Ottawa Public Library-Physical Activity-Ottawa Residents-Steps Per Day-Pedometer

Put your best foot forward by using a pedometer

This week, Ottawa Public Health and the Ottawa Public Library are inviting residents to use a pedometer to mark the end of Physical Activity Month. Several members of the Board of Health and trustees of the Ottawa Public Library Board have been wearing pedometers all week, and have been tweeting their daily step counts with the hashtags #ottawawalks and #ottawamarche. Participating Councillors include Mathieu Fleury, Jan Harder, Katherine Hobbs and Shad Qadri.Recently, Ottawa Public Health released the Healthy Eating, Active Living (HEAL) strategy that promotes walking and active transportation. Walking does not require specialty equipment or a membership to a gym. Walking is a free, accessible and low impact form of physical activity that can be incorporated throughout the day. To increase your daily steps:

• Walk to work or school
• Use the stairs instead of the elevator
• Take a lunch time walk
• Walk to the movies or local grocery store

Residents often choose walking for their leisure physical activity. However, only 10 per cent of Ottawa residents reported biking or walking to work and only 35 per cent of Canadian adults (18 to 64 years old) accumulate the recommended 10,000 steps per day for walking.Wearing a pedometer will show the number of steps taken each day and it will help to compare your current walking activity level with what is recommended for your age. Daily step goals include:

• Children (5 to 11 years): 12,000 to 16,000 steps per day
• Youth (12 to 17 years): 11,000 to 12,000 steps per day
• Adults (18 to 64 years): 10,000 steps per day
• Older adults (65+): 6,000 to 7,000 steps per day

Ottawa Public Library offers a pedometer lending program at all of its branches. With a library card, residents can borrow a pedometer for three-week periods to count their steps and watch their walking increase over time. Every step counts – put your best foot forward and try to reach the daily step goal for your age. For more information on the pedometer lending program and to view pedometer availability, please visit biblioottawalibrary.ca/pedometer.Watch the hashtags #ottawawalks and #ottawamarche for updates on how the board members are doing. Everyone is welcome to participate and tweet their progress. read more..

source:ottawa.ca