GPs exercise right to help fitness drive
A new government fitness initiative may see doctors recommending dance classes and other forms of exercise to improve patients' health. *
The campaign – Be Active, Be Healthy – has been introduced to try to increase the fitness of millions across England. The drive comes as recent figures show that lack of physical activity is costing primary care trusts an average of £5 million a year.
Conditions such as heart disease, cancer and type two diabetes are linked to obesity due to low levels of exercise and bad diets.
Figures suggest that more than 27 million adults in England are not getting enough exercise and 14 million of those do not even do 30 minutes a week.
As part of the campaign GPs will be urged to advise patients to improve their fitness levels, by carrying out activities such as swimming, dancing and walking.
The Public Health Minister, Dawn Primarolo, said: “Physical activity is the key to stopping this country becoming the obesity capital of the world – and it makes us feel better.
“People of all ages can gain from doing more exercise but not enough of us do the magic 30 minutes, five days a week.”
Westfield’s Health Club Concession benefit provides many policyholders with access to special concessionary deals at a range of UK health and fitness clubs, which could encourage more people to join a gym and increase their exercise levels.
For more information on the Advantage Health Cash Plan, please visit:
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For more information on the Foresight Health Cash Plan, please visit:
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For more information on the Chamber Primary Health Plan, please visit:
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For more information on the Westfield Flex Health Cash Plan, please visit:
http://www.westfieldhealth.com/corporate-health-plans/flex/index.asp
Reference
* http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/feb/11/health-fitness-exercise-nhs
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