ACSM & Agita Mundo

Be an active citizen! That's the message from ACSM and Agita Mundo, a Brazil-based organization that encourages research, advocacy and community education for physical activity and health.

Agita Mundo has developed “World Day for Physical Activity,” a campaign promoting physical activity that mobilized more than one million participants in more than 6,000 events around the world. In 2009, World Day for Physical Activity will take place April 6. This year’s theme will center on “active neighborhoods building health.” In addition to getting a healthy dose of physical activity on April 6, ACSM encourages "active citizenry" for all people - acommitment to simple lifestyle changes that incorporate physical activity, such as riding your bike to work and utilizing walking as a primary mode of transportation whenever possible.

ACSM is facilitating an Agita Mundo event on April 6 in Indianapolis, the College's national headquarters city. The National Institute of Fitness and Sport (NIFS) is partnering with ACSM on this event, which will feature unique fitness classes; free basic health assessments; a "passport to physical activity" that will encourage participants to complete ACSM's recommended amount of daily exercise; and outdoor activities for Indianapolis workers. Click here for an event schedule.

ACSM regional chapters are also highly involved.

• New England Chapter - A New England chapter member is kicking off a walking group in Massachusetts on April 6. The group will use World Day for Physical Activity as a kick-off event and then meet weekly.

• Mid-Atlantic Chapter - Pittsburgh's Chatham University will hold a one-mile fitness walk on April 7, a registered Agita Mundo event.

• Northland Chapter - A Northland chapter member will promote the fourth-annual Challenge Obesity 5K in St. Paul on April 4.

• Southeast Chapter - Virginia Common Wealth University's Exercise Science Club is planning a World Day for Physical Activity event for the first week of April to promote physical activity on campus.

ACSM has a number of programs aimed at getting people active, such as Exercise is Medicine™, which calls for exercise counseling to be a standard part of every doctor’s visit, and the American Fitness Index™, an initiative that ranks U.S. cities according to a variety of health factors.

	The Exercise is MedicineTM program features numerous resources for a variety of audiences. Find toolkits for physicians, health and fitness professionals and the public. Use these resources to get active, or to encourage your patients and clients to do the same!
	How does your city measure up? The American Fitness Index® program has ranked the 50 largest cities in the United States, according to various health indicators. Use the program's rankings and community resources to get your city up and active on World Day for Physical Activity.
	How much should you exercise? Should you see a doctor before exercising? How should you get started? Visit ACSM's "Keys to Exercise Success" page to find answers to all these questions, and to take interactive health assessments.