press release: ukactive
MPs begin physical activity challenge ‘Fit for Office’ following Westminster health checks with TV’s Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi and colleagues
04 Mar 2024
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More than 130 participants from around 50 offices have signed up for the month-long challenge / ukactive
More than 130 participants from around 50 offices have signed up for the month-long challenge so far, which will see MPs, Peers and their offices battle it out to be crowned Westminster’s ‘Physical Activity Champion’.
The challenge, organised by ukactive, the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, and supported by global fitness tracking provider Myzone, aims to raise awareness among policymakers of the benefits of physical activity for their own physical, mental and social wellbeing, and its importance to the nation’s health.
To complement the challenge, on Tuesday, parliamentarians were invited to Westminster Gym, which is managed by Jubilee Hall Trust, for a series of health checks with Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi from ITV’s ‘This Morning’ programme, alongside Dr Shahnaz Hussain, Consultant Psychiatrist for Mental Health, and Dr Jo Fleming, NHS Health and Wellbeing Coach.
The sessions meant MPs, Peers and their staff could receive advice and simple steps within their workplace, to support their physical and mental health wellbeing.
The doctors provided support with any ongoing physical ailments, as well as sharing techniques to establish habits to support and maintain health and wellbeing, with visitors encouraged to sign-up for the ‘Fit For Office’ challenge.
Participants in the challenge will be given a MZ-Switch heart rate monitor that measures their physical activity across the month, with the technology tracking ‘effort’ levels rather than volume or distance covered – ensuring the challenge can be enjoyed and accessed by all.
They will then accrue Myzone Effort Points (MEPs) that can be collected by exercising within the target heart-rate zones over a given period – the more effort that is put into each workout or activity, the more points that can be earned.
It is hoped that by taking part, MPs will also be encouraged to show support for the physical activity sector, which plays an essential role in helping to prevent 20 chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, many types of cancer, depression and anxiety, and dementia – generating more than £4.1bn in healthcare savings every year.
Ill health among working-age people is projected to cost the UK economy approximately £150bn a year, and ukactive Chair, Mike Farrar has called on the Government to deploy gyms and leisure centres across the country to help save the NHS and get more people back into work.
Dr Hussain Al-Zubaidi, who is also the Lifestyle & Physical activity lead for the Royal College of General Practitioners, said: “I am really excited to help launch 'Fit for Office,' where MPs embrace a month-long fitness challenge with Myzone belts. Beyond just tracking steps, it's a call for healthier MPs and stronger communities.
“We urge the Government to recognise the impact of the physical activity sector in tackling national priorities – reducing NHS wait times, addressing obesity, and preventing chronic conditions.
“Let's use gyms and leisure centres to rebuild health, revive our workforce, and boost the economy. The challenge begins; let's stride towards a fitter and resilient governance.”
Kim Leadbeater MP, who is taking part in the challenge, said: “Working in politics is a true privilege but like many jobs it is also very demanding, which can have a detrimental effect on our health and wellbeing.
“I am a firm believer in the benefits of physical activity for our physical and mental health, but also for our effectiveness at work.
“It’s great to take on the ‘Fit for Office’ challenge and I’ll also be hosting some workouts to help participants get involved and demonstrate how physical activity can support all of us in our day-to-day lives.”
Huw Edwards, CEO of ukactive, said: “‘Fit for Office’ is the perfect opportunity for MPs, Peers and their staff to embrace the benefits of physical activity for their own physical and mental wellbeing.
“The challenge will also help demonstrate to our elected officials the importance of physical activity for our nation’s health and the economy – the Government’s two biggest priorities.
“As the challenge gets underway, we want to see our politicians and their teams visiting their local gyms, leisure centres and pools to get active and witness first-hand the incredible role played by these facilities in our communities.”
David Stalker, Group CEO of Myzone, said: “The challenge has been set and we are looking forward to seeing how MPs, Peers and their teams across the UK get into the spirit of ‘Fit for Office’.
“We are committed to helping make physical activity a more enjoyable experience for all, and we wish all those taking part the very best of luck in what we know will be a great competition with an important message behind it.”
More press releases and updates from ukactive:
The World Health Organization has warned that 1.8 billion people are at risk of diseases
such as cancer, stroke, dementia and diabetes due to a lack of physical activity.
As the General Election reaches its conclusion, polling from Savanta commissioned by
ukactive, reveals the nation’s priorities when it comes to health, physical activity and
wellbeing.
As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 General Election, the latest polls show little has
really changed since the starting gun was fired on 22 May, with Labour still holding a clear
lead and predictions growing of a landslide. Despite this, there have been plenty of
warnings of the dangers of complacency at this stage.
Scotland is the only nation in the UK where a larger proportion of adults admit they are
less physically active than they were five years ago, according to a survey from ukactive.
And so the battle lines are drawn. After a few weeks of trading blows based on what each
party may or may not offer on 4 July, with manifestos published all has been revealed.
ukactive: news from HCMmag.com and FitTechGlobal.com
More than 200 organisations and athletes in the UK have signed an open letter
to party leaders to commit to making the nation the most active in Europe
after next month’s General Election.
Improving physical strength and fitness, mental health and confidence are the main reasons
for joining a health club, while cost, time and motivation are the main reasons for leaving.
UK Active has announced details of its annual health and fitness industry awards ceremony,
which will take place in Birmingham on the evening of Thursday 3 October at the International
Convention Centre.
The first annual Private Sector Benchmarking report was released today (27 March). A
collaboration between UK Active and 4Global, the aim of the research is to provide accurate
insight into the state of UK-based private sector health clubs.
In a soft power exercise, politicians in the UK have been invited to take part in a challenge
which encourages them to be more active, while raising awareness of the benefits of physical
activity.
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ukactive
Tel: 020 8158 9700
Email: [email protected]
Address:
The Bloomsbury Building,
10 Bloomsbury Way,
London,
WC1A 2SL,
United Kingdom
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Huw Edwards, CEO
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ukactive video gallery:
Key personnel
Mike Farrar, Chair
Huw Edwards, CEO
Steven Scales, Director of Membership and Sector Development
Jack Shakespeare, Director of Research, Policy and Communications
Huw Edwards, CEO
Steven Scales, Director of Membership and Sector Development
Jack Shakespeare, Director of Research, Policy and Communications
Key customers
Gyms, health clubs, leisure centres, fitness studios, swimming pools, sports bodies, activity providers, equipment suppliers, technology suppliers, health bodies, education bodies, health charities, consumer fitness brands
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