Valerie Iancovich / en The real secret to a healthy holiday season? Ease up on yourself, expert says /news/real-secret-healthy-holiday-season-ease-yourself-expert-says <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">The real secret to a healthy holiday season? Ease up on yourself, expert says</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-12-19-relaxing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SHaPyMhj 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-12-19-relaxing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YNdpRhLK 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-12-19-relaxing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=3t7qT002 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-12-19-relaxing-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SHaPyMhj" alt="Photo of person relaxing"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>noreen.rasbach</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-12-20T00:00:00-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 20, 2017 - 00:00" class="datetime">Wed, 12/20/2017 - 00:00</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/alumni" hreflang="en">Alumni</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research-innovation" hreflang="en">Research &amp; Innovation</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><div>We’ve all been there. The holiday reading is done, the leftover feast is ready for the compost and the scale is showing a new, higher, number. Regret and guilt is setting in.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>But according to <strong>Eva Pila</strong>, a recent PhD graduate from the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education, it's time to rethink our associations between eating and guilt and weight gain and failure, and show ourselves a little more compassion.&nbsp;Pila’s research focuses on mental and physical health as it applies to weight management.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>“We are inundated by guilt-inducing messages about managing our health, and consequently our weight, year round. But these messages are especially noticeable during the holiday season,” says Pila, who is currently a post-doctoral fellow at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Exercising some self-compassion could lead to a healthier festive season, she says.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>Here are some of Pila’s recommendations for finding joy in the coming weeks:</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div><strong>Be generous with yourself&nbsp;</strong><br> <br> “Self-compassion is a fairly new concept in our modern society, but the philosophy has deep historical roots in Buddhist traditions,” she explains. The holidays, a time for exercising generosity and kindness to others, are a fitting time to strive for the basic principles of self-compassion – kindness, acceptance, and understanding – towards the self.&nbsp;</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <p><strong>Channel your ‘common humanity’&nbsp;</strong></p> <p>“Self-compassion has gained popularity recently as emerging research evidence suggests being self-compassionate is associated with better physical and mental health and well-being, including increased happiness, better social relationships, overall life satisfaction, engagement in positive health behaviours, and lower mental health concerns,” says Pila.&nbsp;</p> <p>One way to achieve these benefits at this time of year is to embrace the camaraderie of the festive season. “In my field of research, we refer to this as ‘common humanity.’ We all experience the same desires, needs and failures,&nbsp;and being aware of these shared experiences can help us feel more connected and compassionate towards ourselves and those around us. A self-compassionate approach reminds us that this time of year can be very emotionally and physically challenging, and we ought to give ourselves permission to be caring and kind.”</p> <p><strong>Honour your body</strong></p> <p>A self-compassionate approach to food choices honours the needs of our bodies and our minds.</p> <p>“One of the most healthful approaches to eating is considering mindful and intuitive practices – choosing foods that nourish the body and the mind, paying particular attention to cues of hunger, satiety, and mindfulness of when and why we chose certain foods, and how they make us feel both physically and mentally.”</p> <p>But you can exercise self-compassion and still eat your favourite holiday treats. “When you do, really enjoy them and tune in to cues and feelings of fullness and be aware of when eating the treat is no longer pleasurable.”</p> <p>Pila also advises checking in on how external cues, such as stress and boredom, influence eating habits, in particular at those often awkward holiday gatherings.&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Take stock of what you actually want to do over the break</strong></p> <p>Evaluate what situations make you feel critical of yourself.</p> <p>“Give yourself what you need in the present moment, which may mean taking more breaks from work, skipping a holiday event you are not excited about, telling a family member not to comment on your weight or exercise habits, and engaging in a relaxing activity after a stressful family event.”</p> <p>And, if you’re tired and choose to snooze rather than hit the gym, remember to be compassionate. “Remind yourself that you have been overworked and your body is exhausted. And it is just as important to honour and nourish yourself with sleep as it is to meet those exercise goals.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Give to yourself to improve interactions with others</strong></p> <p>When you’re in so many highly social situations over the holidays, practising self-compassion may actually improve your interactions with your family and friends.</p> <p>“One of the most interesting findings in this area of research is that by practising compassion towards the self, you are also fostering a deep connection and compassion towards others,” Pila explains. “By mindfully and kindly addressing our own self-criticisms, we can identify and combat automatic negative judgments we are prone to making of others, and be more accepting of those around us.”&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>Lose the ‘no pain, no gain’ attitude</strong></p> <p>After a bout of physical inactivity, coupled with the decadence of the holidays, many of us take an almost punitive approach to getting back on track.</p> <p>“The fitness and diet industries have long promoted the idea of ‘willpower’ and the glorification of dietary restriction and engagement in strict and specific exercise routines to maintain your weight,” Pila says. “This mindset has allowed us to believe that being tough on ourselves sparks motivation, and that being kind to ourselves is indulgent and will lead to complacency. Luckily, there is abundant evidence to refute these claims and suggests that individuals who are more self-compassionate maintain high standards and personal goals, and are better able to cope and accept when they fail to meet their goals.”</p> <p>So if you miss the gym or have overeaten, but react with more self-compassion and less self-criticism, you are better equipped to cope emotionally, move on more quickly and effectively plan for the next time you have an opportunity to exercise, or mindfully eat.</p> <p>“Self-compassion can be a very effective antidote to dealing with failed health-related goals during the holidays and going forward into the new year.”