Miles of newly painted bike lanes have New Orleanians leaving their cars at home in favor of two-wheeled vehicles. Trading the truck for the Trek has not gone unnoticed, but the Big Easy is still far down the path to first-class cycling status. At the moment, New Orleans boasts more than 58 miles of bike lanes with ten on the way.  This is a huge leap from the meager ten miles of bike lanes available before Katrina.  This impressive new number transcends bikes to encompass the tremendous strides the city has made as they rebuild.

Click here to read the full article from NOLA Defender’s website.

Researchers reported Tuesday that they have linked 180,000 obesity-related deaths worldwide to sugary drinks, including about 25,000 adult Americans.

Overall, 1 in 100 deaths of obese people globally can be blamed on too many sweetened beverages, according to a study presented at an American Heart Association scientific conference in New Orleans. Mexico leads the 35 largest nations in deaths attributable to over-consumption of sugary drinks, with the United States third. Japan, which has one of the lowest per-capita consumptions of sugary drinks, had the fewest sugar-related deaths.

In New Orleans, the Louisiana Public Health Institute and the Crescent City Beacon Community are striving to reduce obesity and type 2 diabetes through the txt4health program. Txt4health is a mobile health information service designed to help people understand their risk for type 2 diabetes and become more informed about the steps they can take to lead healthy lives.

Click here to read the full story.

According to a recent study by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NDRC), when asked what would solve traffic problems in their community, 42 percent of Americans say more transit. Only 20 percent say more roads. And 21 percent would like to see communities developed that don’t require so much driving. Two-thirds support local planning that guides new development into existing cities and near public transportation.

Click here to read the full study.

Recently, New Orleans passed a Complete Streets ordinance, which you can read here. If you’re interested in more information about the work being done to make our streets safer for all on the road, check out these resources:

The Louisiana Public Health Institute’s Active Environments Planning initiative.

Bike Easy

The Regional Planning Commission of GNO

Did you know that sitting too long can cause blood clots and increases the risk of high blood pressure? Adults are encouraged to get in at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise each day to alleviate the negative health affects a sedentary lifestyle can produce.

Check out this great infographic from CBC that highlights how sitting too long can wreak havoc on your body.

To read the full CBS article, click here.

Short workouts that are intense and effective are both popular and useful – and anyone can do them. So declare today your Fitness Friday and check out this 15 minute video from LiveWell 360 and get moving!

Click here to read the article and access the video.

Join the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI) and other sponsors in Ride New Orleans’ Employer Challenge for the 3rd annual Transit Week November 11-17, 2012!

Ride New Orleans is challenging the New Orleans business community to support public transit, biking and walking by asking their employees to leave their cars at home in turn for trying transit at least once during the week. The benefits of promoting a transit commute to your employees can translate to tax credits, increased productivity, reduced parking costs and attracting
new, creative talent to your business. Click here for more info on the benefits of the transit commute!

Businesses and individuals can get involved by signing the pledge by 10/26/12.

A new study suggests that being physically inactive can be as hazardous to our health as smoking. While researchers differ on specifics, they all point to the fact that laziness and resulting obesity can be linked to similar health hazards and even death, just as tobacco use.

Check out the full story here.

How many of us can confidently stand on one leg and not wobble or fall over? Balance is crucial for us to walk correctly without causing injury to our feet or legs and can help prevent falls for older adults. The Mayo Clinic has put together a great slid show to detail several basic, easy to do balance exercises that we can all perform in the comfort of our homes.

Click here to check it out and get your balance on today!

The Fit NOLA Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana Project, led by the Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), in partnership with the City of New Orleans Health Department, is slated to receive a total of $2.2 million in funding from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and pledged matching funds from community partner organizations to increase use of neighborhood parks and access to healthy foods in three underserved neighborhoods. The project will work to transform policies, systems and the environment in parks and surrounding neighborhoods to address barriers to both physical activity and access to healthy food.

The Fit NOLA Project will work to create innovative linkages between community health clinics, parks, and farmers markets in the St. Roch, Gert Town, and Hoffman Triangle-Central City neighborhoods, with a goal of connecting  approximately 64,000 residents with new opportunities for family-oriented physical activities, nutritious foods, and community centered health clinics that support and promote better nutrition and increased physical activity to improve long-term, community health outcomes.

Click here to read the full story.

Federal health guidelines recommend 30 minutes of moderate exercise — such as walking or jogging — every single day. But new research shows that even regular exercisers may not be doing enough to counteract the health hazards of sitting down at a desk all day long. For office workers, even if you can’t walk around, standing for 2 minutes every 20 minutes will help keep your body from becoming sedentary.

For the full article, click here.