1) When was the last time you and your family had fun recreating together? June 1-7 has been designated by the American Association for Leisure and Recreation (AALR) as National Family Recreation Week to increase awareness of recreation and play in building strong families. Need a few ideas? Go to http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#1. View NCPAD's recreation monographs, such as http://www.ncpad.org/66/489/Camping~~Backpacking~~and~Hiking (camping, backpacking, and hiking for individuals with disabilities), http://www.ncpad.org/67/491/Zoo~Visit~-~Benefits (benefits of a zoo visit), or recreation and leisure fact sheets at http://www.ncpad.org/content/10/Fun~and~~Leisure.
2) June is Vision Research Month, and June 20-26 is Blind Awareness Week. To learn about getting involved, contact Prevent Blindness America at http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#2 or 800-331-2020, or the Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youth and Adults at http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#3 or 516-944-8900 X325. Read about sports for persons with vision loss at http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#4, and see NCPAD's monograph on fitness for individuals who are visually impaired, blind and deafblind at http://www.ncpad.org/110/847/Fitness~for~Individuals~who~are~Visually~Impaired~~Blind~~
and~Deafblind.
3) Encourage the men in your life to be fit and healthy! National Men's Health Week is June 14-20, ending on father's day. See the Web site at http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#5 for screening guidelines, educational materials, and more. Visit the Men's Health Network at http://www.ncpad.org/679/2984/2004-06-04#6 for ways to become more connected. NCHPAD factsheets (http://www.ncpad.org/content/9/Exercise~and~Fitness) contain much information for becoming more active in fitness, recreation, and sports.
4) News to Note:
- Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health: From May 17-21, member organizations of the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted its Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity, and Health at its annual assembly in Geneva, Switzerland. The U.N. campaign encourages people worldwide to lower the amount of fat, sugar, and salt in their diet. The campaign's original draft had concluded that sugar should make up less than 10 percent of daily caloric intake, a proposal rejected by the United States and others. The plan, which is not legally binding, is designed to fight diseases intricately linked to our poor eating habits and lack of physical activity, including diabetes, heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and tooth decay.
- New Food Guide Pyramid: A panel of 13 scientists met May 26-27 in a working group session in Washington, DC to prepare amended guidelines to the Food Guide Pyramid. The panel is expected to pass its final draft to the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services. The dietary guidelines also influence federal food programs, including school lunches and food stamps. The recommendations include a greater emphasis on exercise, fish, and fiber and will be published in January 2005.