Dr Kenneth Cooper – founder of the Cooper Institute in the US and an expert on preventing disease through exercise – revealed his recent findings at the WRIGHT Foundation Exercise Referral Conference, held at Birmingham’s NEC on 10 November.

From studies involving more than 80,000 patients, Dr Cooper pointed to the 1990s as a significant turning point in exercise participation.

In the US for example, deaths due to poor diet and sedentary lifestyles increased from 300,000 in 1990 to 365,000 by 2000.

He also highlighted the role obesity plays in the life expectancy of individuals. The risk of mortality from cancer increases by more than 50 per cent between an individual with a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5-24.9 – ideal weight – and an individual with a BMI above 40 – very obese.

Dr Cooper introduced the term aerobics around 30 years ago and has since conducted extensive research into exercise and disease prevention, including the recent Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study.

Other speakers at the conference included mental health expert Professor Adrian Taylor from the University of Exeter; Dr Niall Elliott, WRIGHT Foundation medical director; lifestyle co-ordinator Andrew Power and Paul Stonebrook of the Department of Health. Details: www.wrightfoundation.com