For decades, the most popular tool for assessing a person's risk for obesity-related problems like diabetes and heart disease was the body mass index, or BMI.

But some experts think physicians should focus on their patients' waist measurements, and a recent study found that the circumference of one's neck could be a screening tool for health problems.

Amid reports that heart disease and diabetes are threatening more and younger Canadians, how can you tell if you're at risk of developing these disorders? And what are some things you can do to make sure you stay healthy?

We contacted medical professionals to answer your questions about monitoring your health and preventing disease.

Dr. David C.W. Lau provided an overview of the BMI and its discontents. Lau is a professor of medicine, biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Calgary. He is president of Obesity Canada, and was an expert panel member on the World Health Organization's international obesity task force.

Kelly Russell, MSc, CK, is a kinesiologist at Toronto's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre who works primarily with patients who have had cardiac surgery, or are recovering after a heart attack. As a member of the cardiac rehabilitation team, Russell helps patients adjust their lifestyle and behaviours to help their hearts and bodies heal, and prevent a second event from happening. 

Nishta Saxena, MSc. RD, is a clinical dietician at Toronto's Peter Munk Cardiac Centre in the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. Saxena works with patients to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce the risk of future cardiac events.

Read their answers.

Following another round of criticism over its privacy settings, Facebook is tinkering with its policies once again. But many users are starting to ask whether it's too little, too late. The site has struggled with negative user feedback, while continuing to court advertisers for the hugely popular social network.

"When people have control over what they share, they want to share more. When people share more, the world becomes more open and connected," Zuckerberg said. "Over the past few weeks, the number one thing we've heard is that many users want a simpler way to control their information. Today we're starting to roll out changes that will make our controls simpler and easier," says Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

Facebook currently has more than 400 million users around the world and recent statistics suggest close to one in four Canadians is a member of the site.

Read more

In the age of social media and chronic online oversharing, how can you maintain privacy on the web? Two communications experts took your questions on navigating the digital sphere, and managing your public persona.

Nancy Baym, PhD, is an associate professor of communication studies at the University of Kansas. She is the author of the just-released book Personal Connections in the Digital Age, which examines digitally-mediated language, community, relationships and social network.

John S. W. Spinda, PhD is an assistant professor of organizational communication at Murray State University in Western Kentucky. A great deal of his research and teaching activity revolves around social networking and computer-mediated communication.

CBC News Your Voice spoke with Baym and Spinda to get their tips for staying secure.

What is the number one privacy concern for people engaging in social networks?

Nancy Baym: People are often unaware of, or forget, who can read their messages. It's not that they are at risk of revealing something no one can know, but that something they want to keep to one group of people ends up being exposed to someone unintended like an employer, a co-worker, a parent, a community, and so on. This can happen through people posting things while thinking only of a particular subset of friends, it can happen because things are passed on from one recipient to others who weren't intended audiences, it can happen because someone else posts on your profile or tags you in a photo, it can happen because people don't realize exactly what their settings allow (so things end up repurposed as they are at http://www.youropenbook.org which pulls together public status updates using search terms like "playing hookey" or "prude").

John Spinda: I feel that the biggest privacy concern is not the Big Brother scenario where advertisers, or even governments, are able to extract detailed information about individuals, as has been hotly debated this week with Facebook and MySpace privacy loopholes. I think most people trust and believe that social networking sites will solve these issues. In talking to a lot of my students and in some of my research, it seems that people are most concerned that someone of high relevance to them, such as a family member, close friend, co-worker, or supervisor, will see information about them that they do not want broadcasted in the public arena of social networking.

How is personal information being used by social networks?

N.B.: Mostly it's being used to create highly differentiated marketing profiles that can be used to target ads. They also use it to recommend people and other things they think you ought to be connected with, presumably in order to get you more invested in the site and hence, a richer target for personalized ads.

J.S.: Personal information is being used by social networking websites to create very detailed targets for advertising purposes. This is hardly a new marketing practice, but the speed to which an advertiser can nail down segments of people is startling. Recently, I directed a student research project about Facebook at work. Our funding allowed us to use Facebook advertising. When we set the ads up, we were able to target particular groups of people in less than 30 seconds. Facebook even had an estimated number of people in your created profile that updated in real time.

