DR JOHN SEARLE OBEThe health of the nation - older, sicker,

fatter!

What is new about health and exercise?

NOTHING!

PLATO - (427-347 BC)

‘Lack of activity destroys the good condition of every human being while movement and methodical physical exercise save it and preserve it.’

Sir Liam Donaldson

‘the benefits of regular physical activity on health, longevity and wellbeing easily surpass the effectiveness of any drugs or other medical treatment’

How much exercise?• 30 x 5 - minimum

ACSM /BASES: weekly• aerobic: 150’ moderate or 75’ high

intensity• resistance: 2 sessions - 8 -10

exercises• flexibility• motor function

What is the reality?Adults who meet 30 x 5 (2008)

self-reported measuredmen 32% 6%

women 29% 4%

What do we have?

A sedentary, overweight population, costing the NHS billions of pounds every year, heading for dementia and nursing homes.

Obesity2010• men 24%• women 25%• children 16%2050• Men 60%• women 50%• children 25%

Client: 110kg; body fat = 40%

44kg of fat

88 0.5kg packets of lard!

Heart disease in UK

• Annual: 275,000 heart attacks

• Fatal: 120,000• UK death rates the

highest in the world

Type 2 diabetes

Number of cases in UK: 1,700,000

4 fold risk of heart attack

Strokes in the UK

• Annual: 110,000

• Third biggest killer

Falls

• 30% of 65+ have a fall

• 50% they are recurrent

Fractured neck of femur

• annual UK: 70,000• Hospital death rate:

4-11%• deaths at 1 year:

30%• 45% need

community support• 14% go to falls

prevention clinic

Dementia• 820,000 cases of

dementia• 1:3 >65 will suffer

from some form of dementia

• Annual cost of care is £23 billion

What else?

Arthritis, osteoporosis and depression are all common

Eg - 40 million prescriptions for depression issued every year in the UK

Older people

• 9.7m 65 and over (16% population)

• 2025: 14m (42% population)

• 60% of hospital bed days and a majority of NHS expenditure

What is the answer?

• Exercise reduces the risk of developing all these diseases

• Exercise is a key component of their management

• Exercise promotes a healthy and independent old age

Why doesn't it happen?

DR JOHN SEARLE OBE