</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 20 Dec 2017 05:00:00 +0000 noreen.rasbach 125231 at 'We could do a better job': Թϱ expert on new guidelines about physical activity for kids under four /news/we-could-do-better-job-u-t-expert-new-guidelines-about-physical-activity-kids-under-four <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">'We could do a better job': Թϱ expert on new guidelines about physical activity for kids under four</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rasbachn</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-11-22T11:23:05-05:00" title="Wednesday, November 22, 2017 - 11:23" class="datetime">Wed, 11/22/2017 - 11:23</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by iStock)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Experts have been saying for decades that Canadians are in the midst of an inactivity crisis. <a href="https://www.participaction.com/en-ca/thought-leadership/benefits-and-guidelines/0-4">A new report released this week</a> looks at the lives of babies and toddlers and&nbsp;concludes that they are far too sedentary and get too much screen time.</p> <p>The report, by a number of experts including researchers at&nbsp;Ottawa's Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO), the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology and ParticipAction,&nbsp;includes new guidelines that advocate for three hours of physical activity a day for infants and children up to age four, with at least one of those hours committed to “energetic play.”</p> <p><strong>John Cairney</strong>, a professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp;&nbsp; Physical Education,&nbsp;has published extensively on early childhood physical activity. He speaks with <strong>Valerie Iancovich</strong>&nbsp; about what these latest guidelines could mean for Canadian families.</p> <hr> <p><strong>This report seems to suggest that parents make assumptions about how much their small children are moving in a kind of innate, organic way. How do we get back to really allowing children to get the movement they need?</strong></p> <p>That is a real challenge for parents. For many families in Canada, children are in daycare from an earlier age and are starting school sooner. This means there is much more structure in the lives of children than in previous generations. Parents should ask daycares and schools about their policies are around unstructured play – how much of the day is devoted to free play, which must include “active” play alongside other activities (for example, arts and crafts)?</p> <h3><a href="http://www.participaction.com/en-ca/thought-leadership">Read the&nbsp;guidelines for children up to the age of four</a></h3> <h3><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/health/toddlers-babies-exercise-guidelines-1.4410276">Read a CBC story about the guidelines</a></h3> <p>It is also sometimes difficult to allow kids the time they need to explore and play and practise fundamental movement skills because of our busy lives. Some of that play also involves some risk (for example, the chance of falling while learning to walk). We want to keep our kids safe but we don’t want to bubble wrap our children either. As difficult as it is, we need to step back sometimes and let our children take some reasonable risks in their physical literacy journey – that is the how they learn and grow.</p> <p><strong>Is it mostly about eliminating screen time and getting back to play? What role, if any, does structured physical activity (toddler soccer, baby yoga) play in the solution?</strong></p> <p>There are clear guidelines about limiting screen time and those should be followed. But, as important as free play is, structured play is also important. We know from the literature on motor development that children do not acquire fundamental movement skills only through free play. Instruction, support and constant encouragement are also needed.</p> <p>There are some great programs in the community that support movement skill development. It is really important though to pick programs that emphasize movement skill across domains (fine, gross, balance) and not just specific sport skills. The early years should be about acquiring the <em>fun</em>damentals of physical activity and sport. It is not the time to specialize in a single sport. It should always be about fun!</p> <p><strong>The trend is hardly new. What might advocates and health-promotion campaigns be getting wrong in raising awareness about this? Or is this just a result of the modern lifestyle demands on families?</strong></p> <p>It isn’t new, but the hope is by continuing to raise awareness, we can get the message through. Often it is not about not having enough time but how we use the time we have. Instead of an hour of TV watching in the evening, play an active game together as a family. Go for a walk and use the time to connect with your children. I am not saying it is easy, but if we see the value and know the importance of doing it, we are more likely to make it happen. Part of this knowledge. Part of it is making a commitment to change. Remember, playing with your children is good for you too.</p> <p><strong>This report says daily toddler physical activity should include at least one hour of “energetic play” for three&nbsp;and four year olds – something that previously wasn't recommended until age five. Why the change?</strong></p> <p>Part of it is related to concerns about how little time children three to four spend in energetic play. We used to think this just happened naturally but we see from research this is not so. It is tragic that we need to make these recommendations, but it speaks to how the experience of children – the ways children’s lives are structured around sedentary pursuits&nbsp;– has changed so profoundly in our society over the past couple of decades.</p> <p><strong>Can you speak to any potential connection between these findings in preschool children and the lack of universal access to early childhood education? If we had a more regulated system that not only had standardized curriculum, but provided access to early childhood education for all young children (across the socioeconomic spectrum), could we perhaps expect healthier, more active kids?</strong></p> <p>A quality early childhood program (preschool, daycare) should include opportunities for the development of physical literacy. This requires training and support for staff and ongoing monitoring. The provision of quality daycare that is universally accessible is extremely important. However, even in structured settings, we could do a better job.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 22 Nov 2017 16:23:05 +0000 rasbachn 122770 at After the game: How parents can improve the car ride home with young athletes /news/after-game-how-parents-can-improve-car-ride-home-young-athletes <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">After the game: How parents can improve the car ride home with young athletes</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-10-04sports-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SGHUHMXD 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-10-04sports-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=8seBS1It 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-10-04sports-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=gNK8CHvg 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-10-04sports-resized.