Research is beginning to show that this question is way more complex than we ever imagined. We've known for about a few decades now that people will make judgments and attributions about people online, even though there tends to be personal information that is harder to gauge than in face-to-face interaction. But social networking is providing us new types of personal information that is used to make attributions and judgments about people. For instance, a recent set of experiments indicated that judgments are made on Facebook about things like the number of friends a person has, whether a person's friends say positive things about them on their profiles, and whether or not a person has physically attractive friends. In other words, we've evolved enough online that we trust third-person information more than first-person information, because we know that can be manipulated and twisted to a person's benefit. This is also why I feel that the quality of third-person information is the biggest privacy concern that is on social networks.

What is the best way to protect your privacy online?

N.B.: Know the privacy settings of the sites you use, don't post all that obvious information (phone number, address, government identification numbers, pictures of your underage self drinking alcohol, etc). People often say "if you don't want it public, don't share it," but that's unrealistic. People should be able to talk to small select groups and individuals without fearing public exposure, but the fact is that digital communication can be saved and replicated, so people should keep that in mind. If, for example, you are contributing to a support site for something you don't want people to know you are dealing with, you can use a pseudonym. You can also manage your reputation by sharing a lot of information about yourself publicly and then the bits you wish weren't out there get obscured by all that you chose to share. But the main things are to really understand how the sites you use work in terms of who can see what information, to think through who the potential audiences for your messages are before you post them, and to pay attention to what others say about you and on your profiles.

J.S.: In my experience, it's all about setting boundaries and compartmentalizing. In my communication technology course last semester, I formed a class Facebook group. In discussing it during class, I mentioned that as students, they were put into a separate group by me that filtered my information. They were upset with this. I had to explain to them that I simply cannot take the long-shot chance that someone may see my wife and close friends and decide to harass them should they have an issue in class or be upset with me. I set a boundary and explained it. In addition, I mentioned how putting particular users in groups allows them to have their "college" social life among those friends while still having a professional or other more clean-cut image for the rest of the online world. This is especially important to teach kids because of the potential for cyberbullying or online harassment that I have seen. Among some teenage girls, it is a sign of trust to allow a friend to have an email or IM password. Well, what happens when an argument occurs or someone gets jealous? Again, setting boundaries and maintaining them is important. You wouldn't want someone following you around all day a foot away from you, it would violate your personal space. Our online lives are so intertwined with our physical lives that not setting boundaries is a lot like this scenario.

Should governments be more involved in regulating privacy online?

N.B.: Internationally there are very different attitudes about privacy (for example, whether privacy choices should be opt-in or opt-out). The fact is that many countries already have laws about privacy and companies that want to operate in those nations will have to attend to those regulations. Just as governments are involved in regulating trade so that fraudulent sales are not allowed, they should have a role in assuring that online sites stick to the privacy promises they make.

J.S.: This is interesting because I believe that governments want to get involved, but with the slow-moving regulatory systems in place in western societies, they simply can't keep up. Also, I feel that many lawmakers are so busy trying to catch up to the latest issue, like sexting for example, that they lose focus of the big picture. By the time legislation is enacted, it may be way out of date. I believe that governments should have some involvement because the internet has fulfilled some of its "utopian promise," but has also allowed those who hate and bully a forum to unleash with less restriction. In my opinion, governments should get involved by generating a set of common sense ethics that guide the internet as a whole. I realize that the days looking at the "internet" as one entity are long gone, but it's simply impossible to regulate every single thing online. It would be almost like creating an online Magna Carta or Bill of Rights that guides legal interpretations.

Reader questions

Thehotbreadguy asks: I would like to ask to ask Nancy and John what they think the future holds for "open-source" social networking that has been previously attempted in the past, and has yet to prove its viability, especially with regards to privacy concerns. There's a lot of hype surrounding Diaspora, which isn't even in its beta phase yet but drummed up so much support. It seems great things are expected of it and its claims of security. The spotlight is definitely on Facebook and its privacy problems. Can smaller networks be held as accountable? Facebook grew so large so fast that it is easy to harshly criticize it, but if we start to see smaller open-source companies spring up, how do we ensure they are not going down the same paths?


