barrier to physical activity - Research library - 'We can move' insight2024-03-28T18:36:34Zhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/feed/tag/barrier+to+physical+activityOpinion: Tackling obesity via green prescribing: A piece of cake or a half-baked strategy?https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/opinion-tackling-obesity-via-green-prescribing-a-piece-of-cake-or2020-08-28T06:04:49.000Z2020-08-28T06:04:49.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.pmlive.com/pmhub/market_access/hanovercomms/press_releases/tackling_obesity_via_green_prescribing_a_piece_of_cake_or_a_half-baked_strategy">https://www.pmlive.com/pmhub/market_access/hanovercomms/press_releases/tackling_obesity_via_green_prescribing_a_piece_of_cake_or_a_half-baked_strategy</a></p>
<p>24th August 2020</p>
<p><em>In our new article, Lloyd Tingley explores the wider societal and behavioural factors that will impact the success of green prescribing and the obesity strategy, and the role companies will play in driving a society wide approach that impacts infrastructure, adherence, health inequalities, and more.</em></p>
<p>In the past month the Government has announced two vital new policies aimed at improving the physical health of people in the UK using preventative strategies. The policies are intended to reduce the prevalence of obesity, high cholesterol, and other underlying conditions which can lead to the onset of conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Not only are these policies aimed at reducing the burden on the population, they can also reduce the cost-burden on the NHS - current annual spend on medicines is £16billion, £9billion of which is solely from GP prescribing.</p>
<p>Firstly, Environment Secretary George Eustice announced a two-year £4million trial for ‘green prescribing’, whereby people are prescribed exercise by their GP such as cycling and walking to support both their physical and mental health; potentially replacing previously established medication regimes for some patients.</p>
<p>Shortly after, the Government released the new Tackling Obesity strategy. This report was particularly timely following the release of research that shows that the risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 grows substantially as body mass index (BMI) increases. Nearly 8% of critically ill patients with COVID-19 in intensive care units have been morbidly obese, compared with 2.9% of the general population.</p>
<p>Prime Ministers in recent administrations have tended to focus priority strategies and funding towards specific health conditions, including mental health and Alzheimer’s. At the obesity strategy’s launch Boris Johnson spoke of his own personal battle with weight and the impact this had on his recovery from COVID-19; signalling his intent to make tackling obesity part of his legacy on healthcare in the UK.</p>
<p>Green prescribing is an important lever in the Tackling Obesity strategy, alongside clearer calorie labelling and tighter restrictions on shelf placement and advertising of unhealthy foods. It is a proactive approach, that fits with the wider Government strategies aimed at preventing the development of serious health conditions, as outlined in the Advancing our Health: Prevention in the 2020s Green Paper. The approach is potentially game-changing, if implemented properly, further pushing forward a more interventionist approach to prevention over pills.</p>
<p>In principle these measures are simplistic. A GP prescribes exercise to a patient, the individual undertakes exercise they would not have otherwise done, has improved general health and thus reduces the chances of them developing life-threatening conditions in the future.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, the reality of green prescribing has been more complex.</p>
<p>Green prescriptions have been widely used in New Zealand since 1998, with eight out of ten GPs saying they have prescribed exercise instead of medication at some point and 71% of patients prescribed green activity noticing long-term positive changes to their health. However, over 30% of New Zealand’s population are measured as obese, placing it third worse in the world, only behind the obesity ratings of Mexico and the US. Despite positive impacts with some patients, the country’s overall rate has risen since green prescribing’s introduction, demonstrating the complex backdrop of policies and lifestyle choices influencing obesity.</p>
<p>Below we explore how these varied societal factors can make or break the potential success of green prescribing:</p>
<p><strong>Infrastructure</strong></p>
<p>Green prescribing makes assumptions about access to safe and suitable physical spaces for exercise. For those living in built up cities with less green spaces and more concern over road safety for cyclists there are additional layers of challenge. In many areas air pollution also provides cause for concern. This is particularly prevalent in built up areas with high car usage, including Luton, Crawley and Leamington Spa which have the highest pollution levels in the UK relative to size.</p>
<p>To ensure success, the Government must prioritise making cities safer spaces to cycle, greener spaces to run in, and improving facilities such as swimming pools, with a focus on accessibility for people with disabilities.</p>
<p>Last month the Government pledged £2billion to tackle elements of bike safety and theft (another common deterrent to exercise). However, this pales in comparison to the £27billion promised to build new roads in the UK. If the Government is serious about improving the nation’s health through widespread green prescribing, this thinking must be built into national and local planning and borne out in national transport policy which gives greater consideration to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists.</p>
<p><strong>Adherence</strong></p>
<p>The Royal Pharmaceutical Society estimates that between one third and one half of patients on long-term medication regimes do not take their medicines correctly, hindering effective care.</p>
<p>The taking of medicines has a much lower day-to-day impact than a commitment to exercising, for example from a time perspective, so it is feasible that adherence to any green prescribing measures could be an even bigger potential problem.</p>
<p>As with medication prescriptions, the answer to improving adherence for green prescribing is often ensuring that health professionals take a shared decision-making approach. This method, in which health professionals ensure any decisions on patient care are taken alongside the patient, involves them in their care to help improve adherence. For green prescribing, this may mean discussing the forms of exercises a person is more likely to enjoy and feel comfortable undertaking, rather than just wasting resources on a shiny new bike that they ultimately won’t use.</p>
<p><strong>Inequalities</strong></p>
<p>Tackling obesity and the nation’s health fits very well into Boris Johnson’s ‘levelling up’ agenda for the UK, to redress the historical underinvestment in infrastructure in areas such as the North of England.</p>
<p>The regional inequalities also carry across to health outcomes. Two reviews carried out by Sir Michael Marmot in 2010 and 2020 found that people living in the most deprived areas of the UK have a higher prevalence of lifestyle factors known to be risk factors for conditions such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, including smoking, poor diet and low exercise. Research highlighted that those people in more deprived areas spend more of their short lives in ill-health than those in less deprived areas.</p>
<p>This has a further detrimental economic impact. Analysis in 2018 by the Northern Health Science Alliance identified that poor health accounts for one third of the productivity gap between the North and the rest of the UK, at a cost of £13.2bn a year.</p>
<p>The Government must prioritise health inequalities generally, but also look to target green prescribing at areas suffering from worse health outcomes to ensure that the scheme can have the biggest impact. Again, these must be delivered with awareness and sympathy to wider constraints on patients’ lifestyles, and through partnership between physicians and patients to ensure solutions maximise adherence.</p>
<p><strong>GP training</strong></p>
<p>Any policy change in the NHS is only as good as the health professionals on hand to roll it out. Green prescribing marks a large shift in the UK’s pill-focused approach, with physiotherapy and mental health services historically under-resourced, and medicine spend high.</p>
<p>GPs therefore will need to have a mindset change ingrained into them in order for the potential benefits of green prescribing to be realised. It is therefore vital that the Government works closely with Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and the Royal College of GPs (RCGP) to ensure that GPs fully understand the new strategy and receive appropriate information and training to ensure its effective roll-out.</p>
<p>Clearly, green prescribing has the potential to improve the health of the UK’s population, but only if the approach is embraced within decision-making on regional investment and national and local policy making, particularly around planning and transport infrastructure.</p>
<p>Companies within the healthcare sector also have a key role to play in the shift in mindset that will be necessary to move towards healthier lifestyles. We can learn from other countries such as New Zealand which is a prime example. New Zealand is a country with lower pollution, more green space and lower levels of health inequalities that has adopted green prescribing with successful patient reported outcomes. However, obesity rates are higher than when green prescribing was first adopted. This demonstrates the mindset challenge that any health system faces in tackling obesity.</p>
<p>If the UK Government is to make a success out of green prescribing and the Obesity Strategy, it is vital they address the psychological elements that impact people’s relationship with food and exercise. Companies and Government must move away from a reliance on awareness raising tactics such as advertising campaigns that have a superficial impact. These campaigns should be replaced or at least supplemented with research and policies aimed at embedding deep-rooted behavioural change.</p>