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=SGHUHMXD" alt> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rasbachn</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-10-04T14:49:42-04:00" title="Wednesday, October 4, 2017 - 14:49" class="datetime">Wed, 10/04/2017 - 14:49</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">The study involved both teenagers and their parents and their interactions while driving home after games and practices (photo by Barry Lenard via Flickr)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Advice from Թϱ's Katherine Tamminen</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The car door closes, and your adolescent daughter slumps in the seat – a sheen of sweat from the game still lingers on her brow and a scowl emerges on her face. She reaches for her ear buds and avoids eye contact. Clearly, the game didn’t go well.</p> <p><strong>Katherine Tamminen</strong>, assistant professor in University of Toronto's&nbsp;Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, recently published one of the first studies to explore the ways that parents and young athletes interact during the car ride home, and how this unique interaction might influence the parent-child relationship.</p> <p>Tamminen spoke with 27 adolescents between the ages of 11 and 16 involved in a range of sports&nbsp;including baseball, hockey and figure skating, as well as with their parents. She asked athletes about interactions with their parents while they drove home after games and practices.</p> <p>She found that while there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach for parental communication during the car ride home, there are some points for parents to consider to ensure the experience is as positive as possible for both parties.</p> <p>Here are some of her suggestions:</p> <h3>Take some time</h3> <p>This is advice for both parents and athletes. “Give the child some time to think and give yourself some time to think, rather than just attacking the topic of the athlete’s or the team’s performances,” advises Tamminen. “Parents said it was really valuable to let the emotions cool down. When people get in the car right after the game, especially if it’s a poor performance, there is the potential for conflict or negativity. Just take time to think before you speak.”</p> <h3>Use the privacy as a positive&nbsp;</h3> <div>“The physical set-up – you’re side by side, you’re not facing each other – also opens up the conversation,” says Tamminen. “You’re non-confrontational. We found that the car ride creates this pod of privacy where you can talk about things you might not otherwise talk about in front of other people, which could be a good or a bad thing,” she explains.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <div>If an athlete was being treated poorly by teammates or their coaches, for example, the car could provide a safe space to talk about that. But in other cases, Tamminen found things could get more heated when there weren’t spouses, siblings or teammates in the car to act as potential buffers.</div> <div>&nbsp;</div> <h3>Talk about the actual car ride home</h3> <p>It could be helpful to directly address the car ride home with your kids. “Some parents said that even having a conversation about the car ride helped,” says Tamminen. “Ask them what they want to talk about during that time. Maybe they’d prefer to talk about their performance after dinner or before bed. Perhaps you’d rather use the car ride home as a cooling-off period, perhaps to put on music or just relax.”</p> <h3>Develop rules of the road</h3> <p>Allow your child to contribute to the plan. Your child may say, “I’d really rather you start with something positive rather than always telling me the negative.” Having that conversation with your child and allowing them some input on how these talks unfold can be very valuable, according to Tamminen’s research.</p> <h3>Pay attention to non-verbal communication</h3> <p>Every relationship is different. But some children may come to the car and ask directly how they did or what they did wrong. “In other cases, athletes might get in the car, put in their headphones and look out the window,” Tamminen explains. Some of the athletes admitted that they’d pretend to fall asleep to avoid having to talk about the game. “That could be an example of athletes trying to assert their power over the direction of the conversation. They may choose not to talk sometimes as well, and sometimes that silence is useful if everyone needs to cool down. It’s important to distinguish between good silence and bad silence.”</p> <h3>Don’t be afraid of tough conversations</h3> <p>There are non-accusatory ways to talk about mistakes on the field. “I think that there’s value in those hard conversations,” says Tamminen. She emphasizes that these must be measured, thoughtful and productive. “Maybe you witness something negative that happened to your child during that game, and you need to debrief about it because it can’t sit and fester. These tough conversations can be valuable for the athlete’s development or more broadly for the child’s development and for the parent-child relationship. But you want to ensure that your child doesn’t feel alienated from you, or dread the car ride home. It’s a fine balance.”</p> <p><a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/316722977_The_Car_Ride_Home_An_Interpretive_Examination_of_Parent-Athlete_Sport_Conversations">The Car Ride Home: An Interpretive Examination of Parent-Athlete Sport Conversations</a>&nbsp; was funded in part by the Թϱ Connaught Fund and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Wed, 04 Oct 2017 18:49:42 +0000 rasbachn 118189 at Life lessons: Թϱ Camp participants take what they learned to the streets /news/life-lessons-u-t-camp-participants-take-what-they-learned-streets <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Life lessons: Թϱ Camp participants take what they learned to the streets</span> <div class="field field--name-field-featured-picture field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="eager" srcset="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-09-22-young-campers.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fr7CirRq 370w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_740/public/2017-09-22-young-campers.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=YLx4ESXu 740w, /sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_1110/public/2017-09-22-young-campers.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=Xeu6H9eu 1110w" sizes="(min-width:1200px) 1110px, (max-width: 1199px) 80vw, (max-width: 767px) 90vw, (max-width: 575px) 95vw" width="740" height="494" src="/sites/default/files/styles/news_banner_370/public/2017-09-22-young-campers.jpg?h=afdc3185&amp;itok=fr7CirRq" alt="Picture of young campers"> </div> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>rasbachn</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2017-09-22T14:32:12-04:00" title="Friday, September 22, 2017 - 14:32" class="datetime">Fri, 09/22/2017 - 14:32</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Camp Թϱ and Junior Blues run through the summer and March Break, offering 33 programs committed to sport, recreation and play (photo by Seed9)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/city-culture" hreflang="en">City &amp; Culture</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Create an inclusive and safe environment and look out for your fellow campers – those are just a couple of the values promoted through <a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/child-youth/welcome-camp-u-t">Camp Թϱ</a>'s camper code.