This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
EDITOR’S LETTER


Media irresponsibility


comments by Dr Michael Mosley, the 5:2 diet advocate and TV’s go-to health expert. For example, a Daily Mail feature following his appearance on ITV’s This Morning claimed people never lose weight from going to the gym; that the ‘endorphin rush’ of exercise is a myth; and that, even if people do exercise, they may not get fitter. Is there a case to answer here? Fundamentally no, and


G


to the last point as an example, while it’s true some people will respond better to exercise and gain quicker results than others, research shows even so-called ‘exercise non- responders’ get important benefits from exercise. The key is to tailor programmes to allow for individual body types. But that’s completely missing the point. The overall


message, and the media’s interpretation of it – with headlines in the Mail such as ‘Going to the gym can make you fatter’ – was damaging and irresponsible. Given the UK’s well reported inactivity pandemic, why give people a justification to reject exercise before they even start? As ukactive CEO Dave Stalker said: “These kinds of ill-informed comments set us back years by inaccurately skewing the accepted wisdom for thousands of consumers.” Because people listen to those held up by the media as


‘health gurus’, especially when their name is preceded by the title of doctor. If someone in this position urges people not to exercise but to diet, offering them a novel way to do so – such as the 5:2 diet – this is what they’re likely to do. But in the process, they would miss out on all the


other scientifically proven benefits of exercise that go far beyond weight loss: the prevention of cancer, diabetes and other chronic diseases, as well as mental health conditions such as depression and Alzheimer’s, to name just a few.


oing to the gym can make you fat – that’s what the UK’s media would have us believe. Recent headlines have been full of sensational health claims based on


The fi tness industry has rightly


been up in arms. “It’s extremely troubling when so-called experts make controversial statements which secure column inches and book sales but which will ultimately damage our already poor public health,” said Gym Group CEO John Treharne, while Leisure Media’s Liz Terry observed: “Journalists need to be more responsible about the way they report on these challenges or we will end up drowning in a sea of fat.” Certainly we need more consistent, responsible journalism from the nation’s most-read titles. Only in July, the Mail ran


With the nation dying from obesity and related conditions, it’s irresponsible to give people grounds to opt out of activity


a story with the headline: ‘Lack of exercise is to blame for bulging waistlines and obesity epidemic, NOT eating more calories.’ Such inconsistency is sloppy and confuses people. And when it comes to the experts, rather than


competing for the obesity buck, we need a more collaborative approach, acknowledging that exercise and diet are two sides of the same coin; as our sector has always maintained, it’s all about calories in = calories out. At a time when the nation is dying from obesity and


related conditions, it’s quite simply irresponsible for the media to give people grounds to opt out of activity.


Kate Cracknell, editor katecracknell@leisuremedia.com @HealthClubKate


T: +44 (0)1462 431385 W: www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk E: healthclub@leisuremedia.com To share your thoughts on this topic, visit www.healthclubmanagement.co.uk/blog


Cover image courtesy of Molese nienia as pa volent omnihillam, to idenitae. Ri September 2014 © Cybertrek 2014 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital 3


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132