<p>Research and policies should centre around behavioural economics, which focuses on the under-lying mechanisms that drive public choice. By channelling the resources that would have been spent on awareness raising into behavioural economics, companies and Government can address the underlying factors that impact both market and patient decision-making and will create the necessary foundations that can ensure green prescribing is given the best opportunity to influence a reduction in obesity in the UK.</p>
<p>There is clearly a huge opportunity to address health inequalities, improve our green and transport infrastructure to meet the health needs of the public, and to open up new areas of product development and service. Business will play a critical role in supporting Government in driving the society-wide approach that needs to be taken for the aims of reducing obesity and associated health conditions to become a reality.</p></div>Five ways to make gyms and swimming pools more accessible to womenhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/five-ways-to-make-gyms-and-swimming-pools-more-accessible-to-wome2020-08-25T11:12:34.000Z2020-08-25T11:12:34.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sportengland.org/news/five-ways-make-gyms-and-swimming-pools-more-accessible-women">https://www.sportengland.org/news/five-ways-make-gyms-and-swimming-pools-more-accessible-women</a></p>
<p>24th August 2020</p>
<p><strong>This Girl Can is calling on activity providers to make simple changes following the results of a survey.</strong></p>
<p>The campaign has published the results of a new survey, a month after sports centres were able to reopen following coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions being eased.</p>
<p>Yet while 87% of the <a href="https://www.thisgirlcan.co.uk/" target="_blank">This Girl Can</a> community feel safe to return with anti-coronavirus measures in place, just 27% have visited a gym since they were allowed to reopen on 25 July, with even fewer having visited a swimming pool (13%).</p>
<div class="media-image">
<p>The research revealed other reasons that could be putting women off, with 51% reporting feeling intimidated or judged when they are at a gym or fitness class.</p>
<p>A quarter of women (27%) felt the same when visiting a swimming pool, with the majority (73%) saying they didn’t feel comfortable in their swimwear.</p>
<p>To combat these concerns, This Girl Can asked women what they would like to see introduced to help make them feel more welcome and encouraged to visit.</p>
<p>The top five answers were:</p>
<ul>
<li>A discreet offer from staff to help with equipment (48%)</li>
<li>A code of conduct in the weights room like time limits and re-racking heavy weights after use (36%)</li>
<li>Hooks by the pool to hang towels to restrict time walking in swimming costume (44%)</li>
<li>Women’s only areas/dedicated swim time for women (36%)</li>
<li>Fewer full-length mirrors (21%).</li>
</ul>
<p>As a result of these findings, the campaign is calling on organisations in the fitness industry to start making small changes like these to help women get back to exercise.</p>
<p>Kate Dale, our campaign lead for This Girl Can, said it was clear the pandemic was not the only obstacle to women getting active.</p>
<p>“We’ve known for a while that many women feel intimidated or a sense of judgement when they are exercising in public spaces like gyms and pools, which is a major barrier to them getting active,” she added.</p>
<p>“We’re hearing from women that a lot of the measures being introduced already in gyms and pools to help with the pandemic, such as advanced booking systems to limit numbers and social distancing, are already easing some of those fears of judgement because, for example, they can see how many people are going to be in the pool in advance of the session.</p>
<p>“But many women have frozen or given up their membership and have found alternative ways of getting active. If the fitness industry wants to bring female customers back, or attract new ones, they need to make the changes women have been asking for, for years, or risk losing them as customers forever.”</p>
<p>The findings in this story are from an online survey of 348 women conducted by This Girl Can earlier this month.</p>
</div></div>New animation from the Taskforce on Multiple Conditionshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/new-animation-from-the-taskforce-on-multiple-conditions2020-08-12T10:42:35.000Z2020-08-12T10:42:35.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/news/new-animation-taskforce-multiple-conditions">https://richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/news/new-animation-taskforce-multiple-conditions</a></p>
<p>5th August 2020</p>
<p>Today we have launched our new animation which aims to promote understanding of why ensuring better support for the 1 in 4 people in England living with multiple long-term conditions is so important. As we navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and in the context of ‘reset’ conversations the Taskforce on Multiple Conditions has continued its work to bring a system-wide focus to this issue.</p>
<p>You can watch the video below or via the <a href="https://youtu.be/0xdT96u54-c">Richmond Group YouTube channel</a>.</p>
<p><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0xdT96u54-c" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></p>
<p>The pandemic has highlighted the importance of prioritising the challenges associated with multimorbidity. It has also placed a spotlight on long standing issues of health inequalities which we know to be both a cause and consequence of multiple long-term conditions. The burden of this pandemic is not being shouldered equally and neither is the burden of living with, and caring for people living with, multiple long-term conditions.</p>
<p>This animation builds on previous insight work from the Taskforce, including the Guidebook on Multiple Conditions, published in the Autumn of 2019. We are currently revisiting the case study sites featured in the Guidebook and will be publishing a report this Autumn looking at where these services are now.</p>
<p>We hope this animation raises awareness of how and why multiple conditions represent a major health and social issue that needs addressing across sectors and at both national and local level. As we reimagine services, we need a system wide focus on multimorbidity.</p>
<p>Please share it on social media, including the #MultipleSolutions hashtag, and with your colleagues and networks. We are keen to generate wider conversations on this topic so if you have ideas or opportunities to share with the Taskforce please do get in touch with Eve Riley: <a href="mailto:ERiley@macmillan.org.uk">ERiley@macmillan.org.uk</a>.</p></div>Gear Change: A bold vision for cycling and walkinghttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking2020-07-30T10:38:12.000Z2020-07-30T10:38:12.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf">https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/904146/gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf</a></p>
<p>27th July 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7158481258,original{{/staticFileLink}}">gear-change-a-bold-vision-for-cycling-and-walking.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:14pt;"><strong>Introduction: The case for a step-change</strong></span></p>
<p>We want – and need – to see a step-change in cycling and walking in the coming years. The challenge is huge, but the ambition is clear. We have a unique opportunity to transform the role cycling and walking can play in our transport system, and get England moving differently.</p>
<p><strong>Because the potential benefits are huge</strong></p>
<p>Increasing cycling and walking can help tackle some of the most challenging issues we face as a society – improving air quality, combatting climate change, improving health and wellbeing, addressing inequalitiesand tackling congestion on our roads.</p>
<p><br />Bold action will help to create places we want to live and work – with better connected, healthier and more sustainable communities. It will help deliver clean growth, by supporting local businesses, as well as helping ensure prosperity can spread across the country and level up our nation.<br /><br /><strong>Many people do not realise the </strong><strong>health benefits from physical activity</strong></p>
<p>Physical activity, like cycling and walking, can help to prevent and manage over 20 chronic conditions and diseases, including some cancers, heart disease, type 2 diabetes and depression.</p>
<p>Physical inactivity is responsible for one in six UK deaths (equal to smoking) and is estimated to cost the UK £7.4 billion annually (including £0.9 billion to the NHS alone).</p>
<p><br /><strong>A once in a generation chance to accelerate active travel</strong></p>
<p>The recent COVID-19 restrictions have profoundly impacted the way people live, work and travel as evidenced by the public’s desire to be more active, and the rise in popularity of cycling and walking (Sport England, 2020). Now, we can embed those changes in people’s travel behaviour, increase active travel, and transform permanently how many people move around, particularly in towns and cities.</p>
<p><br />We do not underestimate the challenge of achieving lasting behaviour changes – and we will need to ensure that understanding of transport users’ needs, motivations and behaviours is central to what we do, in order to maximise our chances of success.</p>
<p> </p></div>Active Ageing Forum Notes - June 2020https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/active-ageing-forum-notes-june-20202020-07-28T12:07:27.000Z2020-07-28T12:07:27.000ZHelen Milchardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/HelenMilchard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://wecanmove.net/network/network-actve-ageing">https://wecanmove.net/network/network-actve-ageing</a></p>
<p>25th June 2020</p>
<p>Our active ageing forum brings together organisations, from those providing care or services for older adults, to charities and volunteer groups. Together they share the same goal – helping older adults be active. </p>