</p> <p>This fall, Oliver Wong, Arnav Shah and Quinlan Birmingham exemplified these principles when they translated a project they dreamed up at a business camp run by University of Toronto's Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education into a real-world solution to make their neighbourhood safer.</p> <p>The 11-year old boys started the Crosswalk Company, developing&nbsp;a system for placing bright orange flags at the crosswalk near their school to further alert drivers to pedestrian traffic. In 2014, a young girl, Georgia Walsh, was struck and killed by a driver in their neighbourhood and the community has since been committed to getting cars to slow down to prevent another tragedy.</p> <p>“They are such smart, thoughtful kids,” says <strong>Rowan DeBues</strong>, who led the business camp the boys attended. “I'm so proud of them.&nbsp;It's awesome seeing these guys take lessons from camp games and simulations and run with them to another level.”</p> <p><a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/child-youth/welcome-camp-u-t">Camp Թϱ</a> and <a href="https://kpe.utoronto.ca/child-youth/junior-blues">Junior Blues</a> run throughout the summer and during March Break. They offer 33 unique programs committed to sport, recreation and play, with topics ranging from animation to track and field. In 2015-16, more than 4,300 children and youth participated in these programs.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p>CBC's Lisa Naccarato recently profiled the young entrepreneurs. <strong>Will Kopplin</strong>, Թϱ’s acting manager of children and youth programs, is also planning to acknowledge the boys' initiative with a presentation during half-time at an upcoming <a href="http://www.varsityblues.ca/">Varsity Blues</a> football game. "We couldn't ask for a better example of taking the fundamental principles of Camp Թϱ out into the real world. On behalf of everyone at Թϱ, we’d like to send them a great big congratulations.”</p> <h3><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/inspired-by-georgia-walsh-tragedy-these-young-boys-devised-flag-system-for-safer-streets-1.4295730">Read the <em>CBC&nbsp;</em>story</a></h3> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> Fri, 22 Sep 2017 18:32:12 +0000 rasbachn 116820 at Why adolescent girls drop out of sports and how to keep them in the game /news/why-adolescent-girls-drop-out-sports-and-how-keep-them-game <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Why adolescent girls drop out of sports and how to keep them in the game</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-12-09T05:35:54-05:00" title="Wednesday, December 9, 2015 - 05:35" class="datetime">Wed, 12/09/2015 - 05:35</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Research suggests more girls will continue to play if organizers can make changes to uniforms, establish positive, supportive atmosphere (Photo by Prince William Hockey Club U16 Panthers via Flickr)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/breaking-research" hreflang="en">Breaking Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/exercise" hreflang="en">Exercise</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sport" hreflang="en">Sport</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sports" hreflang="en">Sports</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/youth" hreflang="en">Youth</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Participating in team sports boosts mental health but body image and fitness worries make girls quit</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>A rink occupied by female hockey players isn’t the rare sight it was 15 or 20 years ago. Yet while opportunities for girls in sport continue to grow, participation remains lower than for boys.</p> <p>Moreover, girls drop out at higher rates&nbsp;when they begin to experience physical changes, sometimes as early as age 9 or 10.</p> <p>Associate Professor <strong>Catherine Sabiston</strong> of the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education is exploring how feelings about appearance – both positive and negative – influence girls’ likelihood to stay involved in sport. Her findings suggest that the worse a girl feels about her appearance and fitness, the less likely she is to enjoy, and remain enrolled in, her sport or physical activity.</p> <p>Sabiston’s study, which began in summer 2014 and followed more than&nbsp;300 girls between 14 and 18 throughout two seasons, is the first to explore a wide range of body-related emotions.Until now,&nbsp;analysis of girls and sport has focused on whether girls were satisfied with their experiences –&nbsp;or examined negative moods connected to body image.</p> <p>During just the first phase of the study, six per cent of the girls dropped out.</p> <p>“Self-consciousness related to the body is one of the key reasons why girls drop&nbsp;out of sport during adolescence as their bodies are changing,” Sabiston explains.</p> <h2><img alt="Percentage of girls who thought they were overweight versus who were actually overweight" src="/sites/default/files/NEWS-overweight1_FIN.jpg" style="width: 100%; height: auto;"></h2> <p>Girls in her study reported that they felt growing shame and guilt, in particular when they compared their bodies to those of their peers.<br> &nbsp;<br> Self-criticism often leads to distorted perception. Twenty-four per cent of the girls reported that they thought they were overweight. In reality, only three per cent were.</p> <p>Sabiston says that these negative emotions likely influence the girls’ confidence in their ability. Forty per cent reported that they were worried that they would perform badly and 27 percent said they felt anxious about sport in general.</p> <p>The good news is that 70 per cent of the girls said they thought they played well and 64 per cent said they were proud of their fitness accomplishments.</p> <p>Sabiston says that encouraging positive emotions can help to thwart the drop-out trend. She also recommends giving girls a choice of uniform style to help build confidence.</p> <p>“Small but important modifications to uniforms can make more girls feel more comfortable,” she says.</p> <p>It’s also important to discourage girls from comparing one another’s performances and physicality. Together, these types of efforts could create a more supportive environment for girls and allow them to reap the benefits of sport participation, both physical and mental.&nbsp;</p> <p>From related research Sabiston has found that team sport participation is particularly beneficial for mental health, including body image. “Depression and anxiety outcomes are lower and general mental health is higher when adolescents are involved in sport, team sport in particular.”</p> <p>Research also finds that if girls form these positive relationships with sport early on, they are more likely to continue an active lifestyle into adulthood.&nbsp;</p> <p>“It starts as early as 10. We need to help more at that level, as girls are going through body transitions.”</p> <p>Sport participation is often viewed as a coping strategy for girls undergoing physical changes. But if the girls are too self-conscious to play, they never reap those benefits. “It’s an unfortunate cycle,” Sabiston says.