HEALTH
Ukactive CEO Dave Stalker thinks that the focus should move from obesity to inactivity
LET’S GET MOVING HEALTH CLUBS
Dave Stalker, CEO of ukactive, argues that there needs to be more emphasis on getting people moving, since being physically active can lessen the chances of serious illness in over- weight and obese people. “Obesity is the loud, out there issue, but inactivity is the silent killer,” he says. “Obesity will only be truly tackled when the food manufacturers reduce the sugar and fat content in food, so ukactive wants to move away from the obesity debate and engage in a debate on physical inactivity.” According to ukactive, one quarter of the UK population are physically inac- tive and this costs £20bn in public health funding each year. “Focusing on physical inactivity would have a knock on effect on obesity. It would save the NHS and the health of the nation. You can be fat, but still be fit,” says Stalker. Ukactive would like to see a rebalanc- ing of public health spending, so that more is invested in promoting physical activity. “Our dream would be for there to be a fitness or community exer- cise professional in each GP surgery counselling people to become more active,” says Stalker. This approach has proved successful in a programme piloted by ukactive in Essex (see Let’s Get Moving boxout, above right).
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ukactive has piloted a programme, Let’s Get Moving, which is aimed at previously inactive people in danger of developing chronic diseases related to their lifestyle choices. Funded by Sport England and
supported by local authority public health teams, the programme’s aim is to create a pathway for sustainable involvement in sport and physical activity for those who are currently inactive. The pilot was carried out with a consortium of partners with five Primary Care Trusts in Essex. It saw 504 participants amass a total of 48,000 active hours, walking 69,000 miles.
SLEEP EXPERTS
There is a growing body of evidence to suggest sleep deprivation can lead to obesity (see boxout, opposite page). Several theories have been mooted as to why. Sleep-deprived people may be too tired to exercise, or they might eat more as they’re awake longer and snack at night. Also lack of sleep dis- rupts the balance of key hormones that control appetite, so sleep- deprived people may be hungrier than those who get enough rest at night. So should governments be increas-
ing awareness about the benefits of a good night’s sleep? And should there
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Let’s Get Moving uses a GP referral model based on motivational interviewing techniques designed to elicit information on the basis of which the patient can be referred to a qualified exercise professional for a fully supported programme. In the coming months, additional funding will come from Nesta, enabling the incorporation of a peer- to-peer element, which will involve patients being mentored by a trained volunteer and introduced to a network of peer supporters. The programme will also go to new areas, starting with Essex County Council and rolling out more broadly.
be more health interventions to help those who have difficulty sleeping? Sleep psychologist, Dr Andrew
Mayers, says he would like all GPs to be trained in sleep-related issues, or be able to refer people on to someone who is. “This area of mental health is undervalued and has received a dispor- portionate amount of cuts,” he says. Privately-run sleep initiatives are springing up and it’s likely the sleep industry will start to grow as part of the wellness industry. London already has a Sleep School and hospitality operators are beginning to offer retreats aimed at insomniacs, for example the Deep Sleep Retreat at Grayshott Spa in Surrey, UK.
ISSUE 3 2014 © cybertrek 2014
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