<p>Here are the information shared during the last meeting held on 25 June 2020. <a href="https://wecanmove.net/network/network-actve-ageing" target="_blank">Find out more about the Active Ageing forum</a>. </p>
<p>Download the notes here: <a href="{{#staticFileLink}}7150643261,original{{/staticFileLink}}">active-ageing-forum-notes-June-2020.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Active Ageing Forum Notes</strong></span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>25/06/2020</strong></span></p>
<p><br /> <span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Session 1 – Kam Raval: Engaging Older People in Physical Activity</span><br /> <span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What are the barriers to participation for older people, specific to your organization?</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">De-training (older people losing their physical fitness) adding to anxieties about making a return to activity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Applying the STEP principles with the current COVID situation</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Organisations not having the budget to support the least active and most under-represented groups with additional measures during this time</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Transport considerations, post COVID, and during recovery</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Low self esteem</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Fear and anxiety around returning to facilities, or even stepping out of the home (frailty, long term health conditions)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Risk assessments being in place for providers to be able to make their services COVID secure</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Prejudice e.g. social norms</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Changes to instructor’s insurance to deliver activity</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>What are the potential solutions to overcome these barriers?</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Training, workforce, access, information…</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Accessing socially distanced walking sport activities</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">1:1 support for those most in need</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Making physical environment more accessible and welcoming for people with sensory impairment (and other impairments) to reduce existing anxiety surrounding COVID-19</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Organisations ‘visibly’ opening up and sharing their process to instill confidence in those considering a return to activity. This may also give other organisations more confidence and a sense of belonging to a greater collective</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Support with risk assessments for providers or anyone planning to return to facilities, or open their own facilities for general and physical activity use.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Guidance and funding alerts to support new and innovative approaches to returning to activity and supporting older people</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">MECC (Making Every Contact Count) training to better equip community organisations to support older people with concerns about safety, returning to ‘normal’, and building confidence</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Consideration for how not everyone has access to online platforms or has the ability to use it. Potential for more phone contact, personal visits and posted literature</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Feedback on Session 1</strong></span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Good to share ideas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Less theory and more examples of action</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Networking great and an understanding of everyone's adaptations and potential solutions. Future opportunity to discuss gaps in provision in each district</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Awareness and fears after lockdown. Excellent slides and talk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Always interesting to share ideas/ experiences</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Useful: Hearing from other people, experience and use of EAST and STEPS</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">So many good ideas in the group to think about</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">It's been helpful to hear that everyone is finding the same things difficult. I'm always up for research links that back up our requests for funding!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Good session pity it wasn't longer although given the present circumstances understandable. Looking forward to the presentation papers and doing more research!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Useful to hear about the behaviour model 2. exploring barriers</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="text-decoration:underline;font-size:12pt;">Session 2 – Breakout room discussion and sharing</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Parkinsons dance and MS dance takes place in Winchcombe, Tewkesbury, Cotswolds and Cheltenham and are run by "Be Social" in Winchcombe. Stopped at the moment due to COVID but they have funding for the qualified and trained Parkinsons Dance teacher</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Springboard Facebook group do a range of social activity</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">I would like to see how the Parkinson's Dance idea works out for Stroud area and it is just nice seeing everyone again!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Digital innovation fund</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size:12pt;">Work guideposts has set up for our dementia groups in Gloucestershire</span></li>
</ul>
<p> </p></div>New engagement factsheet on supporting low-income households releasedhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-low-income-households-rele2020-07-14T07:58:41.000Z2020-07-14T07:58:41.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released">http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released</a></p>
<p>7th July 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}6865615693,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Supporting_disabled_people_from_low-income_households_to_be_active_original.pdf</a></p>
<p><strong>We have released our latest engagement factsheet titled ‘Supporting disabled people from low-income households to be active’. It is the latest in a collection of resources that advise sport and leisure providers on inclusive practice. Learn how you can plan, target and deliver more appealing and accessible opportunities for disabled people.</strong></p>
<p>Research from Sport England<a href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released#_edn1">[1]</a> shows that disabled people from lower socioeconomic groups are much more likely to be physically inactive than disabled people from higher socioeconomic groups (43% vs 29%). And, three times more likely to be inactive than non-disabled people from higher socioeconomic groups inactive (43% vs 14%).</p>
<p>This new factsheet provides insight on how deprivation affects some disabled people’s lives. It explores the relationship between poverty and disability. And, how both the causes and consequences of deprivation can impact a person’s desire, choice and opportunity to be active.</p>
<p>The factsheet covers the following topics:</p>
<ul>
<li>Poverty among disabled people</li>
<li>Activity levels among low socioeconomic groups</li>
<li>How low socioeconomic status impacts activity - factors that can influence disabled people</li>
<li>Considerations for successful engagement and delivery</li>
</ul>
<p>Poverty is a complex problem that affects millions of people in the UK. Half of all people in poverty are either disabled themselves or live with a disabled person – that’s around 7 million people<a href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released#_edn2">[2]</a>. </p>
<p><strong>Ray Ashley, Activity Alliance’s Strategic Lead – Partnerships</strong>, said:</p>
<blockquote>“We want to empower organisations by providing the right support, connections and insight so that more disabled people have access to fair activity opportunities. Our latest factsheet is an important addition in supporting activity providers and organisations to encourage more disabled people to be active.</blockquote>
<blockquote>“Engaging disabled people from low-income households to take part in sport and physical activity can be challenging. It requires understanding and flexibility of approach. Our latest factsheet addresses this challenge. We look forward to working with sport and leisure providers to ensure their opportunities are welcoming and accessible for everyone.” </blockquote>
<p>The factsheet was created in partnership with Professor Tess Kay, Professor of Sport, health and social science at the University of Stirling. She said:</p>
<blockquote>“I am so pleased to see this important guidance emerging. Low income can have an enormous impact on people’s participation in sport and physical activity, but it is often overlooked. It is not just about being short of cash - there are so many associated effects, from stress and worry, to poor everyday living conditions. As this resource explains, disabled people can be at greater risk. This timely guidance has a wide relevance, especially at this uncertain time. I really applaud Activity Alliance for taking the lead on this crucial issue.”</blockquote>
<p>Our new factsheet: <strong>Supporting disabled people from low-income households to be active</strong>, complements our existing bank of engagement factsheets released in April 2019.</p>
<p>To access all of our engagement factsheets, <a title="visit the engagement page" href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/how-we-help/programmes/1746-engagement-and-partnerships" target="_blank">visit the engagement page</a> on our website.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released#_ednref1">[1]</a> Sport England Active Lives Adult Survey 2017/18</p>
