A fi tness research database could become a powerful health tool for users
CHRIS BEEDIE ukactive Research Institute • Director
research. However, I think on a political and business level this is likely to be a non- starter. Beyond the immediate vast scope of the task from a scientific perspective, the biggest problems are those of who would host it and who would fund it. ukactive would be the obvious host, and the industry the obvious funder. However, the ‘industry’ is a nebulous entity, and there will be plenty of people unwilling to fund the project while being happy to benefit from it. For a resource of this type to be truly effective, we do not
“Y
need a portal to existing databases, but rather a regularly updated database of relevant research supported by expert commentaries. There also needs to be a clear distinction between useful and poor quality research. At the ukactive Research Institute, we’re currently focusing
on writing papers that synthesise published research in specific areas (for example, exercise and insulin sensitivity, exercise and lipid profile) – papers that also provide exercise prescription guidelines based on these syntheses. As a result of these processes, we anticipate that a useful research database will develop organically.
” June 2013 © Cybertrek 2013
es, the health and fitness industry should have a database of
DR LUCY GOUNDRY Nuffield Health • Medical director, wellbeing
“C
reating a resource like this would be a huge step forward. As GPs, we’re
trying our best to engage and educate people about the benefits of regular exercise. However, patients have to take responsibility themselves, so anything we can do to support them is fantastic. For this to gain the support of the medical industry, it would
need to be peer-reviewed medical evidence and be carefully monitored by a clinical expert. Assuming the content was evidence-based, I think both patients and GPs would use it. To gain credibility, either the NHS or a not-for-profit healthcare charity partnership should support the project, rather than a commercial organisation which might appear to have bias. It isn’t easy to prescribe exercise to people, especially if
they have one or more chronic diseases. But the evidence for exercise is compelling. Recent Nuffield Health research with the London School of Economics highlighted the health and financial benefits of exercising, suggesting that if the average person did just 12 minutes’ more exercise a day, they could make substantial reductions in their risk of developing lifestyle- related diseases. If the facts are clearly explained, and in context, people will most likely be more inclined to exercise, especially if there is support available to guide them.
” Read Health Club Management online at
healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 29
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