PHD looking for

PHD looking for 'Moving Minutes'

March 6, 2013

Washing floors and bathtubs, raking gardens and walking the dog can win residents of northern Idaho prizes throughout the month of April if they do those activities enough.

In recognition of National Public Health Week April 1-7, Panhandle Health District (PHD) is launching the first Moving Minutes Challenge. PHD is challenging people of all ages and abilities in the five northern counties to keep track of how many minutes they’re physically active during the entire month of April.

Participants will turn in their weekly totals to PHD each Monday. People active for at least 150 minutes—the nationally-recommended amount for adults—per week will participate in drawings for prizes donated by community businesses and organizations. On April 30, PHD will award a trophy to the most physically active person or team in northern Idaho.

“Our goal is to create an awareness of the many different physical activities that can be incorporated into our lives that can increase fitness levels and start to chip away at the increasing rates of obesity that we are seeing in the United States,” said Lora Whalen, Panhandle Health District director. “As we head into summer in North Idaho, let’s foster a good habit of exercise/physical activity in our daily routines.”

The Moving Minutes Challenge is free to all participants. People may register throughout March as a single or join together on a team. Challenges among individuals or businesses or groups are encouraged.

Time tracking will be on the honor system. The trophy will go to the person or team with the highest daily average of activity minutes for the month. PHD will help people accrue activity minutes by steering them to activities throughout the five northern counties.

On its website, http://www.phd1.idaho.gov/preventative/movingminutes.cfm, and on its Facebook page, www.facebook.com/MovingMinutesChallenge, PHD will provide online registration for the event and printable time tracking sheets. Participants will report their weekly totals online or by phone, (208) 415-5153.

PHD will post prize winners and challenges on its website and Facebook page. Both sites will feature progress reports of participants, photos, charts of calories burned per activity, encouragements, a calendar of public activities available, healthy living information and much more.

For inspiration, PHD will kick off the Challenge April 1 with the first of four free noon hour showings of “The Weight of the Nation” at the PHD Hayden building, 8500 N. Atlas Rd. The four-part series features case studies, interviews with experts, and individuals and families struggling with obesity.

Brown-bag lunches are recommended for the showing. PHD will serve Triple Berry Smoothies and popcorn free to viewers. “The Weight of the Nation” will run Monday through Thursday, April 1-4, at noon.

Registration, time tracking sheets, challenges and event details are available at the Moving Minutes Challenge page on the PHD website- http://www.phd1.idaho.gov/preventative/movingminutes.cfm. Register by April 1 to be eligible for the first weekly prize drawing on Monday, April 8. Send questions to movingminutes@phd1.idaho.gov or call (208) 415-5153.