MACKENZIE’S KID AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Mackenzie hiked Half Dome and took the cables to the top when she was 10 and hiked to the summit of Mt. Whitney when she was 13. She appreciates the importance of good nutrition and engaging in physical activity to being healthy. As part of her community service activity she volunteered to preview sites on Yosemite activities for kids and childhood obesity and contribute her efforts to CSUN & YOU @ HALF DOME. Her research efforts lead her to the websites below. She provides a brief summary for each site to help you decide if you'd like to view it and share the information with your family and friends.

The great thing about hiking is that almost everyone can do it with the right preparation. The United States is facing a severe problem of childhood and adult obesity. We thought this would be an opportunity to give you some information on the topic in the event you wanted to encourage physical activity for the children in your immediate and extended family, or for your friends. Included are many sites which are anecdotal but they give you an idea of what's available in Yosemite. The majority of the sites related to obesity and physical activity are taken from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and can be considered credible information.

Your HALF DOME adventure over the next 8 months can be a family affair

NUTRITION  AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY INFORMATION

  • Causes

  • Health Risks, Treatments, Diagnosis

  • Prevention

  • Prevalence and Identification

  • Focuses on Childhood obesity and explains and shows many topics in the link category.   Includes Growth Charts featuring BMI

    "Obesity in children and adolescents is a serious issue with many health and social consequences that often continue into adulthood."

  1. Prevent weight gain by doing two things:

    1. Assess your behavior and environment

    2. Adopt healthy eating habits

    The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
    o Three different sections. Each section leads to the same website on a different page, and the website has a BMI table and calculator

    • Physical Activity (good for kids)

    • Behavior Change (good for kids)

    • Healthy Eating Tip Sheet (good for parents of the kids)

Carrying excess body weight can increase your risk of developing or worsening an existing medical condition like diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea."

"Healthy weight, overweight and obese individuals can all benefit from using obesity prevention strategies."

  1. www.obesity.org
    This is a fact sheet that has charts and information directly about and for kids.

    • Explains what overweight and obesity are

    • Shows what diseases and health risks overweight or obese children are prone to

    • Has three tables showing the increase in obesity in different groups of children

"Today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities."

  1. www.cdc.gov/~rate.htm
    This website gives information to adults and older kids on their heart rate.

    • How to calculate their maximum heart rate

    • How to calculate their target heart rate for moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity physical activity

    • How to take their heart rate

     

  2. www.cdc.gov
    Search 'healthy bones'
    Includes:

    • Links, Games, and Quizzes that involve learning about bones

    • Information:

      o how to make bones strong
      o what makes them strong
      o What physical activity is good for your bones
      o What bones are

       

  3. www.cdc.gov~ables.pdf
    This websites provides an accurate BMI chart, specifically for ages 2-20. It also gives the formula for your BMI, and has a table of contents of 19 pages for you to choose the page your BMI is on by your weight and height.
     

  4. www.cdc.gov~adoles.htm
    For Teenagers
    A fact sheet filled with information and charts. Includes:

    • Benefits of physical activity

    • What communities can do to encourage physical activity

    • Key messages to teens
       

  5. www.cdc.gov/~index.htm
    This website provides 10 links on physical activity with information ranging from physical activity terms to the importance of physical activity to incorporating physical activity in your regular life.
     

  6. www.cdc.gov/~/index.htm
    Links

    • Why should I be active? (shows what regular physical activity improves and reduces)

    • Can everyone benefit from physical activity? (shows who can benefit from physical activity and how they can)

"Daily participation in high school physical education classes dropped from 42% in 1991 to 32% in 2001 (CDC, 2002)."

  • www.cdc.gov
    a. Search "health quizzes"

    • BAM! Body and Mind, CDC (has healthy snack recipes, quizzes on you and your health, physical activities, etc.)

    • KidsHealth, The Nemours Foundation (link for parents, kids, teenagers, information on a ton of stuff about keeping the body healthy, although not all of it is about exercising and eating healthy)

    • National Bone Health Campaign (links to information on calcium and strong bones, for parents and kids)
       

  •  www.cdc.gov

  • Search Healthy Recipes

    • a. Recipes for everyone that are nutritious and provide at least one serving of fruits or vegetables

    • Beverages

    • Soups

    • Breakfasts

    • Salads

    • Appetizers

    • Side Dishes

    • Entrees

    • Desserts
       


     

  • www.cdc.gov/~_2_1.pdf
    For Adults
    This website gives a chart of moderate and vigorous physical activity.
     

