American Fitness Professionals & Associates

Fit Pro, April/May 98

The third phase of the Health Education Authority’s Active for Life campaign began in April. This campaign began in spring 1996 with the aim of encouraging more adults in England to become more active more often. This third campaign phase will run for a year, finishes in March 1999 and focuses on young women aged 16 - 24, whilst also promoting specific targeted initiatives with people with disabilities.

Active for Life:

Overall Message The Active for Life campaign promotes one simple, well-researched message, namely that regular moderate physical activity can significantly improve health and well-being. Being active doesn’t have to be hard work. Everyday activities like dancing, swimming, cycling and walking can improve health. The campaign advocates that everyone should build up over time to half an hour of activity a day, remembering that any activity is better than none at all.

The Allied Dunbar National Fitness Survey published in 1992 indicated that in young women aged 16 - 24 years:

a) only one third of young women achieve the currently recommended amount of moderate intensity physical activity (i.e. at least five occasions per week of at least 30 minutes)

b) one fifth of young women are sedentary (i.e. take less than 30 minutes of activity per week)

c) 27% of young women were unable to sustain uphill walking (at a 5% gradient) at 3.0 mph

d) over half feel that they were not getting enough exercise to keep fit and 83% feel they would like to take more exercise.

Exercise Benefits: While there are numerous benefits associated with regular physical activity depending upon exercise type, duration, frequency and intensity, the Active for Life campaign lists the following researched benefits of becoming more active:

the reduction in risk of coronary heart disease and stroke the prevention or control of high blood pressure the prevention of osteoporosis the improvement of joint mobility and muscle strength weight control improving general cardiovascular fitness and function the reduction in risk of non insulin dependent diabetes the reduction in risk of cancer of the colon the relief of symptoms of anxiety and depression.

What They Should Do The HEA recommends that young women who are currently inactive should follow the general adult message, namely; build up to half an hour of moderate intensity physical activity on five days of the week or more.

Moderate intensity activity should make you breathe more heavily than usual and feel warm and corresponds to an exercise heart rate as low as 60 - 70% of maximum heart rate. Whilst the exact level of activity which will be ‘moderate intensity’ varies from person to person, brisk walking or energetic dancing may be classified as such. As a rough guide, the HEA recommends that you should be able to hold a breathy conversation whilst being moderately active. Activities which do not allow you to converse readily with a friend are classified by the HEA as ‘vigorous’ in intensity. Participation in vigorous physical activity is also recommended and encouraged as long as you are used to being active and have spent some time being moderately active.

Young Women:

Action in Your Area The Active for Life campaign means that there are action projects in your area now. These will have been organised by health and fitness professionals and may involve:

Walking Trekking Dancing Women’s Soccer Basketball Inline Skating Cycling Swimming Trampolining… the list is endless.

To find out more about action initiatives in your area as part of the HEA’s Active for Life campaign, access the HEA’s public website: http://www.active.org.uk.