N.B.: Whether Diaspora will work out or not is a big unknown, but I certainly agree it's burdened with great expectations. I think those reflect the hopes that there will be a good Facebook alternative more than a deep understanding of who the Diaspora people are and what they are seeking to design. I sent them a little money myself, but it looks to me like the system they are building will be too complicated for most people to adapt it. I doubt most people can handle running their own server, even if it isn't really all that hard. My sense is that if open source alternatives are going to work, and I hope they are, they will have to be very easy and will have to look and function like a centralized system if they're going to get widespread adoption. Making something "open source" is no guarantee of privacy either. That said, I do think it's realistic to expect something to compete with Facebook in the next few years, just as Facebook rose out of nowhere to compete with MySpace, Google and other things that dominated the market and seemed unbeatable. I don't know that we can ensure that smaller companies behave themselves and we may well have more to fear in terms of privacy from companies that operate below the radar of public opinion. Hopefully the pressure on Facebook will serve as a warning to those companies, but it will require users and critics remaining vigilant. Even with the best intentions, small companies can still fall prey to security holes and other lapses that lead to information leaks without consent.

J.S.: I am in agreement with this commentary in that privacy and openness are means to an end and not an end in and of themselves. So I would say that for open-source social networking to truly work, a platform will first need to have a "spirit" or theme like popular social networking websites. For example, Facebook seems to have the "yearbook" theme of social connectedness. It will need a theme that is catchy and effective. 

Next, the website will need to be simple. Even though younger adults are using social networking in high rates, they use default privacy settings quite often. Many simply don't take the time to customize settings. To me, a good analogy is cars. Nearly all of us drive one, but some want to tinker and alter the defaults to make the car faster, or more efficient, etc. However, a majority of drivers just assume the car will work with routine maintenance (or less). Those that are migrating to the open-source social network sites are like the mechanics. They want control over every aspect of their profile and want to have the autonomy to tweak. More importantly, they have the technology skills to tweak. However, many will just hope that Facebook solves the issues and will carry on as usual.

Finally, I think a big hurdle is know-how of users. Based on percentages, it seems like younger users are far and away the most populated age group online. However, it is important to note that 50 to 60 per cent of one generation, such as middle-aged adults is comparable in overall users to 80 to 90 per cent more recent generations that have lower population figures. To me, the ease of Facebook is why it achieved a rapid adoption, especially among adults with less technology skills. I am not sure if more complex social networking will work among the masses at this time.

Blochi asks: What's the best way to get a photo permanently removed from a social networking site?

N.B.: There's no guarantee that you can get something removed. Obviously, if you posted it, you can take it down, but there is no way to guarantee that it hasn't been copied and posted elsewhere. If someone else has posted it, you can ask them. If it is infringing content or libelous somehow (a trick if it's not altered), you can seek redress through the site as most sites ban infringing content and some kinds of images could be considered violations of some terms of service. However, there are no laws that allow people to control which images are posted by others, even if they are pictures of you, so there is no certain way to remove images.

J.S.: This is tough because each site would have different policies. As far as Facebook is concerned, it is complex. A first step is to remove your tagged identity on the photo. A second step is to ask Facebook to remove the photo from another person's website. Here is a link that explains this. Please review the first few topics.

By Renee Ramsarran

Sex education is an ongoing process that usually starts at home. Children learn about sex and sexuality through their parents, yet families often hesitate to talk about certain issues with their kids.

How can you take an active role in being the primary source of sexual health information for your children? We broached the subject with three sex education experts who will take your questions on how you can begin the conversation and relay the important messages to your kids.

Rebecca Rosenblat is a certified psychotherapist, and one of Canada's leading relationship, sexuality and healing experts.  She is critically acclaimed as a TV and radio show host, author, advice columnist, and motivational speaker.

Sarah Hobbs is executive director of Planned Parenthood Toronto. Sarah has been working in the health care industry for over thirteen years.  Sarah has demonstrated her commitment to improving access to sexual and reproductive information for youth and women in the City of Toronto in particular increasing access for people without health insurance.

Lyba Spring is a Sexual Health Educator with Toronto Public Health. She also works as a counselor in a Sexual Health clinic..

To get us started, we tackled the basics:

How can parents prepare themselves for "the talk"?

