Be Active Be Healthy

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Obesity in England is responsible for 9,000 premature deaths annually. "Be Active be Healthy" is a new strategy to get people in England moving. The plan will make it easier for councils and primary care trusts (PCTs) to work together with the purpose of getting local people more physically active.

Many illnesses are exacerbated by inactivity. And it is hoped that the knock-on effect of getting people more physically active will eventually deliver overall cost savings.

The mid-term goal of ‘Be Active be Healthy’ is to get at least two million more people active by the 2012 London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games.

Physical activity figures are stark. It is estimated that around 27 million adults in England are not exercising enough – 30 minutes of physical activity five times a week. And a further 14 million people do not complete one 30-minute session of moderate exercise per week.

Activities that form part of the ‘Be Active’ strategy including walking, swimming and dance. Relationships have been built with both the voluntary and private sector. A number of partnerships with both private and voluntary organisations are planned to get people moving in their local communities. These include: 

  • a free swimming scheme for adults called ‘Learn to Swim’ in association with the Amateur Swimming Association and Sport England getting all ages interested in dance
  • an Active Challenge scheme with 2012 walking routes throughout England to symbolise the 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games
  • the development of the 'Walking the Way to Health' scheme, which maintains more than 538 local health walk schemes

For more information download the Be Active be Healthy plan for getting the nation moving.

In association with

Northumberland Sport