</p> <p><a href="https://flic.kr/p/7zduoy"><em style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">(See the original of the above photo at Flickr)</em></a></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-12-08-girls-sport-participation.jpg</div> </div> Wed, 09 Dec 2015 10:35:54 +0000 sgupta 7507 at Stuck in traffic? These pedometer apps think you're walking /news/stuck-traffic-these-pedometer-apps-think-youre-walking <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Stuck in traffic? These pedometer apps think you're walking</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-12-07T08:03:06-05:00" title="Monday, December 7, 2015 - 08:03" class="datetime">Mon, 12/07/2015 - 08:03</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Researchers found several popular pedometer apps have an “an unacceptable error percentage” (photo by iStock)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/breaking-research" hreflang="en">Breaking Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/app" hreflang="en">App</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/exercise" hreflang="en">Exercise</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Study finds flaws in popular downloads for phones</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>GPS navigator, recipe finder, camera, music player: the phones that most of us use today go well beyond voice-to-voice communication.</p> <p>However, if you thought your smartphone could also serve as a pocket-sized personal trainer, newly-published research has found that three of the most popular free apps designed to track fitness are seriously flawed.</p> <p>The evaluation, led by Professor <strong>Guy Faulkner</strong> of the Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education and KPE master’s student <strong>Krystn Orr</strong>, appears in the journal&nbsp;<em>BMC Research Notes</em>.</p> <p>“We know that more and more Canadians want to take their health into their own hands and these apps seem like a good way to do just that,” Orr says.</p> <p>“Self-evaluation can be very effective in lifestyle change as well, so it’s important that people are getting the most accurate information possible and using tools they can trust.”</p> <p>The work was inspired by Rise at Work, a larger project intended to evaluate workplace physical activity at the University of Toronto. (<a href="http://physical.utoronto.ca/News/2014/12/09/rise@work-for-health-and-happiness">Read more about the project</a>.) Researchers looking for a cost-effective, accessible way to track steps noted that there had been few published research papers looking into commercial smartphone pedometer applications.</p> <h2><a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/tags/walking">Read more about Թϱ&nbsp;research on the importance of walking</a></h2> <p>Accupedo, Moves and Runtastic were the most popular free pedometer apps, so researchers&nbsp;ran each through a series of tests to measure their accuracy. Each is compatible with Android and Apple smartphones and gathers step stats via the phones’ built-in accelerometers, GPS navigation tools or a combination of both.</p> <p>Subjects used the apps in a variety of scenarios. Most basic was a simple, 20-step test during which they wore a traditional pedometer on their hip and held the phone in their hand. In each instance, the pedometer was pretty much bang-on, but the phone apps were off by about five per cent. Similar results were found after a 40-step stair climb test, a treadmill test and three days of unstructured regular activity.</p> <p>The team also found that the tools weren’t quite as smart as they claimed. When one researcher found her phone tallied steps when she was actually stuck in traffic, the team was inspired to add a driving test. The researchers&nbsp;found that with each app, the GPS tool interpreted slow car motion as walking.</p> <p>Their conclusion was that&nbsp;there is “an unacceptable error percentage in all of the applications when compared to the pedometer.<span style="font-size: 12px; line-height: 18px;">”</span></p> <p>If you’re looking for a tool to help keep your fitness goals on track and your New Year’s resolutions in sight, Orr suggests investing in wearable technology designed specifically for tracking movement.</p> <p>If these options seem pricey, there is always the old-fashioned route. “Really, there’s no reason you can’t just stick to a traditional pedometer,” Orr says. “It’s probably the most reliable and cost-effective tool for tracking your steps.”</p> <p><em>Read “<a href="http://www.biomedcentral.com/1756-0500/8/733/about">Validity of smartphone pedometer applications</a>” by Krystn Orr, Holly S. Howe, Janine Omran, Kristina A. Smith, Tess M. Palmateer, Alvin E. Ma and Guy Faulkner.</em></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-12-07-phone-pedometer-app.jpg</div> </div> Mon, 07 Dec 2015 13:03:06 +0000 sgupta 7509 at Why yoga belongs in gym class /news/why-yoga-belongs-gym-class <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Why yoga belongs in gym class</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-11-16T09:00:02-05:00" title="Monday, November 16, 2015 - 09:00" class="datetime">Mon, 11/16/2015 - 09:00</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">If high school gym class looked more like this, teens might be less critical of their bodies, Holly Howe says (photo courtesy Georgia National Guard via flickr)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/breaking-research" hreflang="en">Breaking Research</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/research" hreflang="en">Research</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/students" hreflang="en">Students</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">12-month research project examines impact on body image, motivation, mindfulness</div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Awkward gym uniforms, regulated fitness tests, being the last one picked&nbsp;– for many high school kids, gym class is anything but fun and games.</p> <p>But second-year master’s student <strong>Holly Howe</strong> is looking to change that. Howe spent the summer at Washington State University contributing to a 12-month research project about how introducing yoga into physical education&nbsp;curriculum may influence things like body image, motivation and mindfulness.</p> <p>The findings are set to be published in early 2016.</p> <p>Howe was able to seize the opportunity thanks to a grant from the <a href="http://www.sshrc-crsh.gc.ca/home-accueil-eng.aspx">Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council</a>,&nbsp;the Michael Smith Foreign Study Supplements scholarship (which funded a fourth-month research exchange anywhere in the world) and her supervisor, Professor <strong>Catherine Sabiston</strong>.&nbsp;</p> <p>Aware of Howe's interest&nbsp;in exploring the physical and mental health benefits of yoga, Sabiston suggested she connect with Professor Anne Cox&nbsp;–&nbsp;an expert in in sport and exercise psychology at Washington State University.</p> <p>“Cathi has known Anne for quite a while and knew her work well. She got in touch with her, helped set up the connection and then she sent me off!”</p> <p>When Howe arrived in Washington in April, the study,&nbsp;Testing the Effects of a High School Physical Education Yoga Curriculum,&nbsp;was well underway. The team was exploring whether yoga curriculum might be more effective than tradition phys ed activities at promoting positive body image as well as a love of exercise in high school students who may otherwise avoid gym class.</p> <p>“We got the sense that many were only taking a fitness class because it was mandatory,” Howe explains. “They had no actual interest in sport."