McGill Researchers Launch Program to Help Canadians Stay Fit While Social Distancing

The new initiative provides a six-week web-based wellness program designed for Canadian veterans and their families.

These are challenging times as the world adapts to life trying to curb the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying at home and practising social distancing are critical in order to help flatten the curve of the virus’ spread. The downsides are too much sitting around and weight gain due to unhealthy eating, plus feeling tired, stressed, and isolated.

To help improve the resiliency of Canadian veterans, health professionals at the McGill Comprehensive Health Improvement Program (CHIP) have launched a free web-based health promotion program (Homebound Resiliency Mission) developed to safely improve physical and mental health in only six weeks. Dr. Steven Grover and his colleagues at McGill University developed the program to help Canadian veterans, their families, and their supporters maintain their health. Earlier programs, tested with the Canadian Armed Forces, demonstrated significant improvements in daily physical activity (a 30 percent increase), reductions in stress levels (a 20 percent decrease), and an average weight loss of half a pound each week.

Participants learn how to exercise safely, use mindfulness techniques to eat healthier, and reduce their stress levels while competing with friends and family. All aspects of the program — accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphone — can be practised in the safety of one’s home or outside while maintaining social distancing.

The program is free, secure, and private. Personal information will be de-identified for research analyses and individual data won’t be shared with any third party.

Registration for the Homebound Resiliency Mission opens on April 30 and the program will begin on May 6.

For more information, visit missionvav.com.

For more media interviews about this program contact steven.grover@mcgill.ca