Physical activity

This issue of OPUS focuses on outdoor recreational facilities, specifically facilities that are freely accessible to the public, are not reserved for members of an organization, enable the practice of recreational or sports activities and meet the needs of residents. Recreational areas such as splash parks (with the exception of swimming pools and wading pools), sports fields, walking areas and bicycle paths included in parks and green spaces are just a few examples. This issue is intended…

This issue of OPUS focuses on outdoor recreational facilities, specifically facilities that are freely accessible to the public, are not reserved for members of an organization, enable the practice of recreational or sports activities and meet the needs of residents. Recreational areas such as splash parks (with the exception of swimming pools and wading pools), sports fields, walking areas and bicycle paths included in parks and green spaces are just a few examples. This issue is intended…

The COVID-19 pandemic led Québec, like many jurisdictions around the world, to recommend public health measures to slow propagation of the disease. Measures include limiting the number of contacts between individuals, physical distancing, physical barriers, handwashing, breathing etiquette, wearing of masks or face coverings, ventilation, and the disinfection and cleaning of surfaces. These measures are considered effective in reducing COVID-19 transmission and case numbers, but have also……

Mental health promotion and common mental disorder prevention interventions may apply several well-recognized strategies. Noteworthy among them are strategies that foster the development of public policies and the creation of supportive environments for mental health, that strengthen community action and that support the acquisition of personal skills. These interventions can be global, focusing on several key determinants of mental health, or they can be specific, focusing on only one of…

Physical activity and sedentary living are important public health issues. Several studies have revealed links between various features of the built environment and physical activity. In order to develop a profile, better understand the impacts of built environment features, and better direct interventions on the creation of built environments that are conducive to physical activity, using the best information available is essential. The aim of this TOPO is to outline the main methods for…

In early adolescence, young people adopt lifestyle habits that could play a determining role in their future health. At this early age, they begin to develop their independence, while continuing to be influenced by their sociocultural environment. Sociocultural factors have an impact on eating habits and physical activity, and this is even more true in adolescence when youth are in the process of learning and experimenting.

The results of the Ados 12-14 study (see box, page 3) show…

This summary presents recommendations made by the Institut national de santé publique du Québec to foster safe active transportation between home and school among elementary school students. It is based on a review of the scientific literature.

This summary is the fourth in a series of five short documents based on a literature review published in 2011. In what follows, we first present the mechanisms of action underlying traffic-calming strategies, as these mechanisms help explain and predict the effects of such strategies on active transportation (cycling, walking, etc.). Next, we summarize the results of studies having evaluated two approaches to traffic calming. Lastly, we consider the implications of such results for public…

The built environment, composed of all the buildings, spaces, and products that have been created or modified by people, has undeniably an impact on our health and quality of life. This first issue of the TOPO collection documents, in a nutshell, the relation between the built environment and physical activity amoung young people. It addresses the following questions: "What opportunities provided by the built environment promote physical activity by young people?", "What characteristics of…

The built environment has an influence on lifestyle and body weight

Physical activity is promoted through:

Healthy eating is promoted through: