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Cheaper gym sessions and Twitter buddies to cut obesity
Sophie Goodchild, Health and Social Affairs Correspondent22 Jun 2009
Thousands of Londoners will get free gym sessions under government measures to fight obesity released today.
At least 124 gyms and leisure clubs in London are donating fitness training time worth £3million.
Those who sign up will also be encouraged to log on to Twitter to use a buddy system where people motivate each other to exercise.
The campaign, MoreActive4Life, is the latest initiative by ministers to tackle obesity. One in four adults is obese or clinically overweight.
Government guidelines recommend adults exercise for at least 30 minutes five times a week and children an hour a day. But one in five does not even manage one session a week - and one in four is classed as inactive.
A poll published today by Mori reports that one in three Londoners say they are too busy to keep fit, a third say they can not afford it, and 13 per cent lack motivation. Others say they find it difficult to juggle childcare with going out and exercising.
Under the MoreActive4Life plan, health clubs will provide free creches and Nintendo Wii sessions for children while their parents work out. The scheme is offering three courses:
A free gym day pass allowing participants to try exercises and equipment and get training from gym fitness workers.
A six-week programme of at least six sessions, including nutrition and lifestyle advice. Fitness clubs will also provide free or reduced-rate training in fencing, yoga and Pilates.
A six-week walking group, with fitness trainers leading walks from gyms in the scheme. Each gym is being given 30 pedometers to hand out.
The Government campaign is being supported by the Fitness Industry Association, whose members include private clubs such as Fitness First, activity health charity Central YMCA and local authority fitness centres.
Rosi Prescott, chief executive of Central YMCA, said the aim was to show everyone, especially those not keen on exercise, that keeping fit could be integrated into everyday life.
She said: "Our goal is to make everyone who responds to the MoreActive4Life challenge feel so motivated and supported they will want to keep being active and make it part of their life at the end of the six-week taster."
Aquaterra Gym in Islington is among those taking part in MoreActive4Life. Everyone who signs up at the fitness centre will be encouraged to set an exercise goal to reach when the campaign comes to a head in August.
To get a gym pass people must visit the website and enter their personal details and postcode.
They are then matched up with their nearest gym, which will make contact to organise a free session.
Reader views (3)
this is a complete waste of time and money.
what's the point of a few gym day passes?
governments need to crack down and control gym membership prices.
- Binder Singh, hounslow, uk, 26/06/2009 09:23
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If clubs and gyms are serious about improving the nations health they need to look at what they have on offer and ensure group activity sessions are available at peak times for new starters.
Instructors need to be supported and rewarded for taking time to specialise in working with the inactive participant. Many instructors receive more pay for having full classes (the regular exerciser), they should be rewarded for supporting beginners and their success over a period of time.
- Denise, Horsham, England, 23/06/2009 09:43
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The UK has segregated itself so that instead of living, working and shopping space all being within 10 minutes of each other (as they usually are in one of Europe's least obese nations: France), town centres are turned over to offices above shops, homes are pushed further and further out in the 'burbs and shopping is done in big shopping centres. The result is loads of time and effort commuting distances that require a car or a train and less time for recreation and sport. Cheap gymn membership to kick off with isn't going to change the country back to a civilised, healthy, well-balanced lifestyle with all the associated social benefits.
- Roz, France, 22/06/2009 13:48
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