  • http://aspe.hhs.gov~index.shtml
    For Adults
    What it shows:

    • diseases and health risks appear or grow when someone doesn't exercise enough

    • costs of having a disease that comes from inactivity

    • by doing regular physical activity, the specific diseases and health risks of inactivity are prevented or chances of suffering from it lowered

    • BMI weight chart

    • 2 maps of the United States, one in 1991, the other 2000 showing how much obesity has increased in adults in 9 years

    • Health risks that come with obesity

    • Many charts showing increase in obesity of different groups over the years

     

  • www.cdc.gov/~/nutrition.htm
    For Adults
    Information on nutrition with many links mostly for adults, includes links on:
    •  How and what to choose for work meetings and home
    • Healthy eating tips
    • Obesity and overweight problems among adults
    • Energy plans
       

"The benefits of exercise are many, from producing physically fit bodies to providing an outlet for fun and socialization."

  1. www.obesity.org

    Links:
    • Leads to websites that have information regarding obesity prevention programs.
    • Partnership for a Healthy workplace
    • CDC's State-based Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Chronic Diseases, Including Obesity
    • Northwest Obesity Prevention Project
    • Sisters Together: Move More, Eat Better
    • California's Project Lean
    • Philadelphia's FitnessAge Challenge
    • North Carolina's Eat Smart, Move More Campaign
    • New York State Physical Activity Coalition
       
  2. www.primusweb.com
    Just for adults, on how many calories are burned during the holidays doing regular holiday preparations.
     
  3. www.fitness.gov
    Provides information:
    • Food pyramid
    • Physical activity pyramid
    • 10 tips on being more active and healthier
    • Physical activity suggestions
    • Quiz
       

YOSEMITE ACTIVITIES

  1. www.hikinglasvegas.com
    This website has 6 kid-friendly hikes that are fun for everyone. Each hike is unique and they range from easy to moderate. You can see a small part of the beautiful scenery in the pictures provided, and these hikes are sure to keep the kids going.

  2. www.nps.gov/yose/trip

    This website has a big variety of hikes fit for all ages that are sorted according to where they are located. A description of each hike is given including information on the approximate length of hike, how difficult, and how long

  3. Hikes range from easy to very strenuous. Time, length, and difficulty are all provided. Most of the hikes are kid-friendly, and enjoyable for the whole family.

  4. www.yosemitevacation.com
    Just a website about Half Dome and what to bring and everything

  5. thecaliforniahikingpage.com
    Some OK kids' hikes, but mostly adult

  6. http://travel.yahoo.com/p-parks-995049-yosemite_activities-i-sc-hiking___walking
    This website has a huge array of hikes. Each hike has a description of the trail and all of the crucial information needed in deciding whether or not to choose the hike.

  7. http://www.onedayhikes.com
    This website has several hikes that are located in or nearby the valley floor of Yosemite. Each one has interesting and necessary facts that help you choose the hike you want to go on. Plus, a detailed description of each trail is given.

  8. Mirror Lake, Yosemite Valley, 4 miles Loop
    A leisurely walk around a pretty meadow and lake, with beautiful views of Half Dome and other granite cliffs.

  9. Panorama-Mist, Yosemite Valley, 8.5 miles One way
    From the stunning views at Glacier Point, descend through the High Sierra past three majestic waterfalls to Yosemite Valley.

  10. Mariposa Grove, Yosemite National Park, 7 miles Loop
    Discover the majesty of the giant Sequoia trees in Yosemite's largest grove.

  11. Gaylor-Granite Lakes, Yosemite National Park, 6 miles Out and back
    Hike to high alpine lakes and meadows above Tioga Pass.

  12. Sunrise-Cathedral Lakes, Yosemite National Park, 10.5 miles One way
    A high country hike through alpine scenery of lakes and glaciated granite peaks.

  13. www.yosemitepark.com/
    This website has several hikes around the valley floor. A few of them are half-day hikes and the rest are full-day hikes. A little description is given on each hike, and on most of them, the mileage, as well as the difficulty of the hike.

  14. www.americansouthwest.net/ This website has many hikes and also lots of links to even more hikes. You are sure to find a hike for you and your kids on this website. The website also has the added bonus of a detailed description of the trail and necessary information.

 
   

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