Actively tackling inactivity

Haake and Tobin discuss the importance of physical activity. While many people may know that physical activity is good for them, they struggle to do any. And, while the phrase '5-a-day' for the consumption of fruit and veg is well known, there's no equivalent for physical activity. Perhaps that's why only between 8% and 18% of people in the UK were able to recall that the Chief Medical Officers' guidance is at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week. GPs faired marginally better: just 20% could recall the guidance. To promote the health and wellbeing of primary care workers and patients, the Royal College of General Practitioners set up the parkrun practice initiative to link surgeries with their local parkrun: 4 years later, 1600 have joined (around 20% of all GP practices). In presentations of our parkrun research to GPs, link workers, and health practitioners, it's surprising how many perceive parkrun as a lycra-clad race only for the usual sporty types. They don't see parkrun as appropriate for themselves, never mind their patients.