Keeping active

Of course it’s exercise.  But many people remain reluctant to take the wonder-drug. 

Patterns of exercise have changed hugely in developed countries since the 19^th century.  In 1900 only 14% of the population lived in cities, and the majority of people had manual jobs.  Now most of us live urbanised, sedentary lives.  Labour-saving devices release us from the distresses of churning the washing - or switching off the television.  In the process movement has been displaced.  It’s something our animal bodies still need, but which our modern lifestyles have edited out.

Now, keeping active hangs somewhere between being a chore and a luxury.  Gyms offer the chance for the committed to get their fix, and sculpt their bodies with ever more precision.  But for many these are sterile and intimidating places, aimed at the young, thin and fit. 

The simple business of movement is now something that generates government targets.  The recommendation is for around 30 minutes a day, and an hour for younger people.  But for very many adults these seem like unreachable targets, because exercise becomes a separate item on a long list of things to do, rather than something that naturally happens while going about on a normal day. 

There are some signs though, that people are more likely to walk or cycle if they have attractive surroundings.  Even the lure of a little greenery in a longer journey may be enough.

Second Nature

How can we reintegrate movement into our lives?  There are a growing number of projects that emphasise the natural world. Natural England encourage people to walk together for health.  Green gym schemes emphasise exercise whilst making yourself useful through gardening.  And Mind’s Ecotherapy campaign illustrates the mental as well as physical benefits of getting outside for a purpose.

Exercise on prescription

Some GPs are now beginning to prescribe exercise as they would a drug.  One example is Court Thorn General Practice in Cumbria.  The surgery has referred patients to walking groups for patients  a variety of chronic complaints from lower back pain to depression.  They also offer more familiar exercise classes for patients wanting to lose weight or get fit.  Here, taking exercise isn’t a question of solitary willpower, but something that brings members of a community together. 

Building for exercise

The landscape we live in can tip the balance of choices that we take.  We know that people will walk five minutes to the local shop without reaching for their car keys – and will also walk ten minutes to the nearest bus or train terminus.  Where towns are planned the right way, people get exercise without really noticing it.  So some enlightened architects are also planning the future health of those living in their houses.

There are already a few model towns designed so that people are encouraged to keep active, but there’s an important question of volume.  Will these remain ideal homes for the very few – or will the next few million homes in Britain be built this way?