Train Your Body

DoctorPodcasting.com

Hosted by exercise physiologist and personal trainer, Melanie Cole, MS. Guests are provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and are experts in all arenas of fitness, nutrition, athletics, and sports medicine. This show appeals to both fitness buffs AND beginners. Fitness trends, workout techniques, preparing for your marathons, and so much more – it’s all covered on Train Your Body.

  1. 06/14/2016

    American Fitness Index 2016: Bottom of the List

    Every year the American College of Sports Medicine releases the American Fitness Index. This report ranks the fitness of several cities in the United States. Indianapolis bottoms out the list. They've been working steadily to improve walkability and opportunity for physical activity. It takes time to make change. The benefits from the changes they've made will not be evident in the report for years. They rank 50th in personal health indicators. They fall short of the goal for physical activity. Many Southern cities round out the bottom ten. Oklahoma City is number 49. Louisville, Kentucky is 48th. These cities don't spend as much on parks per resident. Older cities that have been around for hundreds of years aren't as driven for change. Many of the cities are working on initiatives to make it easier for these cities to be physically active. The changes that are taking place are too small to move these cities up to the next ranking. Money drives a lot of the priorities for improving community assets. Many cities have low scores. Rural communities and depressed economies cannot afford the same improvements as other areas. These places can still improve by encouraging more physical activity for children in schools and providing opportunities for community members to engage in fitness. Many churches have built gyms and walking trails on their properties to prompt changes. Community members can form coalitions to take small steps to increase physical activity. Taking initiative for small changes can make a huge difference. Listen in as Dr. Barbara Ainsworth discusses with Melanie Cole, MS, the bottom of the AFI list and how to make improvements in your community.

  2. 06/14/2016

    American Fitness Index 2016: Top of the List

    Every year the American College of Sports Medicine releases its American Fitness Index (AFI). The AFI ranks the fitness of communities across the country based on extensive research. The AFI analyzes research from various agencies to determine the overall health behavior of a population. Physical activity, level of smoking, and adherence to eating guidelines are all contributing factors to the score a community receives for personal health indicators. The community and environmental indicators include the amount of park land in the city, number of farmer's markets per million, number of pools and recreational resources, and how many people bicycle to work. These scores are combined to determine a city's rank. The top ten cities were high in their walk score, provision of farmer's markets and proportion of the population that lives near a park. There are plenty of places for people to receive some physical recreation. The proportion of people who are physically active exceeds the goal set by ACSM. Washington D.C. tops the list with the personal, community and environmental indicators. Personal health was 81.7 of 100 (#2 on the list). Community and environmental was 74.2 (#3 on the list), leading to the highest composite score. There are lots of parks in Washington D.C., giving an advantage for walking opportunities. Minneapolis comes in second with a walking track near the airport. Denver is number three, coming in first with personal health and eighth with environmental health. Where does your community fall on the list? Dr. Barbara Ainsworth joins Melanie Cole, MS, to discuss the top cities on this year's report.

Ratings & Reviews

4.7
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Hosted by exercise physiologist and personal trainer, Melanie Cole, MS. Guests are provided by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and are experts in all arenas of fitness, nutrition, athletics, and sports medicine. This show appeals to both fitness buffs AND beginners. Fitness trends, workout techniques, preparing for your marathons, and so much more – it’s all covered on Train Your Body.