<p><a href="http://www.activityalliance.org.uk/news/5780-new-engagement-factsheet-on-supporting-lowincome-households-released#_ednref2">[2]</a> Family Resources Survey 2017/18</p></div>Being active when living within a large body: experiences during lifestyle intervention.https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/being-active-when-living-within-a-large-body-experiences-during-l2020-03-19T11:42:38.000Z2020-03-19T11:42:38.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2020.1736769">https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17482631.2020.1736769</a></p>
<p>Feb 2020</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}4156230233,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Being active when living within a large body experiences during lifestyle intervention.pdf</a></p>
<div class="sectionInfo abstractSectionHeading">
<h2 id="abstract" class="section-heading-2">ABSTRACT</h2>
</div>
<div class="abstractSection abstractInFull">
<p><strong>Background</strong>: In-depth understanding of the experiences of both well-being and suffering in relation to being severely obese and becoming active through lifestyle intervention is lacking.</p>
<p><strong>Aim</strong>: to explore and describe adults’ existential experiences of being active, when living within a large body—before and during a lifestyle intervention.</p>
<p><strong>Methods: A longitudinal design of repeated indivi</strong>dual interviews with 16 adults with BMI ≥40, based on hermeneutic phenomenology, existential philosophy and a theory of well-being was performed. The study was approved by the Danish health authorities.</p>
<p><strong>Results</strong>: Two dimensions of experiences were found; “Living within a downward spiral” and “Striving for enjoyment and settlement”. The themes describing suffering were: ‘Sense of being thwarted and defeated ‘ and “Tackling energy depletion and impact of sense of self”. The themes describing well-being were: “Hoping for renewal and energised resoluteness” and “Enduring discomfort and feeling safe”.</p>
<p><strong>Conclusions</strong>: Interacting existential experiences can be facilitators or barriers for physical activity. It seems relevant for health care providers to address the individual’s lifeworld experiences of well-being, lack of well-being and suffering. Well-being as a sense of feeling “at home” when physically active may break down an inactivity spiral. Promoting well-being is a legitimate aim of lifestyle intervention.</p>
</div></div>Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering (April 2017)https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-stag2020-02-21T07:02:56.000Z2020-02-21T07:02:56.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><h1 class="legacy"><span style="font-size:8pt;">Source: <a href="https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292">https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292</a></span></h1>
<p><span style="font-size:8pt;">(April 2017)</span></p>
<h1 class="legacy">Cycling to work: major new study suggests health benefits are staggering</h1>
<img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165477/original/image-20170417-12909-1ezk4ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="image-20170417-12909-1ezk4ah.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" />
Pump action. <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/man-on-bike-traffic-sunflare-219272440?src=Xf5c7ezJYicz7zIMF8P-Gw-1-11">Csaba Peterdi</a></span>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-gill-364025">Jason Gill</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carlos-celis-morales-364026">Carlos Celis-Morales</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p>
<p>Research has consistently shown that people who are less physically active are both more likely to develop health problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes, and to die younger. Yet there is <a href="https://www.bhf.org.uk/news-from-the-bhf/news-archive/2017/april/new-report-assesses-impact-of-physical-inactivity-on-uk-heart-health-and-economy">increasing evidence</a> that physical activity levels are on the decline.</p>
<p>The problem is that when there are many demands on our time, many people find prioritising exercise difficult. One answer is to multi-task by cycling or walking to work. We’ve just completed the largest ever study into how this affects your health.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.bmj.com/content/357/bmj.j1456">Published</a> in the British Medical Journal today, the results for cycling in particular have important implications. They suggest that councils and governments need to make it a top priority to encourage as many commuters to get on their bikes as possible.</p>
<h2>The findings</h2>
<p>Cycling or walking to work, sometimes referred to as active commuting, is not very common in the UK. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23990990?access_num=23990990&link_type=MED&dopt=Abstract">Only</a> 3% of commuters cycle to work and 11% walk, one of the lowest rates in Europe. At the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/public_opinion/archives/ebs/ebs_406_en.pdf">other end</a> of the scale, 43% of the Dutch and 30% of Danes cycle daily.</p>
<p>To get a better understanding of what the UK could be missing, we looked at 263,450 people with an average age of 53 who were either in paid employment or self-employed, and didn’t always work at home. Participants were asked whether they usually travelled to work by car, public transport, walking, cycling or a combination.</p>
<p>We then grouped our commuters into five categories: non-active (car/public transport); walking only; cycling (including some who also walked); mixed-mode walking (walking plus non-active); and mixed-mode cycling (cycling plus non-active, including some who also walked).</p>
<p>We followed people for around five years, counting the incidences of heart disease, cancers and death. Importantly, we adjusted for other health influences including sex, age, deprivation, ethnicity, smoking, body mass index, other types of physical activity, time spent sitting down and diet. Any potential differences in risk associated with road accidents is also accounted for in our analysis, while we excluded participants who had heart disease or cancer already.</p>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165479/original/image-20170417-12909-1exz14h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165479/original/image-20170417-12909-1exz14h.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=237&fit=clip" alt="" /></a>
<span class="caption">Death by bus?</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/serious-woman-on-bus-computer-88940911?src=-VQQmRbFAWwnS75pvzZgrQ-1-48">Genemecom</a></span>
<p>We found that cycling to work was associated with a 41% lower risk of dying overall compared to commuting by car or public transport. Cycle commuters had a 52% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 40% lower risk of dying from cancer. They also had 46% lower risk of developing heart disease and a 45% lower risk of developing cancer at all.</p>
<p>Walking to work was not associated with a lower risk of dying from all causes. Walkers did, however, have a 27% lower risk of heart disease and a 36% lower risk of dying from it.</p>
<p>The mixed-mode cyclists enjoyed a 24% lower risk of death from all causes, a 32% lower risk of developing cancer and a 36% lower risk of dying from cancer. They did not have a significantly lower risk of heart disease, however, while mixed-mode walkers did not have a significantly lower risk of any of the health outcomes we analysed.</p>
<p>For both cyclists and walkers, there was a trend for a greater lowering of risk in those who commuted longer distances. In addition, those who cycled part of the way to work still saw benefits – this is important as many people live too far from work to cycle the entire distance.</p>
<p>As for walkers, the fact that their health benefits were more modest may be related to distance, since they commute fewer miles on average in the UK – six per week compared to 30 for cyclists. They may therefore need to walk longer distances to elicit meaningful benefits. Equally, however, it may be that the lower benefits from walking are related to the fact that it’s a less intense activity.</p>
<h2>What now?</h2>
<p>Our work builds on the <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0091743507000989">evidence</a> from <a href="https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/165/12/1343/125702/Influence-of-Exercise-Walking-Cycling-and-Overall">previous studies</a> in a number of important ways. Our quarter of a million participants was larger than all previous studies combined, which enabled us to show the associations between cycling/walking to work and health outcomes more clearly than before.</p>
<p>In particular, the findings resolve previous uncertainties about the association with cancer, and also with heart attacks and related fatalities. We also had enough participants to separately evaluate cycling, walking and mixed-mode commuting for the first time, which helped us confirm that cycling to work is more beneficial than walking.</p>
<p>In addition, much of the previous research was undertaken in places like China and the Nordic countries where cycling to work is common and the supporting infrastructure is good. We now know that the same benefits apply in a country where active commuting is not part of the <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23990990?access_num=23990990&link_type=MED&dopt=Abstract">established culture</a>.</p>
<p>It is important to stress that while we did our best to eliminate other potential factors which might influence the findings, it is never possible to do this completely. This means we cannot conclusively say active commuting is the cause of the health outcomes that we measured. Nevertheless, the findings suggest policymakers can make a big difference to public health by encouraging cycling to work in particular. And we should not forget other benefits such as reducing congestion and motor emissions.</p>
<p>Some countries are well ahead of the UK in encouraging cyclists. In Copenhagen and Amsterdam, for instance, people cycle because it is the easiest way to get around town.</p>
