Motivation Is Key To Beat The Inactivity Crisis, Says 'Take To The Streets'

Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness
Also Included In: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness;  Public Health
Article Date: 27 Oct 2008 - 14:00 PDT

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Despite the glorious success of Team GB at the Beijing Olympics last summer, the UK is still suffering from a growth in obesity levels which have doubled since the 1980's.

Around one in four men and one in three women in the UK are obese, according to government statistics. People who are obese also have an increased risk of high blood pressure and/or cholesterol, type two diabetes, a heart attack or stroke and some forms of cancer.

Now, people are being asked to Take To The Streets, to participate in a national activity programme which aims to encourage more people to take part in challenges such as the Bupa Great North Run, to motivate them to change their lifestyles for the better.

This follows recent research by UK scientists underlining the importance of having a goal to work towards in order to keep fit and healthy. They have proven that people taking part in activity with the ultimate target of participating in an event, are more likely to improve their activity levels and lifestyles.

Founder of the Bupa Great North Run and former Olympian, Brendan Foster, wants to fight obesity by getting more people involved in mass participation events. He said: "With the UK being less fit than it ever has been, I feel it is our duty to address the problem of obesity, especially when you see research showing that our children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents."

Research undertaken by the Institute of Youth Sport at Loughborough University has shown that taking part in a mass participation event such as the Great North Swim or the Bupa Great North Run can make a significant difference to your health.

The 'GreatFun2Run' study involved over 300 school children aged seven to eleven, who undertook a special activity programme, which encouraged them to get fit in order to take part in the Junior Great North Run and other junior mass participation running events.

Experts spent time with the children, their teachers and parents, to assess attitudes to fitness and healthy lifestyles, as well as activity levels before and after the programme.

Over a period of ten months they found that the best results were achieved by challenging children to prepare for an event. By giving them the incentive to increase their level of exercise, the children experienced a reduced rate of weight increase as they got older.

Brendan added: "The 'GreatFun2Run' study gives us the scientific proof to back up what events such as the Bupa Great North Run are all about. This approach can work for people of all ages, not just children and regardless of ability.

"Take To The Streets provides the motivation many people need to do something about their fitness and health through a series of exciting, varied nationwide events. We hope that more people than ever will be inspired to take part and join our bid to improve the nation's fitness."

During the next four years in the lead-up to 2012, Take To The Streets will provide a national network of events to cover a variety of activities including running, walking, cycling, swimming, gym and even dance, with the aim of challenging people to get fit.

Take To The Streets