Rosenblat: One of the biggest mistakes parents make when they talk to their kids about sex is, they either promote abstinence or safe sex. What most parents don't do is take the time to include other potential problems like defining healthy relationships, sex as a commodity and body-image issues. The pressure to look a certain way, gain popularity and have sex takes a toll on preteens and teens. Parents need to realize the changing parameters of relationships in this generation, and that "the talk" should include other things (like oral sex still counts as sex).

Spring: You start Day 1. The minute your baby is born and you hold, stroke and talk to that baby, you're giving your first sexual health messages. The preparation is talking with your partner, if you have one, about raising a sexually healthy child. There are handouts available to parents at Toronto.ca/heath.
 
Hobbs: Parents should remember to not berate or ridicule their children if they have questions about sex and sexuality. It's important to be able to facilitate open communication and gain trust. That way they know they can go to their parents without fear of judgment. It's also important to give the balanced information. Parents might have preconceived notions of the definition of sex - but for youth the term can mean many different things. When talking with your children, make the definition clear to avoid assumptions when giving information.

Where do you have a sex education conversation with your child?

Rosenblat: It should be a continuing conversation, not just one talk. Use different opportunities to ask questions and initiate a dialogue. The best time might be driving to soccer practice or ballet class. Sex is everywhere. If you see something on TV, like a pregnant character, use the commercial break to ask your child their opinion on the situation and educate them about certain sexual health topics.

Hobbs: Wherever you are when the questions arise. You may not want to talk about "what a condom is" in the grocery store. Let your child know it's a private conversation you will have when you're home. And then follow up when you do get home, so they can trust that you will answer their questions. If they aren't asking questions, set the stage for open communication by using the media, other family members, or things they may hear at school as teachable moments to begin the conversation.

Tips for starting the conversation

Rosenblat: Parents should teach children how to feel good about their bodies, about their sexual function and about their self-esteem. Studies show that children whose parents open lines of communication and ask to be a part of their decision-making fare better when they're in their teen years.

Hobbs: The most important thing to remember is to have an open and honest discussion with factual information that's age-appropriate. Answer questions with information and words they can understand and that are geared towards your particular situation as a parent. For younger kids, that means using dictionary words to describe body parts.  Present the fact that our society is made up of differences in a context that is inclusive.  This does not necessarily mean getting into sexual practices, but opening the conversation in an inclusive manner can reduce discrimination.

Spring: Right from birth, your baby is learning crucial messages about love, intimacy, nurturing touch, sexual touch and safety, and it continues as they grow. So before they reach puberty, they already understand the basics of how their bodies work, how their bodies change and how to start thinking about being in control of their own sexual health. Because puberty can start as early as seven or eight years old, children need to understand the changes before they happen, so they won't be fearful, embarrassed or ashamed. As they go through the changes of puberty, everything that a parent/parents has said should place the child in good standing. It is the parent's responsibility to present their own specific messages based on their culture, religion, values, politics or heath point of view.  But it can be done in collaboration - that is: parents, schools, public health agencies all giving consistent messages. This includes fundamental messages like: respect yourself, take care of yourself and don't hurt anyone else. 

Check out these videos for more information on what to teach your children about sex.

Here are some final thoughts from the experts.

From Facebook, member Diaz Veloso asked: "What should I say if my daughter asks me something I'm not sure how to answer?"

Rosenblatt: Don't fake the answer. Do some research together by getting books, videos, or by visiting a reputable website like sexualityandu.ca. It's very dangerous to give the wrong answer or inaccurate information. Research or look up the correct answer together.

Hobbs: It's OK for you to admit you don't know everything. You don't have to be an expert, but a trusted source. If the conversation is a challenging one for you, get books or pamphlets to make available to your child. Visit a sexual health clinic by yourself or with your child to get the answers.  You must be careful that the source you are getting your information from is accurate. Spiderbytes.ca is a website meant for youth, but all the information there is factual. Parents can direct their children to the website, or check it out themselves for information.

Spring: Kids will ask awkward questions in awkward places at awkward times. You may not always have the answer they seek. The most important message: it's OK to ask, and it's OK to talk about. Admit you don't know, and then look it up. If you're not sure what to say, or when older children seem unwilling to talk -- leave articles and books around. You can have the talk without talking.

When it comes to staying active and keeping fit, how do you think Canadian kids measure up? According to a recent report by Active Healthy Kids Canada, not so well.