<a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165492/original/image-20170417-10077-1k2dt50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/165492/original/image-20170417-10077-1k2dt50.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" alt="" /></a>
<span class="caption">Dutch courage.</span> <span class="attribution"><a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/amsterdam-netherlands-june-16-2016-people-524928991?src=nYdrFLZy8dDewt0fZx9WAw-1-4">S-F</a></span>
<p>It was not always this way – both cities pursued clear strategies to improve cycle infrastructure first. Ways to achieve this include increasing provision for cycle lanes, city bike hire schemes, subsidised bike purchase schemes, secure cycle parking and more facilities for bicycles on public transport.</p>
<p>For the UK and other countries that have lagged behind, the new findings suggest there is a clear opportunity. If decision makers are bold enough to rise to the challenge, the long-term benefits are potentially transformative.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border:none;margin:0;max-height:1px;max-width:1px;min-height:1px;min-width:1px;opacity:0;padding:0;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/76292/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: <a href="http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines">http://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines</a> --></p>
<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/jason-gill-364025">Jason Gill</a>, Reader, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carlos-celis-morales-364026">Carlos Celis-Morales</a>, Research Associate, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-glasgow-1269">University of Glasgow</a></em></p>
<p>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/cycling-to-work-major-new-study-suggests-health-benefits-are-staggering-76292">original article</a>.</p></div>Impact of a one-year school-based teacher-implemented nutrition and physical activity intervention: main findings and future recommendationshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/impact-of-a-one-year-school-based-teacher-implemented-nutrition-a2020-02-20T09:37:56.000Z2020-02-20T09:37:56.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8351-3">https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8351-3</a></p>
<p>(February 2020)</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3874281296,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Impact of a one-year school-based teacher-implemented nutrition and physical activity intervention_ main findings and future recommendations _ BMC Public Health _ Full Text.pdf</a></p>
<h2 id="Abs1" class="c-article-section__title u-h2 js-section-title js-c-reading-companion-sections-item">Abstract</h2>
<div id="Abs1-content" class="c-article-section__content">
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Background</h3>
<p>The aim of the current study is to describe the effectiveness of a school-based intervention when delivered by a non-nutrition specialist (trained schoolteachers) as compared to an expert in nutrition.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Methods</h3>
<p>Two trials of the same school-based intervention using the same intervention package were delivered, one by nutritionists and another by trained schoolteachers. The intervention focused mainly on dietary behaviours, as well as physical activity. In both trials, purposively selected schools were randomized to intervention or control groups; students (aged 9–11 years) in both groups were compared at post-test on knowledge and self-efficacy scores, as well as dietary and physical activity behaviours, controlling for their baseline status on the various measures. All analyses accounted for clustering at the school level.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Results</h3>
<p>In both trials, a statistically significantly greater improvement was observed for both the knowledge and self-efficacy scores in intervention vs. school students. When the programme was delivered by trained schoolteachers, frequency of breakfast intake was increased, crisps consumption was reduced, but no change in fruit and vegetable consumption was observed (latter increased when delivered by nutrition professionals only). Physical activity did not improve in both trials.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Conclusion</h3>
<p>Trained schoolteachers can have a positive impact on students’ dietary behaviours with the appropriate training to ensure they are equipped with the right information, skills, and resources to deliver the programme with the highest fidelity.</p>
<p><span style="font-size:12pt;"><strong>Summary of Physical Activity results</strong></span></p>
<p>Students’ physical activity did not change or improve in both interventions, which may be explained by external factors such as limited accessibility to extra-curricular activities, be it due to budget constraints, homework overload or the lack of safe and free places for spontaneous physical activity or play, all of which were reported as barriers to improved frequency of after-school sports in previously held focus group discussions as part of the process evaluation of the pilot study [<a id="ref-link-section-d48716e895" title="Habib-Mourad C, Ghandour LA, Moore HJ, Nabhani-Zeidan M, Adetayo K, Hwalla N, Summerbell C. Promoting healthy eating and physical activity among school children: findings from health-E-PALS, the first pilot intervention from Lebanon. BMC Public Health. 2014;14:940." href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8351-3#ref-CR24">24</a>]</p>
<p>Other reviews have shown that the null effect of school-based physical activity interventions on children’s moderate to vigorous physical activity may be due to interventions not reaching target populations as intended. Authors concluded that further assessments of intervention fidelity are required [<a id="ref-link-section-d48716e898" title="Love R, Adams J, van Sluijs EMF. Are school-based physical activity interventions effective and equitable? A meta-analysis of cluster randomized controlled trials with accelerometer-assessed activity. Obes Rev. 2019;20(6):859–70." href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8351-3#ref-CR36">36</a>]. Increasing the number of physical education sessions per week, at school, may be a more appropriate goal for schools in low to middle-income countries.</p>
<p>Other researchers have noted that change in physical activity may necessitate more targeted individual behavioural interventions which was not the case in our study [<a id="ref-link-section-d48716e901" title="Tymms PB, Curtis SE, Routen AC, Thomson KH, Bolden DS, Bock S, Dunn CE, Cooper AR, Elliott JG, Moore HJ, et al. Clustered randomised controlled trial of two education interventions designed to increase physical activity and well-being of secondary school students: the MOVE project. BMJ Open. 2016;6(1):e009318." href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8351-3#ref-CR37">37</a>].We acknowledge that our study has limitations. Dietary behaviors and physical activity were self-reported and thus were subjectively assessed, and are prone to reporting error. Another limitation, is the reduced number of physical education sessions and the absence of sports experts in both trials, which may have affected the improvement in students’ physical activity levels as nutritionists are probably not best suited to deliver active living components.</p>
<p>While this study is the first to describe the findings of two trials delivering the same intervention package, it did not directly assess the difference in the impact of the intervention when delivered by the nutritionists or the schoolteachers. Finally, the baseline dietary and physical activity behaviours, as well as knowledge and self-efficacy scores were comparable between students who were lost to follow-up and those with complete data, within and across intervention and control groups; thus, it is unlikely that any differential misclassification bias was introduced.</p>
</div></div>Health and the built environment in United States cities: measuring associations using Google Street View-derived indicators of the built environment.https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/health-and-the-built-environment-in-united-states-cities-measurin2020-02-20T09:09:00.000Z2020-02-20T09:09:00.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32050938">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32050938</a></p>
<p>(February 2020)</p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3874245778,original{{/staticFileLink}}">s12889-020-8300-1.pdf</a></p>
<h1>Health and the built environment in United States cities: measuring associations using Google Street View-derived indicators of the built environment.</h1>
<div class="auths"><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Keralis%20JM%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Keralis JM</a><sup>1</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Javanmardi%20M%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Javanmardi M</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Khanna%20S%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Khanna S</a><sup>3</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Dwivedi%20P%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Dwivedi P</a><sup>4</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Huang%20D%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Huang D</a><sup>4</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Tasdizen%20T%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Tasdizen T</a><sup>2</sup>, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Nguyen%20QC%5BAuthor%5D&cauthor=true&cauthor_uid=32050938">Nguyen QC</a><sup>4</sup>.</div>
<div class="afflist">
<h3><a id="ui-ncbitoggler-2" class="jig-ncbitoggler ui-widget ui-ncbitoggler" title="Open/close author information list" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32050938#"><span class="ui-ncbitoggler-master-text">Author information</span></a></h3>
<div class="ui-helper-reset"> </div>
</div>
<div class="abstr">
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<div>
<h4>BACKGROUND:</h4>