</p> <p>Throughout those four months, Howe refined her research skills in helping to put the paper together, running the stats and learning more about the academic writing process.</p> <p>“It was a really great experience to learn writing from someone who isn't your supervisor, to get a different take on it.”</p> <p>The findings were promising: students had marginally improved body images and were less critical of their bodies, likely because yoga promotes internal awareness over competition.</p> <p>“This allows a person to appreciate their body for what it can do rather than what it's not doing or what it looks like, comparing it to other people, all that type of stuff,” Howe says.&nbsp;“There are a lot of subtle ways that we could change PE make it a lot more focused on simply enjoying physical activity.”</p> <p>Along with enriching her understanding of yoga and its potential role in improving gym class, the experience ignited Howe’s interest in field work, especially internationally.</p> <p>“I’ve noticed changes in my writing and even in how I'm designing studies. Թϱ made it super-easy to work abroad. In Cathi's lab, she really emphasizes getting out there and trying new things and looking at different research. She's great at forging those connections.</p> <p>“It's really valuable to get another person's opinion, to get off of campus and out of the city to research in a different setting. It really lets you know what's out there.”</p> <p>(<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/ganatlguard/19125038413/in/photolist-v91PBB-fsDPbg-gA8xH-7c6BTC-b5C46z-9EcZ7b-dic6XF-5e9xDS-6hiVWW-6hiVgf-r4xko-5e5b16-5e5adr-4psNkn-gpvkGn-8fARNs-5e5aKk-5e9x4u-5e5ajD-5e9wkf-5e9ym3-5e9xeQ-5e5b8t-5e9xnL-5e5ct8-5e5arP-5e5bMV-5e5ccF-5e5aEx-5e9xPY-5e9y6o-5e5aQV-4pwRsU-5dUADu-aBsCzJ-sMzV2D-7QMPE6-5DJ95k-awpaoM-9cZgQd-4RsWTj-4RoJYH-E22Ps-8r5GF-8fxBwD-89WJSZ-7fHoJA-9hWeQ2-47WDSh-9hZ6h9">See the original of the&nbsp;photo above on flickr</a>)</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-11-16-yoga-kids.jpg</div> </div> Mon, 16 Nov 2015 14:00:02 +0000 sgupta 7447 at Russia’s doping scandal: Թϱ sports expert on the crimes and punishments /news/russias-doping-scandal-u-t-sports-expert-crimes-and-punishments <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden"> Russia’s doping scandal: Թϱ sports expert on the crimes and punishments</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-11-12T06:24:54-05:00" title="Thursday, November 12, 2015 - 06:24" class="datetime">Thu, 11/12/2015 - 06:24</time> </span> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-topic field--type-entity-reference field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Topic</div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/topics/global-lens" hreflang="en">Global Lens</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/global" hreflang="en">Global</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/international" hreflang="en">International</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/sport" hreflang="en">Sport</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/top-stories" hreflang="en">Top Stories</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Shockwaves rippled through the world of sport on Nov.&nbsp;9 when the results of an independent report commissioned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) revealed state-sponsored doping in Russia.&nbsp;</p> <p>Among the report’s many findings were revelations that a Moscow-based laboratory had been tampering with, or discarding, positive blood and urine samples, with staff often pressured to comply through systematic bribery and threats.&nbsp;</p> <p>Professor <strong>Peter Donnelly</strong>, director of Թϱ’s Centre for Sport Policy, has studied growing corruption in international sport organizations, and has been working to remedy the way those organizations are governed. (<a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/fifa-arrests-sports-experts-u-t-why-took-so-long-and-what-it-all-means-future-soccer">Read Donnelly on the FIFA scandal</a>.)&nbsp;</p> <p>He says that while this is just the latest in a series of such scandals, it could bring international, high-level sport closer to the brink in the court of public opinion.</p> <p><strong>What was your reaction to this latest news about such high levels of corruption and state-sponsored doping in Russia? Was this a long time coming?&nbsp;</strong><br> This is just the latest in a series of large scale doping scandals: the East German / East European programs that peaked in the 1970s; the US Olympic Committee covering up positive tests in the 1980s; the widespread doping program among Canadian sprinters in the 1980s that led to the Dubin investigation, and the Festina scandal in the 1990s (cycling) and US Postal / Lance Armstrong scandal in the 2000s, and the Chinese and German doping scandals at around the same time.&nbsp;</p> <p>It’s not surprising – whenever the outcome of a sports event becomes more important than involvement in that event, some athletes / sport systems are likely to seek an advantage. With the accessibility of online gambling and the possibility of betting on the outcome of almost any sports event, there are even greater pressures with regard to the outcome. And when governments become involved in the international pissing contest that has been called the "global sporting arms’ race"&nbsp;to win Olympic medals, then those involved feel more constrained to do "whatever it takes"&nbsp;to win.&nbsp;</p> <p>It was probably a long time coming. I suspect that athletes from other countries at the London 2012 Olympics felt there was something going on in Russia. About 9 or 10 months ago I heard about the German investigative documentary and the Russian whistle blowers who provided the initial evidence; and there have been reports about them being in hiding in Germany for the last 6 months.</p> <p>It is possible that Russia’s successful bid for the Sochi Olympics, and the country’s ambition for another summer Olympics triggered a new wave of attempts to win Olympic medals "by any means".&nbsp;</p> <p>What is interesting is that Russia went from second place in track and field in London to ninth place in track and field at the World Championships in Beijing this year – the World Championships took place after the whistle blowers and the German documentary had pointed to the state-sponsored doping program, so Russian track and field was probably winding down the doping program as the WADA investigation was under way – triggered by the German documentary.&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>Is Russia alone in this scale of corruption?</strong><br> Perhaps in the scale of corruption at this particular time, but again the secrecy of such actions makes it very difficult to know whether other countries are involved to the same extent.</p> <p><strong>The International Olympic Committee is considering retesting blood samples from Russian athletes who competed in Sochi, saying that athletes found guilty of doping should be stripped of their medals. What are your thoughts on that?</strong><br> Re-testing athlete samples some years later, as new tests become available, is standard practice at WADA and national anti-doping agencies.</p> <p>But it’s possible that many Sochi samples were among the more than 1,400 samples that we know were destroyed by the Russian anti-doping lab.<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>The WADA report called for lifetime bans on five coaches and five athletes, including two who won medals in London. Do you believe that is the right step?