INFORMATION RESOURCES ON PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
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Introduction
Physical activity is a critical public health issue. Lack of physical activity is associated with increasing risks to health, including heart disease, diabetes, cancer, musculoskeletal conditions such as osteoporosis and obesity. Heart disease, stroke and cancer are the major causes of death in England - accounting for almost 60% of premature deaths. Not only can physical activity be instrumental in reducing the risks of developing the aforementioned diseases, it also has a role to play in promoting positive mental health and developing social capital.
Currently around two thirds of adults fail to achieve the recommended physical activity level (at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity on five or more days per week). As well as the human costs of inactivity (54,000 lives lost prematurely) it has been conservatively estimated that the economic cost of inactivity is £2 billion annually (Game Plan, 2002).
Evidence suggests that public health action on a number of levels is helpful in increasing levels of physical activity. These include advocacy for policy and environmental changes; developing strategies such as local transport plans; involving primary care; running community programmes; targeting adults over 50; targeting young people via a whole school approach and ensuring proper monitoring, evaluation and data collection.
This resource brings together a collection of sources of information on physical activity; participation levels and the associated benefits for health.
Information is included on monitoring national, regional and local levels of physical activity, service provision and strategies/plans to increase the numbers of people engaging in physical activity.
Work on this resource is ongoing and the information will be updated as new material becomes available.
Contents
If you have any queries or comments on the Physical Activity theme pages please contact Katharine Roberts (
).
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PAGE CREATED: 1 April 2007 | PAGE REVISED: 30 September 2009