Nation jumps for joy as gyms
said: “Covid-19 has given us a wake-up call of the risks of being overweight and the Prime Minister is clear we must get healthier, more active and eat better.
“We will be urging the public to take stock of how they live their lives and to take simple steps to lose weight, live healthier lives and reduce pressure on the NHS.”
Experts fear the health service could be overwhelmed this winter with a seasonal flu epidemic and a second virus spike.
Under the strategy GPS will encourage patients to cycle, and segregated cycle lanes, low-traffic neighbourhoods and secure cycle parking will be expanded in areas with greater at-risk populations.
It is hoped the measures adopt the lessons from tackling smoking, where GPS played a key role in raising the topic and referring patients to stop-smoking services.
The campaign aims to reach the 35 million people who need to lose weight, encouraging them to make behavioural changes and prevent serious diseases.
This will be supported by a 12-week plan everyone can use to develop healthier eating habits, get more active and shift flab. NHS weight-loss services will be increased so more people can get support and the Government will also attempt to make it easier to be referred to specialist help.
NHS chief executive Sir Simon Stevens said: “The evidence is now in – obesity can double your chance of dying from coronavirus. So this pandemic is a call to arms to adopt medically proven changes in what we eat and how we exercise.”
Two-thirds of UK adults are above a healthy weight, with 36 per cent overweight and 28 per cent obese.
Tam Fry, who heads the National Obesity Forum, said: “I welcome this initiative. It is going further than any government and it is important it is sustained, as dealing with the problem will take years.”
He added: “I want to know what the budget is and the timeline but we’ve lit the touch paper and now we must see it expand into a good strategy.”
In 2018-19 there were nearly
MOST swimming pools and indoor gyms reopened yesterday, with some customers saying they were so excited they were unable to sleep the night before.
About a third of public gyms and swimming pools stayed shut yesterday.
But for those that opened, along with private gyms and health clubs, strict hygiene and social distancing rules were in place.
Users were told to bring their own towels and water bottles, and to sanitise equipment and locker handles before and after use.
Government guidance also advised gyms to reduce class sizes and ensure adequate ventilation in studios.
Jamelah May was one of the first people through the doors of her gym in south-west London yesterday morning.
She has been a member of the gym for 12 years and said she had a sleepless night because she was so excited. After her first session, Jamelah told the BBC: “As well as physically getting back to where I want to be, mentally it’s had a massive impact.”
Fitness chain David Lloyd Clubs opened the doors of its branch in Hampton, Twickenham, at exactly midnight on Saturday to hold what is believed to be the first post-lockdown indoor exercise class.
Luke Willmott, manager of the Castle Gym in Nottingham, said his gym was at capacity by about 6.25am yesterday.
He said he decided to reopen as it was “only right for people to have a choice” to return. But he added his gym was hit with “loads” of membership cancellations during lockdown.
Elsewhere, the Aquabatix synchronised swimming
900,000 obesity-related hospital admissions, with obesity a risk factor for chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, some cancers, liver and respiratory diseases.
As part of the campaign it will be compulsory for restaurants and takeaway chains employing more than 250 staff to publish the calories in every meal or drink served.
Similar labels will also have to be on bottles and cans of beer, wine and spirits sold in shops.
And ministers are considering banning buy-one-get-one-free