- England
This report provides new findings and compelling evidence of the need to turn the tide on the physical inactivity pandemic in England. Offering a wealth of figures, the 29% physically inactive rate is consistently mentioned and compared at both a local and international level. For example, this rate is double both Germany and France's level of physical inactivity and worryingly, higher than the USA. At a county level, rates are pulled through along with additional measures such as deprivation and successful case studies are outlined. The amount of public funding invested into physical inactivity is also analysed at both a national and regional level, revealing that although public health funding allocated to physical inactivity has increased, it still represents too smaller proportion of public health grants in comparison to its power to cause disease and death.
The report goes on to make recommendations for the government, local authorities and for the activity sector itself. These focus on improving data collection, evidencing impact of programmes and increasing the priority of the issue by implementing it into the planning earlier on. As a remedy to the 'evidence gap' mentioned, the Nesta standards of evidence scale is suggested, though benefits and limitations are explained.
This document is useful for those concerned with physical inactivity at a national level and those looking for further insight and guidance as to how to make changes dependent on local needs.
