, this program is for you. This strength-training program was developed by experts at Tufts University and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Strength training is physical activity intended to increase muscle strength and mass. Adults who engage in strength training are less likely to experience loss of muscle mass (1), functional decline (2), and fall-related injuries than adults who do not strength train (3).
Breast cancer survivors who performed slowly progressive weight lifting twice weekly for 1 year were less likely to experience clinically significant increases in arm swelling than women in the control group. The majority of breast cancer survivors do not have lymphedema; however, they alter the use of their arms and upper body activities out of fear of developing lymphedema. The findings from our trial should help clarify clinical advice to patients who have completed breast cancer treatment regarding the safety of resuming or beginning a weight lifting program.
General Information
In a meta-analysis of studies examining the effects of calcium and calcium + vitamin D on fracture risk and bone mineral density, it was concluded that in persons over 50 years of age, supplementation with calcium or calcium plus vitamin D may help to preserve bone mineral density and reduce the risk of fractures.
This article describes how physical inactivity has major impacts on health and productivity. The article estimates the health and economic benefits of reducing the prevalence of physical inactivity in the 2008 Australian adult population. The economic benefits were estimated as ‘opportunity cost savings’, which represent resources utilized in the treatment of preventable disease that are potentially available for re-direction to another purpose from fewer incident cases of disease occurring in communities.
Related Websites
StrongWomen envisions a worldwide community of women of all ages who are fit, strong, and healthy; in turn, those empowered women will become positive agents of change for their families, communities, and beyond.
Within Tuft's University
on Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity. Within Tufts University
Materials for Site Leaders
Nutrition Publications
Eating nondairy foods high in calcium helps to meet calcium needs.
When it comes to sorting out nutrition information, how do you know if it is reliable?
Calcium is needed for strong bones. However, other vitamins and minerals are also necessary for calcium to be used effectively by our bodies.
Soy foods are popular because of the health benefits they provide.
Trans fats are produced during hydrogenation of vegetable oils.
