Bid to promote benefits of physical activity

HEALTH and social care bosses attending an event in Dundee today heard how increasing physical activity can improve the wellbeing of Taysiders.

The event at the city council’s Shore Terrace offices brought together health and social care representatives from across Tayside, as well as academics and local and national government representatives with a specific interest in physical activity.

The aim was to embed physical activity for health improvement and disease prevention firmly in the forefront of public sector decision-making.

Chairman of the event was Dr Drew Walker, NHS Tayside’s director of public health. He said: “Presentations from the guest speakers demonstrated the evidence for physical activity to tackle the burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes, stroke, heart attack and respiratory diseases.

“NCDs are the leading global causes of death, responsible for more deaths than all other causes combined, and they strike hardest at the world’s low and middleincome populations.

“These diseases have reached epidemic proportions, yet they could be significantly reduced, with millions of lives saved and untold suffering avoided through reduction of their risk factors, early detection and timely treatments.

“Increased levels of physical activity can also make a tangible impact on wider social issues like education, employment and poor wellbeing.”

Guest speaker Dr William Bird said: “Physical activity must be a priority, with inactivity linked to many dangerous, preventable long-term conditions. The UK is one of the least active countries in the world and councils and leaders are in a powerful position to change this.”

Jayden’s mum Jennifer and his grandmother Linda Gellatly.