<p>The built environment is a structural determinant of health and has been shown to influence health expenditures, behaviors, and outcomes. Traditional methods of assessing built environment characteristics are time-consuming and difficult to combine or compare. Google Street View (GSV) images represent a large, publicly available data source that can be used to create indicators of characteristics of the physical environment with machine learning techniques. The aim of this study is to use GSV images to measure the association of built environment features with health-related behaviors and outcomes at the census tract level.</p>
<h4>METHODS:</h4>
<p>We used computer vision techniques to derive built environment indicators from approximately 31 million GSV images at 7.8 million intersections. Associations between derived indicators and health-related behaviors and outcomes on the census-tract level were assessed using multivariate regression models, controlling for demographic factors and socioeconomic position. Statistical significance was assessed at the α = 0.05 level.</p>
<h4>RESULTS:</h4>
<p>Single lane roads were associated with increased diabetes and obesity, while non-single-family home buildings were associated with decreased obesity, diabetes and inactivity. Street greenness was associated with decreased prevalence of physical and mental distress, as well as decreased binge drinking, but with increased obesity. Socioeconomic disadvantage was negatively associated with binge drinking prevalence and positively associated with all other health-related behaviors and outcomes.</p>
<h4>CONCLUSIONS:</h4>
<p>Structural determinants of health such as the built environment can influence population health. Our study suggests that higher levels of urban development have mixed effects on health and adds further evidence that socioeconomic distress has adverse impacts on multiple physical and mental health outcomes.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="keywords">
<h4>KEYWORDS:</h4>
<p>Built environment; Computer vision; Google Street View; Machine learning; Structural determinants of health</p>
</div>
<div class="aux">
<div class="resc">
<dl class="rprtid">
<dt>PMID:</dt>
<dd>32050938</dd>
<dt>DOI:</dt>
<dd><a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-8300-1" target="_blank">10.1186/s12889-020-8300-1</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div></div>How men receive and utilise partner support when trying to change their diet and physical activity within a men’s weight management programmehttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/how-men-receive-and-utilise-partner-support-when-trying-to-change2020-02-14T14:33:17.000Z2020-02-14T14:33:17.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8213-z">https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-020-8213-z</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3862303293,original{{/staticFileLink}}">s12889-020-8213-z.pdf</a></p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<div id="Abs1-section" class="c-article-section">
<h2 id="Abs1" class="c-article-section__title u-h2 js-section-title js-c-reading-companion-sections-item">Abstract</h2>
<div id="Abs1-content" class="c-article-section__content">
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Background</h3>
<p>The impacts of interventions designed to change health behaviours are potentially affected by the complex social systems in which they are embedded. This study uses Scottish data to explore how men receive and utilise partner support when attempting to change dietary practices and physical activity within the context of Football Fans in Training (FFIT), a gender-sensitised weight management and healthy living programme for men who are overweight/obese.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Methods</h3>
<p>Separate semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 20 men and their cohabiting female partners (total <em>n</em> = 40), 3–12 months after the men had completed FFIT. Data were thematically analysed and individual interviews were combined for dyadic analysis.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Results</h3>
<p>Men’s and women’s accounts suggested variations in men’s need for, and utilisation of, partner support in order to make changes to dietary practices and physical activity. There were also differences in descriptions of women’s involvement in men’s behaviour changes. Typologies were developed categorising men as ‘resolute’, ‘reliant’/‘receptive’ and ‘non-responsive’ and women as ‘very involved’, ‘partially involved’ and ‘not involved’. Men were more reliant, and women more involved, in changes to dietary practices compared to physical activity. The role of partner involvement in promoting men’s behaviour change seemed contingent on men’s resoluteness, or their reliance on the partner support.</p>
<h3 class="c-article__sub-heading u-h3">Conclusions</h3>
<p>These results highlight how interactions between men’s resoluteness/reliance on cohabiting female partners and the partners’ involvement impact the extent to which female partners influence men’s changes to dietary practices and physical activity following a weight loss intervention. Understanding this interaction could increase the impact of health interventions aimed at one individual’s behaviour by considering other family members’ roles in facilitating those changes. The typologies developed for this study might contribute towards the development of behaviour change theories within the cohabiting couple context.</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="c-page-layout__side u-text-sm"> </div></div>Why I had to go on TV to lose weighthttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/why-i-had-to-go-on-tv-to-lose-weight2020-02-12T14:16:12.000Z2020-02-12T14:16:12.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/before_after_weight-loss">https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/before_after_weight-loss</a></p>
<p> </p>
<h1 class="blocks-article__headline">Why I had to go on TV to lose weight</h1>
<div class="blocks-article__grid">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--0">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-image__wrapper"><img class="blocks-image--lazy-loaded" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0825ch1.jpg" alt="Chris with Tom Kerridge" /></div>
Tom and Chris get started on the challenge together.
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--1">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph"><em class="blocks-text-block__emphasis">Words by Chris, volunteer on Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge.</em></p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph"><strong class="blocks-text-block__strong">The rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis changed everything. It was the catalyst for my weight gain. I’ve always been what you might call a ‘big chap’, but through a diet I’d lost eight stone and was feeling better than ever. I’d even been running two miles every day to my job as a community police officer in Gloucester. Yet every day I was waking up in pain and my joints were becoming stiff. At first I put it down to pushing myself too hard, but then the pain became impossible to ignore. I went to the GP and was diagnosed. My diet and healthier lifestyle came to a stop.</strong></p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I used the diagnosis as an excuse to avoid exercise, and slipped into old eating habits – absent-mindedly eating a packet of biscuits while watching TV in the evening, or, of course, crisps. They were my weakness. I could eat packets at a time without even realising. And with my motivation having disappeared, over the next two years the weight piled back on.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--2">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">Why I thought TV would help</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I’d heard Tom Kerridge was going to be filming a show in his home town of Gloucester and was looking for people to take part. The idea was that he and 11 locals would take on a challenge to regain control of their weight, and get fitter and healthier in the process.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">Quite a few people told me, ‘I think you could do this’, which was a bit of a back-handed compliment! On the one hand they were saying they thought I’d rise to the challenge, but on the other they were saying ‘you need a bit of help and we think you should do it.’</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">So, I applied. I knew it was the right thing to do, I’m 41 and my weight was becoming an issue. I liked the idea of the programme, <a class="blocks-text-block__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000d2ct/lose-weight-and-get-fit-with-tom-kerridge">Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge</a>. It wasn’t going to offer a quick-fix diet that was unsustainable. It was going to focus on making good choices and creating an eating plan I could stick to for life. The fitness element would find exercises I’d enjoy and be able to maintain.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I wanted to see what I could achieve. I knew if I was taking part in a TV show, I wouldn’t be able to back out and say, ‘oh well I’m having a bad week I’m not going to do it’.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--3">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">‘I’d never been so nervous’</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">On the first day on set I felt the nerves of not knowing what was going to happen. My main concern was the diet. I was the world’s fussiest eater. In fact, I was so fussy that friends and colleagues would take the mick out of me for it. So I was really concerned about what kind of food I was going to have to eat. Little did I know that would be the least of my problems…</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--4">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-image__wrapper"><img class="blocks-image--lazy-loaded" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0825g45.jpg" alt="Chris with his family and Tom Kerridge" /></div>
Chris’ family meet Tom when filming Lose Weight and Get Fit with Tom Kerridge.
