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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2014 LETTERS C WRITE TO REPLY


Nov/Dec 2014


August 2013


More active towns will aid health and economy I was interested to read your editor’s letter on active design (see HCM Oct 14, p5). Cycling the 20 miles to work last week, I was struck how the 18-mile climb over the Pennines was a doddle compared to the final two miles across town to my desk. Right now, the task of creating


active towns, with proper routes and facilities that promote walking and cycling, seems almost insurmountable. But this shouldn’t deter us from making a start and creating a commitment that’s enshrined in town planning. Cycling wasn’t suddenly part of everyday life in Holland: it evolved into part of the infrastructure over 100 years. Without consistency, we will forever be stuck with cycle lanes that stop without reason. As fitness providers, we can


We need a holistic approach designed to impact behaviour for the long term


Training teachers to get kids active: a sustainable solution


I was interested to read your recent feature on childhood obesity (see HCM Oct 14, p62). The key to tackling inactivity in children is finding solutions that are inclusive, engaging and scalable. A lot of projects focus on getting overweight children fitter, or on helping those already engaged in sport to be better at it, but I believe we need to take a holistic approach – one that engages every child with the aim of impacting positively on behaviour for the long term. Funding comes and goes, so


solutions that focus on sustainability are important. The best way of getting sustainability while impacting behaviour is by upskilling those who work with children every day: teachers. If we can provide teachers with simple tools to positively impact the exercise behaviours of the children they teach, we’re on the road to a shift-change in the sedentary lifestyles of children across the UK. In 2013, I partnered with childcare expert Chris Sharman and Lewisham


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Borough Council to create a schools engagement programme called Fitness4Life. Its aim was to engage all children – overweight, underweight, active, inactive, sporty and not sporty – in 20 minutes of regular, fun, vigorous activity every day of the school week. Fitness4Life area co-ordinators train


teachers to deliver these sessions, which are combined with fun assessments covering various fitness attributes; children track their individual progress while also working together with other members of their class to compete against other schools. No one child is good at all seven assessments – perfect for ensuring all types of children achieve success. Following a successful 18-month pilot


across London, we’re now looking for Fitness4Life area co-ordinators across the country to continue spreading the concept. Visit www.fitness4life.training


Matt Roberts Founder & CEO, Matt Roberts PT


Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital


A cycle-friendly infrastructure will help drive healthy lifestyles


November/December 2014 © Cybertrek 2014


make changes to encourage physical activity in the working day: are we opening early enough, does our programming take working patterns into account? But only investment in a cycle-friendly transport infrastructure will achieve a sea- change in healthy lifestyles. I can’t help but feel the economic


argument for increased physical activity will have the most chance of changing hearts and minds at a senior level. A more productive workforce and savings in health spend add up to a compelling argument, so let’s focus on this to make the world a better place.


Stuart Lockwood CEO, Oldham Community Leisure


PICTURE: WWW.ISTOCK.COM/KEVIN GEORGE


PICTURE: WWW.ISTOCK.COM/TRACY WHITESIDE


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