This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
HEALTH & FITNESS


PayasUgym joins forces with British Military Fitness


PayasUgym, the online gym pass pro- vider, has teamed up with British Military Fitness (BMF) as part of a concerted push into the outdoor training market. BMF joins firms like One Element


and Swiſt who have been recent outdoor training additions to the PayasUgym mar- ketplace - a network of gyms and health clubs totalling more than 2,000 UK estab- lishments. With more than 140 outdoor venues - 28 of these in London alone - BMF is one of the UK’s biggest fitness class providers and the new deal marks a significant landmark in PayasUgym’s expansion into the outdoor sector. Details: http://lei.sr?a=n5v8H


Experts examine referral issues


A group of the UK’s lead- ing exercise referral experts have expressed concern at the initial low uptake of such referrals, offering recom- mendations to improve the situation in a new white paper. Te group – chaired by Dr


Chris Beedie, the academic lead for the ukactive Research Institute – recently took part in an ‘Exercise Is Medicine’ roundtable hosted by fitness supplier Technogym, with the ideas exchanged forming the basis of the paper. Underlining the need to build greater con-


Te panel of experts at the recent ‘Exercise Is Medicine’ roundtable


fidence among healthcare professionals and stakeholders in exercise referral programmes, the experts recommended a long-term randomised clinical trial be undertaken, to address criticisms of exercise referral and build a stronger base for its advocacy. A 2006 NICE review of exercise referrals


found evidence of short-term positive effects on physical activity levels, but no evidence of long-term benefit. Tis had significant bear- ing on NICE’s September 2014 guidance that clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) ‘do not commission exercise referral schemes for the


Stalker said providers must seize their chance


Time for health delivery action is now, says Stalker


ukactive CEO David Stalker has said now is the time for the physical activity sector to step forward and take action to become a ‘central pillar of the public health strategy.’ During his keynote speech on the sec-


ond day of Leisure Industry Week at Birmingham’s NEC, Stalker said the industry must begin to lay the foundations for growth by harnessing the knowledge gained from a broad range of recent research projects. Having established the extent of the


UK’s inactivity epidemic and the impact it is having on the NHS, Stalker believes the physical activity sector must now seize its chance to become a health delivery part- ner - an opportunity previously identified as being worth up to £8bn to the industry. He identified five key areas where the


sector must develop to harness its physi- cal activity expertise and become a central tenet of public health delivery. Stalker concluded by saying that if the


physical activity sector can succeed in these areas it will be ideally placed to become the centre of health delivery at both national and local levels. Details: http://lei.sr?a=M5n7H


4 Clubs honoured at Members’ Choice Awards


Birmingham’s Motorcycle Museum was the scene for the glittering Members’ Choice Health Club Awards 2014 on 30 September, which saw a cross-section of top-perform- ing operators collect accolades based solely on the views of their members. More than 250 health and fitness


leaders gathered on the first evening of Leisure Industry Week to celebrate industry achievements over the past 12 months. Nearly 35,000 votes were cast for the various entrants - a mixture of small independents, public leisure centres, hotel clubs and some of the best known brands in the industry. Now in its fourth year, the prestigious award


scheme is unique because the winning clubs are decided by ratings given by members when completing an online survey. Te awards, presented in partnership with Health Club Management magazine, measure the quality of customer service, facilities and value for money provided by competing gyms. Clubs compete regionally in three catego-


ries – Budget, Mid Market or Premium and there are national categories for chains and the Grand Prix award for Best Club in the UK. As well as recognising clubs, the awards


Read Leisure Opportunities online: www.leisureopportunities.co.uk/digital Mark Durden-Smith in full flow at the awards


also put the spotlight on individual staff in the keenly-fought People Awards category. As in recent years, TV personality Mark


Durden-Smith continued his role as ebullient host of the awards, serving as an entertaining compere throughout the evening and uttering the sweet sounds of victory for the deserved winners. Visit the link below for the winners list in full. Details: http://lei.sr?a=t8z4J


Twitter: @leisureopps © CYBERTREK 2014


sole purpose of getting people to be more active’, with the exception of schemes that incorporate data collection for analysis and research.Te experts concluded that the absence of qualifying evidence for the long-term benefits of exer- cise referrals is not due to a lack of long-term data from existing programmes, but incon- sistencies in the way exercise referral scheme interventions are run, how data is collected and in how it is reported. Tey also called for greater co-operation between exercise pro- viders and primary care CCGs, to improve data sharing and foster a greater understand- ing of what is required to move forward. Details: http://lei.sr?a=K9z8f


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