PHOTO: NICK WHITCOMBE

The UK government’s new Fit Miles programme will invest millions in apps, weight management groups and other services

It seems underwhelming that the government’s plan is to spend £100 million to tackle a £30bn problem Nick Whitcombe

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Industry campaigner ny endorsement of health and fitness on a national scale is positive, and if this is what gets our foot in the door to begin a wider conversation around bettering the nation’s health and truly protecting our NHS then it is certainly a step in the right direction. Government has allocated £100m to tackle obesity with a plan that, according to the prime minister, will aid 700,000 people. This represents just 1 per cent of the population, when 50 per cent are overweight and 30 per cent are obese. The NHS is haemorrhaging £9bn a year managing obesity and Type 2 diabetes, with a further cost to wider society of £30bn per year. So it seems underwhelming that the government’s plan is to spend £100 million to tackle a £30bn problem. Aiding 1 per cent when more than 50 per cent need support. Encouraging additional activity is a good move for mental health, although it will be near impossible to assess the success of the scheme in terms of increased steps, as there is no baseline to measure against. An hour’s extra walking per day equates ©Cybertrek 2021 Issue 4 2021

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