In its sixth annual report card, the organization gave Canadian kids an F for physical activity levels for the fourth consecutive year. The report card suggests only 12 per cent of Canadian children and youth are getting the 90 minutes recommended for daily physical activity.

Meanwhile, young people are continuing to devote considerable time to video games, computers and TV, accumulating six hours of screen time on weekdays and more than seven hours on weekend days, the report says.

And all those hours logged on the couch are leading to rising obesity rates. National data indicate that 15.2 per cent of two- to five-year-olds are overweight, and 6.3 per cent are obese.

Read more

So how can you get your kids excited about exercise? What are some simple strategies for encouraging physical activity?

We've assembled a panel of fitness gurus to answer your questions on how to keep kids healthy. Leave your questions below and check back to see what the experts have to say.

Carole Carson is a health and fitness author whose own personal battle with health inspired her recent book, From Fat to Fit. The Wall Street Journal has called her an "Apostle for fitness," and her tips on staying active have inspired many.

Carole offers this advice on getting kids interested in exercise. "Whether you're a teacher, parent, grandparent or family friend, invite the children in your life to play with you outdoors. For example, you can play dodge ball, skip rope or walk around the neighborhood spotting items that begin with the letters of the alphabet. Whatever you do, have fun!  And, as a wonderful byproduct, get some exercise for yourself," says Carson.

Kelly Murumets is president and CEO of ParticipAction, the national voice of physical  activity and sport participation in Canada. ParticipAction has been an iconic Canadian brand since 1971 and was relaunched under Kelly's leadership in 2007.

Kelly's number one tip to get youngsters moving more is to let them play!  "Active play is fun, but it's certainly not frivolous. In fact, it's critical for the healthy development of children, as it gets them moving, and helps build social skills, imaginations and self-esteem," she says.

Paul Plakas has been a personal trainer for 20 years.  He has trained every level of fitness from homemaker to professional athlete and has worked on several weight loss documentaries.

Paul's main tip for getting your children to particpate in fitness is to, "find an activity they absolutely love to do and participate in it with them."

Here's what the team had to say about childhood fitness.

What is the best way for parents to get kids engaged in physical activity?

Carson: The single most important way parents can get their kids engaged in physical activity is to be a role model. Both parents and children need to incorporate movement into their daily lives. Playing outdoors, weather and safety permitting, should be part of your daily routine. Community sports programs are also an excellent way to promote exercise. If your kids aren't competitive, consider enrolling them in dance, swim, martial arts or gymnastic classes. You could also mount a basketball hoop over your garage door. Plan vacations around exercise opportunities, such as camping by a lake.

Murumets: The best way for parents to get kids engaged in physical activity is to make it a part of your everyday family life. Physical activity comes in many forms, from walking to the store, to hiking through a local conservation area, to raking the lawn.  While organized sports and clubs, such as hockey teams or dance lessons, are great opportunities to expose your kids to physical activity, there are plenty of other ways to build more movement into your day. Try regular walks after dinner, biking or walking to and from school or kicking a ball around in the park. If your family's choice becomes the "active choice," then you won't have to try so hard to get moving more -- it will just become a part of who you are.

Plakas: The key is to find an activity that kids enjoy to do. This is the only way to keep their interest. An activity that they find easy to perform also helps. Games like tennis have a large learning curve and kids may get frustrated learning the sport. A sport like soccer is easier.  You just have to run around and kick a ball.

What are some inexpensive activities kids can get involved in to stay fit?

Carson:

• Play hide and seek, dodge ball or other games outdoors.
• Go on a treasure hunt.
• Ride a bike.
• Play hopscotch.
• Jump rope.
• Swim at a local pool.
• Play with a Hula-Hoop.
• Go to a public playground.

Murumets: Any activity that gets your child running around, moving his or her muscles and using his or her body will help your child stay fit.  Unstructured active play, such as tackling the local jungle gym structure at the park, playing leap frog or making up a dance routine with friends are all examples of physical activities that don't include a registration free. Sport and organized physical activity programs are also a great way to teach your kids basic skills, make friends and get exposed to a range of physical activity opportunities that he or she may love. Many local school boards, YMCAs, recreation and community centres offer inexpensive classes and teams for families and kids, including "try-it days" and "multi-sport" programs that include a range of sports and activities all in one. Plus, you can encourage your child to join a club or team at school. 

