Breaking through the health barrier

Monday, 20 February 2012

New fitness campaign for over 55s with long term health issues

Over 55-year-olds are putting the younger generation to shame when it comes to leading an active lifestyle – but long-term health conditions are holding millions back. In fact, in a survey, almost a third (29%) of respondents aged 55 and over felt that long term health conditions were a barrier to staying active.

Now Len Goodman and Arlene Phillips have joined forces with GlaxoSmithKline and NHS London to launch Your Personal Best, a campaign encouraging over 55s with long term health conditions to lead more active lifestyles. The campaign comes following a survey which revealed:

• Over 55-year-olds are doing almost half an hour more activity a week (28 minutes) than 18-25 year olds, with walking (81%), housework (68%) and gardening (60%) being the most popular activities.

• Over 55-year-olds do, on average, 726 minutes of activity every week, compared to 698 minutes done by 18 – 25 year olds. Walking (18%) and dancing (12%) were the top two responses.

• However, almost a third (29%) of respondents aged 55 and over stated that they felt that long term health conditions were a barrier to staying active and their condition was holding them back.

To help overcome this, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Official Laboratory Services Provider for London 2012, in association with NHS London, has launched Your Personal Best, a national campaign.

Inspirational

Its aim is to inspire the 7.78 million people over 55 with long term conditions to lead more active lifestyles and to motivate them to achieve their personal best by engaging in a range of activities.

Keeping active (77%) and staying healthy (75%) are the main reasons that motivate over 55-year-olds to lead an active lifestyle. However, Dr William Bird MBE, GP with a special interest in physical activity, and an NHS London consultant, said: “Keeping active can be a challenge if you have a long term health condition, but it can make a significant difference to your health and wellbeing and may also ease your symptoms.

“Encouraging those with a long term health condition to consider their current levels of activity and incorporate more into their daily routine, such as gardening and recreational walking, can help them manage their condition and improve their wellbeing.”

Dr Hamzah Baig, Medical Director at GlaxoSmithKline added: “The Your Personal Best campaign is inspired by the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and we are delighted that Len Goodman and Arlene Phillips, TV judges and former dancers, are taking part in the campaign and are so committed to encouraging people aged over 55 with long term health conditions to make simple lifestyle changes in order to be more active.

“Reflecting the many different long-term conditions faced by many over 55-year-olds, the campaign is also supported by ten patient and healthcare professional groups across the UK.” Almost three quarters (70%) of over 55-year-olds surveyed feel younger than their actual age, and of that group, 64% feel ten or more years younger.

Len Goodman agreed, saying:, “Whilst the survey findings are encouraging, there is still a way to go to help inspire and support those with long term conditions to stay more active. Your Personal Best aims to do just that and you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to get involved!”

Passionate

Arlene Phillips added: “I’m really passionate about encouraging people aged over 55 to stay more active. My first love is obviously dancing but it could be anything – gardening, playing with your grandchildren or doing house work. The key thing is to just stay active in some way and Your Personal Best will help you to do this.” GSK has launched Your Personal Best as part of the Government’s Responsibility Deal to collectively improve public health.

For more information regarding the campaign log on to www.yourpersonalbestcampaign.co.uk