</strong><br> WADA would be throwing due process out of the window if they did this. Due process would be to follow their own guidelines, and impose (what I believe is now) a four-year ban for any athlete caught for the first time. No governance or judicial system can work if you increase the punishment just because you’re mad at those who are guilty.</p> <p><strong>How much onus can be put on these athletes when it sounds like many were pressured by high level officials to comply or risk being excluded from training/competition?</strong><br> I’ve always thought that the focus on athletes lets the other guilty parties off the hook -- those who provided drugs, those who pressured for and who monitored their use, and those who helped athletes to negotiate testing protocols were at least equally guilty, and should suffer similar punishments from WADA, from criminal justice agencies, and even from their professional associations (e.g., coaches violating their association’s code of ethics; doctors violating their Hippocratic oath to "do no harm"). &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>The report also recommends that Russia be banned from international athletics competition&nbsp;until it has cleaned up its act, but some say that will only further alienate athletes and other members of their sport community.</strong><br> I am not a believer in collective punishment – the punishments should be applied to those who have been found to be in violation of the regulations, or those who have assisted others in violating the regulations. There will be Russian athletes who have not been involved who would be caught up in a blanket ban, and who will have their own Olympic dreams dashed. The punishments should also fit the crime – fines for federations, suspensions or removal of guilty officials and athletes, etc. Even with a systemic doping program, it would be a mistake to assume collective guilt.<br> &nbsp;&nbsp;<br> <strong>The public seems to be growing cynical about the authenticity of many international-level sporting events.&nbsp;</strong><br> We are learning that the autonomy of sport – the existence of separate regulatory systems for sport, outside of mainstream regulatory systems – is a problem; and we have learned that in the often undemocratic, self-governing organizations of sport, corruption thrives. There are many scholars and activists who are now involved in actions that are attempting to limit the autonomy of sport, and to establish good governance principles for all sports organizations. The widely publicized problems of international federations for soccer, track and field and cycling appear to be just the tip of the iceberg – and unless things begin to change, sports will lose all credibility – they will become professional wrestling style ‘sportainment’. &nbsp;<br> &nbsp;<br> <strong>What are the developments you’ll be watching most closely as this case progresses?</strong><br> Most of the chapter about the international track and field federation (IAAF) in the WADA report has not been released because of the French police investigation of bribes taken by track and field officials to cover-up negative doping tests. I will be watching for that; and I suspect that, just as with FIFA, what we are hearing now is just the start rather than the end of the story.</p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-11-11-doping-in-track.jpg</div> </div> Thu, 12 Nov 2015 11:24:54 +0000 sgupta 7439 at First of its kind: new master of professional kinesiology program at Թϱ /news/first-its-kind-new-master-professional-kinesiology-program-u-t <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">First of its kind: new master of professional kinesiology program at Թϱ</span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-11-10T02:41:10-05:00" title="Tuesday, November 10, 2015 - 02:41" class="datetime">Tue, 11/10/2015 - 02:41</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">(photo by John Hryniuk courtesy Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education)</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/graduate-students" hreflang="en">Graduate Students</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/kinesiology" hreflang="en">Kinesiology</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/kpe" hreflang="en">KPE</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/more-news" hreflang="en">More News</a></div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>The Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education will launch the master of professional kinesiology (MPK) program&nbsp;in August. 2016&nbsp;–&nbsp;the first program of its kind in the province.&nbsp;</p> <p>“MPK students will gain advanced knowledge and skills in the professional practice of kinesiology through exposure to diverse learning environments, interprofessional health care teams and top scholars,” says Professor&nbsp;<strong>Scott Thomas</strong>, one of the developers of the MPK program.</p> <p>“Through a mix of classroom, case-based, laboratory and experiential educational offerings, we will take full advantage of the networks of expertise and breadth of populations in the GTA.”&nbsp;</p> <p>The Faculty received approval from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities to introduce the program, on the heels of Ontario becoming the first province in Canada to regulate kinesiology as a health profession.&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="http://www.physical.utoronto.ca/docs/graduate-program-documents/mpk_bi-fold_press_nov.pdf?sfvrsn=0">Read more about the program</a></h2> <p>The MPK will appeal to new graduates as well as registered kinesiologists looking for advanced, professional development through the 16-month, course-based program, Thomas said.&nbsp;</p> <p>Some of the&nbsp;settings students will encounter include hospitals, clinics, sport institutes and community organizations working with elite athletes; children and youth of varying abilities; the aging and elderly; those living with chronic disease, concussion or musculoskeletal challenges.&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="http://www.physical.utoronto.ca/Event/2015/09/29/graduate-program-information-session">Attend an information session</a></h2> <p>“This is a tremendous advancement for our Faculty” says Acting Dean <strong>Gretchen Kerr</strong>. “With the growing recognition of the value of physical activity for health and wellness across the lifespan, research-informed practice in kinesiology is more important than ever.</p> <p>“This new MPK programme uniquely integrates theory, research, and practice through leading-edge experiential education and community engagement opportunities. It is exciting to be a part of developing leaders in the field.”