Plakas: When I was a kid I spent time playing games like hide and seek, tag or kick ball with my friends in the neighbourhood. It was some of the greatest moments I have growing up. Everything we did was made up on the spot and cost nothing. Kids have a great imagination they will figure it out if given a chance. The key is to create an environment for this imagination to flourish. Making time and arranging with other parents an opportunity for kids to play together in a safe environment is the key to inexpensive fitness.

At what age should exercise be introduced?

Carson: Movement is a normal part of everyday life for all of us, whatever our age. Infants and toddlers are constantly learning new motor skills, and structured exercise is not needed. An ample amount of unstructured playtime should be incorporated into pre-school children's routines. By the time children reach elementary school, 15 minute segments of organized physical activities are appropriate. The goal should be a minimum of one hour of exercise by the time your child reaches elementary school age and thereafter.

Murumets: When we're talking about getting our children fit and healthy, it's time we replace the word "exercise" with "physical activity." While it doesn't make sense for your toddler to climb on a treadmill or join an aerobics class, they're never too young to move around and explore their physical environment. Free, unstructured play, such as collecting sticks, rolling a ball or running around the park should be happening as much as possible in the early years. Active play helps kids learn how to win and lose, develop imaginations and self-esteem, and is essential for healthy development. Kids have a natural inclination to move, so encourage exploration and curiosity, and limit sedentary activities like watching television and playing video games. Parents can stop thinking about how to get their youngsters to exercise, and start thinking about encouraging them move more.   

Plakas: Play is what kids should do for exercise up to age 14.  Sports and games should be the focus for children to exercise. This should start from day one. After age 14 a more structured workout program can follow.  Weight training can be introduced with moderate loads.  About 60-70% of one rep max loads. After age 16 children can try a more strength-building workout.

What activities are appropriate for pre-schoolers, middle-school kids and teens?

Murumets:  According to the 2010 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, the foundations of an active lifestyle must start in the early years because lifestyle habits set before the age of five predict health and obesity outcomes in later childhood and even into adulthood. With toddlers, you can try playing tickle tag, taking the long way home, dancing to music and getting outside for playtime. For preschoolers, you can try active play dates that include running through a sprinkler or kicking balls in the park, games of make believe, jumping and crawling with sidewalk chalk or leaving the car at home for short trips. For middle-schoolers, encourage active time with friends, joining school clubs or teams, and fostering independence by allowing them to walk short distances to the local library or community centre. For teens, try encouraging volunteer or part-time work placements that require physical activity (like summer camps or a warehouse job), supporting them to try a new club, sport or dance troupe with friends, or suggest they try coaching, refereeing or mentoring some younger kids or siblings in a sport or activity.   
 

From Facebook, member Catharine Saunders Bates asks: When I suggested dance lessons as a fun way to stay fit, someone brought up the valid point that lessons through a private dance studio are not affordable for everyone. This is a barrier for organized sports as well. So, could you suggest some free or very inexpensive physical activities?

Murumets: Thanks for your question, Catharine.  Free or very inexpensive physical activities are everywhere! The Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card indicates that most Canadians have physical activity and recreation facilities nearby and accessible to them. However, less than half of Canadian children and youth use the physical activity amenities available to them. There are parks, playgrounds and walking trails everywhere in Canada, as well as schools, community centres, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs and other facilities that offer affordable access to physical activity opportunities. Even in a dense urban environment, we're lucky to have sidewalks, so try to find opportunities for your family to use them. Active transportation, or getting around with "people power," is one of the easiest ways to get more physical activity into your family's day -- and it's free! 

Plakas: For free inexpensive activities I recommend building an obstacle course in the backyard. Using old tires, saw horses, hula hoops, boxes cut out to crawl through etc.  Use your imagination. Your kids can invite their friends over and challenge each other to get through the course. It can be competitive for time or just for fun. You will find your kids wanting to change the course with their own ideas.

From Facebook, member Darlene Gray asks: How do I get myself excited about staying fit?