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--5">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">Meeting ‘The Terminator’ and my start weight</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">In episode one you see us all stepping onto a machine that analyses our weight and fat. We nicknamed it ‘The Terminator’, the whole machine was horrendous. It effectively felt like it was telling you off!</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">We all knew we were overweight and unfit, but to actually see it and then for the machine to highlight that you were high risk for all sorts of problems was a shock. The number staring back at me was 120kg – more than 18½ stone. But the weight wasn’t the only issue.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">Because of my job, where I’m out on patrol often, I do a lot of walking, so I’d thought I was medically quite fit. But that machine showed me the harsh reality. It might as well have said 'no you’re not, what are you on about? You’re in a dream world!’.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I was told I was at high risk because of the amount of fat around my organs. The ridiculous thing is, my daughter had a metabolic condition when younger which led to her having a liver transplant, so I’m aware of how important organ donation is. Now, here I was telling myself ‘crikey, if I carry on like this, I’ll end up reliant on other people to keep my life going’. It really was quite alarming.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--6">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<h2 class="blocks-image__title">Taking on the challenge of eating differently</h2>
<div class="blocks-image__wrapper"><img class="blocks-image--lazy-loaded" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0825jtx.jpg" alt="Tom Kerridge's steak tacos with burnt corn salsa recipe" /></div>
Tom Kerridge's steak tacos from Lose Weight and Get Fit.
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--7">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I was one of those people who if I hadn’t tasted it before, I wasn’t going to try it. But that wasn’t an option. Tom served up his dishes, and with the cameras all around I had to give them a go. When I did, the tastes were unbelievable. I was a bit gutted! I’d missed out on all these flavours for years.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">The first thing I tried was a <a class="blocks-text-block__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/steak_tacos_with_burnt_51312">steak taco</a>, which had guacamole in it. I would never even think about eating avocado before. It was green, it was horrible and I hated the texture. But after taking a bite, I realised what a difference it made to the dish!</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">My diet before was pretty bad. Breakfast would be either a high-sugar cereal or a bacon sandwich. Lunch would be something I could grab quickly. I’d probably buy a sandwich – but it didn’t stop there – I’d pick up crisps and a sausage roll, and of course a chocolate bar and fizzy drink. For dinner, if I was at home I’d probably have something from the chippie up the road, and if I was at work it’d be from the nearby kebab van.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">Now it’s completely different – I think the kebab van has put in a couple of missing person reports because I haven’t been there in so long!</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I became a lot more aware of what I was eating and the big difference now is that I plan my meals. For breakfast, I’ll have a shake, porridge or low-calorie cereal. For lunch, I’ll bring a low-calorie soup into work and have it with a brown roll. And in the evening, I’ll have a healthy home-cooked meal or, if I’m at work, we’ll all plan together what we’re going to eat.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--8">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">How weight-loss has impacted my relationships</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">One of the biggest changes is I’m now in the kitchen a lot more. Previously I hadn’t cooked for my family. My poor wife, we’d been married for 10 years and I’d never cooked her a meal, but everything’s different now.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">She used to hate me always asking ‘what’s for tea?’. Now I’ll say, ‘I’m thinking of doing this for tea’, and it takes pressure off her.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">It’s good for my children to see too. My daughter in particular has been inspired and is getting into healthier food – she’ll put requests in for Tom’s recipes, especially the curry and steak tacos. It’s so rewarding to know I’m being a healthy influence.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">As for my son, he’s seven, and with the weight I’ve lost it means I can play a lot more with him. I feel like the whole family’s getting positives from it.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">My colleagues have been so supportive too. I tend to work with the same people on shift and they’ve got involved and make suggestions for what we should try – they’re helping me to keep on the straight and narrow!</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--9">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-image__wrapper"><img class="blocks-image--lazy-loaded" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p0825k3q.jpg" alt="Chris and the other contributors with Adam and Tom" /></div>
Chris and the other contributors from Lose Weight and Get Fit, with Adam and Tom.
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--10">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">Focusing on my fitness levels</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">Because of my arthritis, I needed to focus on low-impact exercise. Personal trainer on the show, Adam Peacock, introduced us to resistance bands and a <a class="blocks-text-block__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/articles/strength_exercises">fitness programme</a>, which helped. I do the exercises in the garden when I get cravings for snacks! We did lots of activities – I enjoyed a class where you were dancing like you were in a club! It didn’t take long for my confidence to grow.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--11">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<h2 class="blocks-text-block__title">Creating a support group</h2>
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">I’ve made good friends from the programme. We’ve got a group chat and, even though the cameras have stopped rolling, we’re still giving a lot of support to each other.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">We regularly meet and play squash and we still message each other daily. We keep each other updated with our activities – if I try something new and enjoy it, I see if anyone wants to come to the next one.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--12">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<h2 class="blocks-image__title">The result!</h2>
<div class="blocks-image__wrapper"><img class="blocks-image--lazy-loaded" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/688xn/p082fscx.jpg" alt="Chris holds up a pair of his old trousers showing how much weight he's lost" /></div>
Chris lost a lot of weight on the show and has continued to lose it since the cameras stopped rolling.
</div>
</div>
<div class="blocks-article__grid-row blocks-article__grid-row--13">
<div class="blocks-article__grid-cell blocks-article__grid-cell--full-width">
<div class="blocks-block blocks-text-block">
<div>
<div class="blocks-text-block__text">
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">You’ll have seen me steadily losing weight and getting fitter on the show. By the fourth week I’d lost 3kg, and just a few weeks later I’d lost a whole lot more. How much? You’ll have to <a class="blocks-text-block__link" href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000d2ct/lose-weight-and-get-fit-with-tom-kerridge">tune in</a> to find out!</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">And that was just the start. I’ve maintained the regime and embraced it. And I’ve lost lots more weight. As a result, my arthritis – while something I still have to manage – is better, as weighing less means there’s less strain on my joints.</p>
<p class="blocks-text-block__paragraph">It’s improved all areas of my life and I’ve made new friends in the process. I know I can keep going and keep achieving.</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div></div>Access to public transport and childhood obesity: A systematic reviewhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/access-to-public-transport-and-childhood-obesity-a-systematic-rev2020-02-06T09:58:23.000Z2020-02-06T09:58:23.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/obr.12987">https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/obr.12987</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3849834319,original{{/staticFileLink}}">Xu_et_al-2020-Obesity_Reviews.pdf</a></p>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<div>
<p>The lack of access to public transport is generally considered to be a risk factor for childhood obesity by discouraging active transport and thus physical activity. To explore the association between access to public transport and childhood obesity, we have conducted a systematic literature search in the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Web of Science for studies published before January 1, 2019.</p>
<p>A total of 25 cross-sectional and two longitudinal studies conducted in 10 countries were identified. Inconsistent findings were identified arising from a great variety of sample characteristics, definitions of exposure (ie, access to public transport), and outcome variables (eg, obesity), and analysis methods. While over half of the studies showed null associations between access to public transport and childhood obesity, we have observed more positive than negative associations among the rest of the studies.</p>
<p>These observations suggest that an increased level of access to public transport may have a health-promoting effect and hence prevent the development of childhood obesity. However, this conclusion needs to be further corroborated in future research on the basis of large-sample health surveys, in situ observations, and comparative analyses among different study areas.</p>
