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Letters: Write to reply
Do you have a strong opinion or disagree with somebody else’s views on the industry? If so, we’d love to hear from you – email: [email protected]
Workplace activity starts with just standing up more often
Phil Rumbelow,CEO,
Jubilee Hall Trust
I was interested to read your recent news story about the ‘On Your Feet Britain’ campaign, which aims to get sedentary office workers up from their desks. We recognise that, while only about 13 per cent of the population are members of gyms, almost everyone can benefit from being more active.
Working in partnership with Dr Mike Loosemore, head of sport and exercise medicine at University College Hospital, we’re offering local companies a programme to encourage low-level day-to-day activity. As Dr Loosemore says, it’s about changing the culture of the workplace so people move around just that little bit more. Even just standing up can make a big difference to calories burned and how alert, creative and productive you are.
The Active Movement programme is a behaviour change concept that encourages individuals, departments or companies to enjoy the programme collectively. We contact all participants every week, as well as offering face-to-face clinics with Dr Loosemore, plus newsletters, articles and videos. Every business is different, so each programme is bespoke to the organisation, and we work alongside HR departments to set tailored criteria for reviewing the programme.
If some participants want to go further and join a gym, we’ve created an Active Movement membership with low intensity introductory programming, and free follow-up sessions and support.
We need to offer a holistic approach to wellbeing
Tiffeny Gould,Digital fitness development/national exercise referral,
Everyone Active
Kate Cracknell raised some very valid points in her ‘Food for thought’ editor’s letter in the February issue of HCM. Historically the fitness sector has not done enough to support customers in making educated lifestyle choices – we’ve viewed our remit as catering for the exercise environment only. There’s a great opportunity to provide a more holistic approach, educating customers in lifestyle choices including physical activity, nutrition and reduced sedentary time.
At Everyone Active, we recognise the opportunity lies in creating a health hub within our facilities and through digital interactions. Our online offering encourages users to make healthier choices by logging activity, monitoring progress and getting rewards for making positive choices. Meanwhile our Everyone Health arm sets out to create a sustained, positive impact on the health and wellbeing of local communities: treating and managing health conditions and applying preventive strategies through education and community champions.
Partnerships are key, so we’ve teamed up with an online prescribed meal plan provider to make it easier and more affordable for customers to make healthier choices. Our owner, Castle View, has also acquired wellness intervention provider Weight Management Centre. We’re looking forward to exploring opportunities to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities we operate in.
This is more than a commercial opportunity. It’s our responsibility to acknowledge our role in combating health epidemics and enabling individuals to lead a better quality of life across their lifetime.