Murumets: One of the best ways to make physical activity part of your family's life is to find something that you enjoy.  You don't have to join a gym to get active, and there are plenty of ways to build more healthy activity into your life. How about trying something new, like yoga or fencing? How about volunteering at your local animal shelter to walk the dogs? How about meeting friends for a night of dancing? Or making it a daily goal to walk or wheel a new route home from your work place, school or transit stop? If you're still looking for a push, know that getting active with a friend can give you excellent motivation. Research shows that social support is positively associated with increased physical activity--and can be lots of fun. Remember, the goal is: just move more!

Each day journalists risk their lives reporting from hostile environments around the world.

Seven journalists have been killed so far in 2010, according to the Committee
to Protect Journalists. 

Last
year reporter Michelle Lang of the Calgary Herald was killed by a bomb
in Afghanistan. In 2008, CBC's Melissa Fung was kidnapped in Kabul and
held captive for 28 days.

So why do they do it? What's it like reporting from areas of conflict?

On March 11, CBC News journalists Nahlah Ayed, Laurie Graham, Alison Smith and Connie Watson joined World Report host Peter Armstrong for a panel discussion in Toronto's Glenn Gould Studio.  

They provided personal perspectives on covering international hot spots - and discussed what it's like to report from danger zones.

We recognized that not everyone could make it to the event, but since our CBC online community extends across the country we provided you with an opportunity to ask these journalists your questions online.

We received some very thoughtful questions, as well as interesting answers from the journalists.

Following the deadly earthquake in Haiti that devastated the city of Port-au-Prince, thousands of families are still searching for loved ones, aid organizations are overwhelmed by the demand, and a series of aftershocks have caused further damage and concern for a vulnerable population.

The CBC's Paul Hunter and Susan Ormiston have been on the ground in Haiti providing Canadians with an in-depth look at a country in chaos.

Paul Hunter, right, at work in Haiti. (Tom Dinsmore/CBC)

Their coverage has included a moving photo gallery of sidewalk surgeries as well as reports of heartwarming family reunions.

What have they seen on the ground? Join us here as Hunter and Ormiston take your questions.

There's no question the issue of climate change has been at the forefront of the public consciousness in the last decade. Whether you believe the effects of CO2 levels in the atmosphere have been and will be devastating to the Earth or that the threat has been overstated, there is no avoiding the topic.

This year's Munk Debate focuses on the question, how should the world respond to climate change?

Featuring guests like Green Party Leader Elizabeth May speaking for and British politician Nigel Lawson arguing against, the debates hope to initiate a discussion that will power a movement toward addressing the issue.

CBC Your Voice has asked two guests to 'debate the debates' and take your questions on climate change. Read their responses.

Bio: Matt Hallat has been on the national Para-Alpine ski team since 2002. The Whistler, B.C., skier competed at the 2006 Torino Paralympics in three events - slalom (standing), giant slalom (standing) and super-G (standing).

Hallat also won three gold medals at the 2005 Canadian Disabled Alpine Ski championships, while also earning a silver medal.

Here is your chance to ask Matt some questions. Maybe you'd like to know what he's most looking forward to at the Games.Or what his physical training entails. Or how he prepares psychologically for the Olympics.

It's up to you. Send us your questions and we will ask Matt to respond.

Matt's blog on CBC.ca

Matt's website

BIO: Heather Moyse doesn't just excel at one sport. The 31-year-old succeeds at two.

In just three years, the native of Summerside, P.E.I., has established herself as one of the country's premiere athletes in the national sports of bobsleigh and rugby.

As a top bobsleigh brakeman, Moyse came within a whisker of capturing a bronze medal with driver Helen Upperton at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy.

And 2006 proved to be a very good year for Moyse when it came to her second sport, as she was the only Canadian athlete selected to the all-star team at the Women's Rugby World Cup.

Since 2004, the Toronto resident has represented Canada in 15 international rugby games as a member of the national women's team. Most notably, she made her debut with the national women's rugby sevens team in March 2008 in Hong Kong.

With the 2010 Winter Olympics rapidly approaching, Moyse is preparing both physically and mentally for the race of her life.

Here is your chance to ask Moyse some questions. Maybe you'd like to know what she's most looking forward to at the Games.Or what her physical training entails. Or how she prepares psychologically for the Olympics.

It's up to you. Send us your questions and we will ask Moyse to respond.

Heather's web site

Heather Moyse's CBC.ca blog