&nbsp;</p> <h2><a href="http://physical.utoronto.ca/Graduate/prospective-mpk-students.aspx">Visit the web site</a></h2> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-11-09-kpe.jpg</div> </div> Tue, 10 Nov 2015 07:41:10 +0000 sgupta 7374 at Why walking to school is better than driving for your kids /news/why-walking-school-better-driving-your-kids <span class="field field--name-title field--type-string field--label-hidden">Why walking to school is better than driving for your kids </span> <span class="field field--name-uid field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden"><span>sgupta</span></span> <span class="field field--name-created field--type-created field--label-hidden"><time datetime="2015-09-11T09:52:09-04:00" title="Friday, September 11, 2015 - 09:52" class="datetime">Fri, 09/11/2015 - 09:52</time> </span> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-cutline-long field--type-text-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Cutline</div> <div class="field__item">Children who walk to school have been found to have higher academic performance, says George Mammen</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-reporters field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/authors-reporters/valerie-iancovich" hreflang="en">Valerie Iancovich</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-author-legacy field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Author legacy</div> <div class="field__item">Valerie Iancovich </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-story-tags field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/back-school" hreflang="en">Back to School</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/children" hreflang="en">Children</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/faculty-kinesiology-physical-education" hreflang="en">Faculty of Kinesiology &amp; Physical Education</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/features" hreflang="en">Features</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/health" hreflang="en">Health</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/news/tags/walking" hreflang="en">Walking</a></div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-subheadline field--type-string-long field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">Subheadline</div> <div class="field__item">Թϱ researcher on the importance of fresh air, exercise and a lower risk of accident or injury </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-body field--type-text-with-summary field--label-hidden field__item"><p>With the start of a new school year comes the opportunity to establish new, healthy routines.</p> <p>But <a href="http://www.participaction.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2015-Report-Card-Full-Report-EN-FINAL.pdf">statistics show</a>&nbsp;the vast majority of school-aged kids still aren’t getting enough physical activity&nbsp;– only five per cent of children and youth in Canada between the ages of&nbsp;five and 19&nbsp;reach the daily minimum of 12,000 steps.</p> <p>Adding a walk to and from school is a simple way to help reverse this trend, says&nbsp;<strong>George Mammen</strong>, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto.</p> <p>Mammen&nbsp;has worked closely with <strong>Professor Guy Faulkner</strong> and conducted <a href="http://www.physical.utoronto.ca/Beat.aspx" target="blank">extensive analysis</a> of active transportation – including his most recent publication, <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214140515002200" target="blank"><em>Putting school travel on the map</em></a>. And Mammen's work on how walking as little as &nbsp;20 minutes a day can help stave off depression made headlines around world. (<a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/prevent-depression-walk-20-minutes-day">Read more about depression and walking</a>.)</p> <p>Below, Mammen dispels some myths and fears about the walk to school and explains the many advantages of taking the car out of the morning commute.</p> <hr> <p><strong>What are the biggest misconceptions about walking to school? </strong></p> <p>To be more ‘protective,’ parents often think it is safer to drive their children to school rather than letting them walk. In reality, evidence shows that children are more likely to be harmed in a car accident compared to walking to school.</p> <p><strong>How do you respond when parents say they are concerned about strangers and traffic? </strong></p> <p>Research shows that children are at a higher risk of injury when being driven compared to walking to school. I would suggest families get to know their neighbours with children attending the same school and create ‘walking groups’ or ‘walking buddies’. This would help limit parents’ fears around active school travel, create a stronger sense of community and ensure that everyone feels confident about the new routine.</p> <p><strong>What are the mental health benefits of walking to school? </strong></p> <p>Children who walk to school have been found to have higher academic performance in terms of attention/alertness, verbal, numeric, and reasoning abilities; higher degree of pleasantness and lower levels of stress during the school day; and higher levels of happiness, excitement and relaxation on the journey to school. Walking to school can further foster personal growth by developing a sense of independent decision making, emotional bonds with peers and the natural environment, and road and traffic safety skills.</p> <p><strong>What about the physical benefits? </strong></p> <p>Active travel is one source of physical activity and with more physical activity comes increased metabolism, improved cardiorespiratory fitness, and lower weight and BMI.</p> <p><strong>Is there an ideal distance children should walk to reap the benefits? Or is there a distance that is too far?</strong></p> <p>Research has shown that living greater than 1.6 km from school was deemed ‘too far to walk.’ However, it's important to remember that any minute you walk is contributing to the daily guidelines for physical activity in children (i.e., 60 minutes). When walking to and from school, you can accumulate between 15-45 minutes of your daily physical activity.</p> <p><strong>How is the walk to school linked with other unstructured physical activity, such as riding a bike or playing at the park?</strong></p> <p>Compared to children who are driven to school, children who walk are found to be more active overall through other physical activity sources such as organized sport and unstructured ‘active play’.</p> <p><strong>You’ve reviewed research that analyzes the walk to school in various countries and cultures. What are some of the trends you’ve observed?</strong></p> <p>Over the last five decades, there has been decline in the number of children walking to school in countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, Vietnam, Brazil, the UK and US. This is why this research topic is so important&nbsp;–&nbsp;to reverse these trends globally and help increase this very important source of physical activity.</p> <p><strong>What are some of the real barriers to parents allowing their children to walk to school? </strong></p> <p>Among the families who live within a ‘walkable’ distance from school, parents typically identify safety and time issues as main barriers. I would suggest that parents let their children walk with friends. I would also advise making small changes to their schedules like heading to bed and waking up a bit earlier than usual to make time for this very important part of their days.</p> <p><a href="http://news.utoronto.ca/kid-friendly-cities-importance-walking-school">Read more about research by Թϱ experts&nbsp;on the benefits of walking to school</a></p> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-news-home-page-banner field--type-boolean field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">News home page banner</div> <div class="field__item">Off</div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-picpath field--type-string field--label-above"> <div class="field__label">picpath</div> <div class="field__item">sites/default/files/2015-09-11-B2School_walking-sized.jpg</div> </div> Fri, 11 Sep 2015 13:52:09 +0000 sgupta 7266 at