MPs Urge Increased Focus on Exercise for Older Adults' Health
Exercise 'just as important as medication' for keeping older people healthy but too little is being done to encourage it, MPs warn
Image: Mail Online
A report from the UK Commons Health and Social Care Committee emphasizes that exercise is as vital as medication for older adults' health. With low physical activity linked to numerous health issues and significant healthcare costs, MPs are calling for government action to integrate exercise discussions into clinical practice and promote social prescribing.
- 01One in six deaths in the UK is associated with lack of physical activity, costing the economy approximately £7.4 billion annually.
- 02The report advocates for routine exercise discussions to be embedded in clinical practice, as many patients report not being encouraged to be active.
- 03Currently, 44% of individuals aged 75 and over engage in less than 30 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly.
- 04Layla Moran, chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, highlighted that exercise can be more effective than medication in managing long-term health conditions.
- 05The report calls for practical recommendations, including better training for GPs and improved accessibility in public spaces to facilitate physical activity.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
A new report from the UK Commons Health and Social Care Committee emphasizes the critical role of exercise in maintaining health among older adults, equating its importance to medication. The report identifies low physical activity as a significant contributor to various health issues, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, leading to one in six deaths in the UK and costing the economy £7.4 billion annually. MPs urge the government and NHS to incorporate routine discussions about exercise into clinical practice, as many patients report never being encouraged to be active. Currently, 44% of people aged 75 and over do not meet the recommended 30 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly. Layla Moran, chair of the committee, noted that promoting physical activity could prevent frailty and disability, while also reducing NHS expenditures on medication. The report advocates for 'social prescribing' and calls for practical changes, such as improving public spaces to encourage movement. Caroline Abrahams from Age UK echoed the report's urgency, stressing the need for policymakers to prioritize physical activity for older adults as a public health goal.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
This report highlights the need for increased physical activity among older adults, which can lead to healthier aging and reduced healthcare costs.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
Should the government invest more in promoting physical activity for older adults?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.