Key stakeholders from a range of relevant UK industries will gather at five regional forums next month to develop a cross sector approach to tackling inactivity across the nation.

The ‘Moving More, Living More’ forums will see more than 650 senior delegates – including public health officials, commissioners from local government, and physical activity sector leaders – convene to establish optimum solutions to the UK’s burgeoning inactivity crisis.

Physical inactivity is costing the UK economy an estimated £10bn per year – estimated to rise to £50bn by 2050 if unchecked – and the epidemic has been brought into sharp focus by recent reports such as ukactive’s Turning the Tide on Inactivity.

David Stalker, CEO of ukactive – which is hosting the forums alongside Public Health England, the local Government Association and the County Sports Partnership Network – has previously said the health and fitness industry has the opportunity to provide solutions to a public health sector worth £8bn, but training pathways must improve for this to be realised. During a panel discussion at SIBEC 2014, fitness industry leaders identified closer links with local authorities and GPs as a key driver of a joined-up strategy on tackling inactivity.

The forums will take place in Birmingham, Leeds, London, Cambridge and Bristol from 10-17 July, with the geographical spread an acknowledgement that barriers to physical activity differ regionally and that strategy must go beyond a ‘one size fits all’ approach to have the greatest impact locally.

Each forum will look at the correlation between physical inactivity and high health service costs in local communities. It will also identify evidence-based interventions that effectively address low levels of physical activity. The forum outcomes will contribute towards the development of a National framework for action led by Public Health England, enabling regional needs and knowledge to inform national developments, tools and resources.

To read David Stalker’s assessment of health and wellbeing boards and what can be done to improve them – first published in the May edition of Health Club Management magazine – click here.