</div></div>Association between daily TV time and physical fitness in 6- to 14-year-old Austrian youth.https://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/association-between-daily-tv-time-and-physical-fitness-in-6-to-142020-02-06T09:49:12.000Z2020-02-06T09:49:12.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31993349">https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/31993349</a></p>
<p><a href="{{#staticFileLink}}3849826838,original{{/staticFileLink}}">tp-08-05-371.pdf</a></p>
<h3>Abstract</h3>
<div>
<h4>BACKGROUND:</h4>
<p>Physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviors have been associated with various health outcomes in youth, including overweight/obesity and physical fitness. Limited information, however, is available on the independent association between TV time and physical fitness in children and adolescents.</p>
<h4>METHODS:</h4>
<p>A total of 3,293 (55.1% male) youth between 6 and 14 years of age were randomly selected from 29 Austrian schools. Body weight and height were measured according to standard procedures and BMI percentiles were determined based on German reference values. Physical fitness was assessed with the German Motor test (DMT6-18), which evaluates cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, power, strength endurance, agility, speed and flexibility. Information on daily TV time and participation in club sports was obtained via standardized questionnaires.</p>
<h4>RESULTS:</h4>
<p>Participants were 9.8±2.3 years of age and almost half of them (48.5%) reported a TV time >2 hours/d. TV time increased significantly with age. High TV consumption was associated with significantly lower physical fitness and these results remained after adjusting for body weight. Youth exceeding current TV time recommendations had a 60% higher risk of having poor or very poor fitness compared to those with a TV time <2 hours/day.</p>
<h4>CONCLUSIONS:</h4>
<p>High TV time is associated with poor physical fitness in youth. Accordingly, intervention strategies need to target a meaningful utilization of TV and other screen-based activities in addition to the promotion of PA in order to ensure sufficient physical fitness in youth.</p>
</div>
<p> </p></div>The association between fitness and obesity in diverse multi-ethnic college studentshttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/the-association-between-fitness-and-obesity-in-diverse-multi-ethn2020-02-06T09:46:03.000Z2020-02-06T09:46:03.000ZAlan Inman-Wardhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/AlanInmanWard<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07448481.2019.1665054?journalCode=vach20">https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07448481.2019.1665054?journalCode=vach20</a></p>
<div class="sectionInfo abstractSectionHeading">
<div class="sectionHeading"><strong>Abstract</strong></div>
</div>
<div class="abstractSection abstractInFull">
<p><strong>Objective:</strong> We examined differences and associations between physical fitness and behavioral factors with obesity in a multi-ethnic student population. </p>
<p><strong>Participants:</strong> Study population included non-Hispanic whites (NHW, <em>n</em> = 1,454); Hispanics (<em>n</em> = 1,436) and Asians (<em>n</em> = 1,016) at a metropolitan university from Fall 2006 to Fall 2013. </p>
<p><strong>Methods:</strong> Analyses of Variance and regression analyses, utilizing cross-sectional data, measured the association between fitness, and behavior with obesity. </p>
<p><strong>Results:</strong> BMI differences (<em>p</em> < .05) were observed between NHW (23.17 ± 3.67), Hispanics (24.32 ± 3.67), and Asians (22.92 ± 4.12). Fitness parameters, relative VO<sub>2</sub> max, % body fat, and total fitness score were significantly (<em>p</em> < .0001) associated with obesity. Stress was strongly significantly associated with obesity in Hispanics (<em>p</em> < .001) and somewhat in NHW. </p>
<p><strong>Conclusions:</strong> Obesity disparities persist in college. Physical fitness and stress management interventions should be targeted towards Hispanic and NHW college students, which may curb current and/or adult-onset obesity.</p>
</div></div>Can exercise help treat anxiety? National College Health Associationhttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/articles/can-exercise-help-treat-anxiety-national-college-health-associati2020-01-24T21:37:32.000Z2020-01-24T21:37:32.000ZActive Gloucestershirehttps://www.wecanmoveinsight.net/members/ActiveGloucestershire<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-treat-anxiety-2019102418096">https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/can-exercise-help-treat-anxiety-2019102418096</a></p>
<p>POSTED OCTOBER 24, 2019, 10:30 AM</p>
<div class="author vcard">
<div class="multi-author-wrap">
<div class="author-photo multi-author-photo"><img class="avatar avatar-96 wp-user-avatar wp-user-avatar-96 alignnone photo" src="https://hhp-blog.s3.amazonaws.com/2019/10/John-Ratey-headshot-150x150.jpg" alt="John J. Ratey, MD" width="96" height="96" /></div>
<div class="multi-author-meta"><a class="author url fn" title="Posts by John J. Ratey, MD" href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/author/jratey">John J. Ratey, MD</a><br /> Contributor</div>
<div class="multi-author-meta"> </div>
</div>
</div>
<p>Chances are good that you, or someone you know, is dealing with anxiety. One in five Americans over 18, and one in three teenagers 13 to 18, <a href="https://adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics" target="_blank">reported</a> having a chronic <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/anxiety-what-it-is-what-to-do-2018060113955">anxiety disorder</a> during the past year. And when I talk to college students, they’re not at all surprised that a whopping 63% of students <a href="https://www.acha.org/documents/ncha/NCHA-II_Fall_2018_Undergraduate_Reference_Group_Data_Report.pdf" target="_blank">felt tremendous anxiety</a> during their freshman year, according to a report by the National College Health Association.</p>
<p>The toll of anxiety can be high: it increases a person’s risk for other psychiatric disorders like depression, and can contribute to diabetes and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5499153/" target="_blank">cardiovascular problems</a>. One sobering <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4293141/" target="_blank">study</a> shows that people with anxiety tend to be more sedentary and do less intense forms of physical activity, if any. That’s ironic, because lacing up your sneakers and getting out and moving may be the single best nonmedical solution we have for preventing and treating anxiety.</p>
<p>As a psychiatrist who studies the effects of exercise on the brain, I’ve not only seen the science, I’ve witnessed firsthand how physical activity affects my patients. Research shows aerobic exercise is especially helpful. A simple bike ride, dance class, or even a brisk walk can be a powerful tool for those suffering from chronic anxiety. Activities like these also help people who are feeling overly nervous and anxious about an upcoming test, a big presentation, or an important meeting.</p>
<h3>How does exercise help ease anxiety?</h3>
<ul><li>Engaging in exercise <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30032703" target="_blank">diverts you</a> from the very thing you are anxious about.</li>
<li>Moving your body decreases muscle tension, lowering the body’s contribution to feeling anxious.</li>
<li>Getting your heart rate up changes brain chemistry, increasing the availability of important anti-anxiety neurochemicals, including serotonin, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28319590" target="_blank">endocannabinoids</a>.</li>
<li>Exercise activates <a href="https://www.jneurosci.org/content/33/18/7770" target="_blank">frontal regions of the brain</a> responsible for executive function, which helps control the amygdala, our reacting system to real or imagined threats to our survival.</li>
<li><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254619300298" target="_blank">Exercising regularly</a> builds up resources that bolster resilience against stormy emotions.</li>
</ul><h3>The details</h3>
<p>So exactly how much exercise does one need to protect against episodes of anxiety and anxiety disorders? While pinpointing this is not easy, a recent <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/da.22915" target="_blank">meta-analysis</a> in the journal <em>Anxiety-Depression</em> found that people with anxiety disorders who reported high-level physical activity were better protected against developing anxiety symptoms than those who reported low physical activity. Bottom line: when it comes to treating anxiety, more exercise is better.</p>
<p>If you’re just starting out, don’t despair. Some <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=18723899" target="_blank">research</a> also shows that just a single bout of exercise can help ease anxiety when it strikes.</p>
<p>Which type of exercise you choose may not matter greatly. Studies point to the effectiveness of everything from tai chi to <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/interval-training-more-workout-in-less-time-and-you-can-do-it-2018042013569">high-intensity interval training</a>. People experienced improvement no matter which types of activity they tried. Even general physical activity is helpful. The important thing is to try activities and keep doing them.</p>
<p>To maximize the benefits:</p>
<ul><li>Choose something enjoyable so you will do it repeatedly, building resilience.</li>
<li>Work toward getting your heart rate up.</li>
<li>Work out with a friend or in a group to reap the added benefit of social support.</li>
<li>If possible, exercise in nature or green space, which <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30544682" target="_blank">further lowers stress and anxiety</a>.</li>
</ul><p>While scientific studies are important, you don’t need to consult a chart, statistics, or an expert to know how good you feel after working up a sweat. Remember those feelings and use them as motivation to do something physical every day. Time to get up and get moving!</p></div>