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"Too fat? Weed the garden or take a walk
Denis Campbell Sunday April 18, 2004 The Observer
Tens of millions of pounds will be spent advising Britons
to stop using lifts, to dig the garden and to walk more
often in a change of tactics aimed at ending the growing
'couch potato' culture. Ministers admit that efforts to
get the nation more active and tackle obesity through
promoting sport and fitness have failed. Now they want to
encourage people to become healthier through simple
activities such as walking and cycling rather than
aerobics, squash or football.
Ministers will sweep away decades of official advice by
stressing that the most realistic way to shake the nation
out of its increasingly sedentary habits is by short daily
bursts of activity. A media blitz will tell people that they
can add years to their lives by cycling to work, doing more
gardening, using stairs rather than lifts and pushing the
baby's pram. Under the banner 'Everyday sport: every body
feels better for it', a pilot campaign will be launched next
month in the North East, which has the lowest level of
participation in active recreational pursuits in England. It
will try to tackle the disenchantment many people feel with
traditional sport.
The campaign is being run by Sport England and will be
launched by an array of celebrities and leading politicians.
If successful, it is likely to become the basis for a
national campaign costing tens of millions of pounds a year.
Sport England is seeking £30 million a year for three years.
Sports Minister [censored] Caborn will unveil details of the plan
this week. Whitehall sources say the mounting tide of
obesity has convinced Ministers that action needs to be
taken. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell admits that people
cannot be forced to go to the gym.
Felicity Porritt, director of the pro-activity
Move4Health pressure group, said: 'We are eating more and
doing less than our parents and grandparents. So to halt
the weight gain, it's as much about increasing the amount
of activity we do as it is about reducing the amount of
food we consume.'
A Department of Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said:
'We have seen evidence from other countries such as
Germany, Finland and Australia that campaigns can deliver
real benefits in terms of getting people fitter and
reducing levels of obesity. If we are to push the message
home about getting Britons more active, we will need to
have a campaign too.'
Everyday sport
Forget the gym workouts - this is what you should do:
Push the baby's pram around the block for a while
Do some gardening
Get off the bus or train one stop early and walk the rest
of the way
Use your local park or common for a jog or kickabout
Explore the countryside on foot
Cycle as often as possible
Leave the car at home and walk
Swim at your local pool
Walk up stairs; don't use lifts"
It's refreshing to see cycling being promoted as an option
to a healthier lifestyle.
Cheers, helen s
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