Fit Explorer International Challenge (FEIC)
- Paper number
IAC-09.A1.8.2
- Author
Dr. Charles Lloyd, NASA Human Research Program Education & Outreach, United States
- Coauthor
Mr. François Spiero, CNES, France
- Coauthor
Mrs. Andrea Boese, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt e.V. (DLR), Germany
- Coauthor
Dr. Chiaki Mukai, JAXA, Japan
- Coauthor
Mrs. Elisabeth Moussine-Pouchkine, Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales (CNES), France
- Year
2009
- Abstract
Physical inactivity and unhealthy diet are two of the most significant health risks that lead to the major non-communicable diseases such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, as well as others. The U.S.A. Health and Human Services recently released guidelines for all Americans. The prevalence of overweight on a world-wide level has steadily increased over the past two decades in both adults and children. This concern over an ever increasing sedentary population of children and adolescents is world-wide with studies from the USA, France, Germany, Japan, Spain, Russia, Great Britain, and others. Questions remain if there is any direct relationship with physical activity in childhood and adolescence and the onset of chronic diseases later in life. There is no question that there is a strong need to stem this ever increasing trend of sedentary life style and obesity throughout the world. Studies have been completed on potential avenues of interventions from minimizing television, increasing physical activity during school hours, as well as, after school, and modifications of diets from high energy fat and saturated fat foods to increased amounts of fruits and vegetable intake. The Fit Explorer International Challenge (FEIC) will be a world wide challenge which offers another means by which countries and youth groups can provide children background on good nutrition and fitness as well as strive to become and stay more active. The FEIC seeks to inspire and educate young people world-wide that good fitness and nutrition are life-long endeavors. The Challenge uses the current space exploration programs as the backdrop for “Getting and Staying Fit in both Body and Mind”. The FEIC is being organized and developed by the USA/NASA, France/CNES, Germany/DLR, and Japan/JAXA. The challenge is to be organized in 2009 and the challenge teams will begin in 2010 with the collimating event to occur in April 2011. April 7th of each year is celebrated as World Health Day. Underway are plans for the development of an inspirational 8-minute video by the participating countries, identification of “in-country” events leading up to the Fitness Challenge and recruitment of additional countries to participate in the Challenge. In 2011 the winning Challenge teams will be recognized by their country and will have an opportunity to talk with the current crew of the International Space Station.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-09.A1.8.2.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.