By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – Loosen the belt buckle another notch: Obesity rates continued to climb in 31 states last year, and no state showed a decline.
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This year’s report, for the first time, looked at rates of overweight children ages 10 to 17. The District of Columbia had the highest percentage
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2007 Benchmarking Report
Main Findings from 2007 Benchmarking Report:
– A positive relationship exists between the built environment and levels of biking and walking.
– Where levels of biking and walking are higher, bicycle and pedestrian safety is greater.
– Cities with strong Thunderhead organizations generally have high levels of biking and walking.
– Higher levels of biking and walking coincide with lower levels of obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes and higher levels of adults meeting recommended levels of daily physical activity. This suggests that increased biking and walking would contribute to a healthier society.
– Data revealed that while some cities and states lead others as models for bicycle and pedestrian policies and provisions, all states and cities have a need for improvement.
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Exercise may generate new blood vessels
By MARIA CHENG, AP Medical Writer
VIENNA, Austria – Having a bad heart doesn’t mean you can skip exercise, doctors said Wednesday. In fact, it may even help your heart to repair itself. Research presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting showed that exercise sparks the creation of new heart vessels.
In a small study of 37 people at Leipzig University in Germany, Dr. Robert Hollriegel found that people with serious heart failure who rode a bike for up to 30 minutes a day for four months produced new stem cells in their bones.
They also had more small blood vessels in their muscles. Those who didn’t exercise had no change in their vessels or muscles.
Most patients with heart failure are over 70 years old, and some can barely walk a few steps without stopping for rest. Doctors think that even these patients would benefit from light exercise such as walking or cycling. To ensure that patients will be able to handle a certain level of physical activity, doctors conduct a test first to determine their maximum limits and to ensure they would not be exceeded. Some exercise regimens also are supervised by health professionals.
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University of Md. working to increase bike usage
by Daniel Fowler, The Examiner
College Park – After working to reduce the numbers of cars on the College Park campus by promoting its shuttle bus system, the University of Maryland is now focusing on increasing the use of bikes.
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Baltimore City Primary Election Endorsements from The Maryland League of Conservation Voters
The Maryland League of Conservation Voters and the Baltimore City League of Environmental Voters have endorsed the following candidates in Baltimore City Primary Election:
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There’s no better time for Sheila Dixon to be mayor of Baltimore than now.
After 20 years in public office, she knows the political terrain, the pitfalls of the job and, most inviting, the promise that the office holds for improving a city that she knows and loves. She is the Democratic candidate best suited to advance the city’s successes and improve upon its failings.
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Inspiration
Many people are impressed with Lance Armstrong but for me it is the average person who goes beyond their physical capabilities and challenges themselves with new goals. Some of you are aware that DOT at the request of the Mayor’s office has been hosting bike rides from City Hall for the Mayor and her staff. One person stands out in these rides and that is our Director of Transportation Al Foxx. No matter how long a route we do (our last route was 20 miles) he insists on doing the whole thing. Sure, he comes in after everyone else but he does not quit and he comes in with a big smile on his face. So far he has lost 15 pounds through diet and exercise and is looking to lose another 30. I don
From sad beginning
You may have heard that Lee Fleishman had a bad fall and broke his hip on some Railroad tracks leading a ride on the Gwynns Falls Trail. The major problem with RR tracks it is CSX (not the city
[For those of you into sustainable agriculture here is a good read:]
Lake Montebello reopening summary
In the morning the Mayor came out for ceremonies. She talked how she got the project to be completed 9 months ahead of schedule and saved some tax payers money. But the cool stuff was there were around 300 in attendance (way over the anticipated crowd which helps show that people really like plans that include more then just accommodating cars.) The mayor did 5 laps around the lake on bike before she had to go and do other things. Al Foxx, the Director of Transportation was there on his bike and many folks from Parks and Rec. as well as the Ride Around the Reservoir bikes for people to borrow.
In the evening some folks from the BBC got together for a ride and a little picnic/BBQ. About 20 came out for this as well as a surprise visit from Eva Khoury the City