No images? Click here Your weekly physical activity bulletin23 November 2021 We are working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise and physical activity. For more information on our work visit our website or follow us on Twitter @NCSEM_PAnews Athlete sleep more affected by lockdown compared to general population – new study findsA new global study led by academics at Loughborough University has shown that athlete sleep was more impacted compared to the general population, during the pandemic. Researchers investigated the sleep patterns of 4,000 athletes from around the world, discovering that circadian rhythms – the 24-hour cycles that are part of the body's internal clock – were more affected by lockdown compared to those seen in the general population. The study also revealed that elite, individual sports, and older athletes were more vulnerable to lockdown-induced disruptions, and that female athletes reported lower sleep quality and higher levels of insomnia compared to males, irrespective of the lockdown. research paper of the findings published in leading journal Sport Medicine, also detailed how several modifiable behaviour changes were evident within sleep during the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. The research was conducted in collaboration with thirty-seven institutions including other International Olympic Committee (IOC) research centres (Prof Karim Chamari from Aspetar – Doha, Qatar) and the High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd at Manouba University, Tunisia (Dr Mohamed Romdhani). New figures show record increase in childhood obesity since pandemicNew data released shows childhood obesity rates in England have increased considerably since the pandemic. Two-fifths of children aged 10 -11 are overweight or obese - which is the biggest rise in childhood obesity levels recorded to date, with those from deprived backgrounds worst affected. The National Child Measurement Programme figures show the Body Mass Index (BMI) classification rates for English children in reception and year 6 by age, sex, ethnicity, and region. Data showed that 40.9% of children aged 10 to 11 are living with overweight (including obesity) and 25.5% are living with obesity. Of children aged 4-5, 27.7% are living with overweight (including obesity) and 14.4% are living with obesity. The data also revealed children residing in the most disadvantaged parts of the country are more than twice as likely to be living with obesity than others. There is a clear correlation between obesity and healthy with rates to areas children live within. Boys are more likely to be obese than girls (29.8% for boys compared to 21.7% of girls aged 10 to 11). Ethnicity is also shown to be linked to body weight, with black children most likely to be obese. The Government has announced plans to set-up 15 clinics across England to provide customised weight loss treatment to tackle obesity. However, systematic factors that prevent children from living healthy lives will also need to be addressed. The widespread availability and promotion of cheap unhealthy food needs to be tackled and processed foods needs to be reformulated, so it contains less fat, sugar, and salt. NHS to open first specialist clinics for severely obese childrenThe NHS is set to open 15 new specialist clinics in England to provide intensive support for obese children and young people. Obesity affects one in five children in the UK and can increase the likelihood of a child developing serious health issues such as 2 diabetes, liver conditions, and early heart disease. Severely obese children can also develop difficulties such as breathing problems, sleep issues and mental health problems, A thousand children a year, aged 2-18 and experiencing health complications related to severe obesity, will be helped to lose weight through the new services. Children will also receive specialist treatment and customised care packages developed with their family, including diet plans, mental health treatment and coaching. Group sessions will also be provided by a team of health care professionals to ensure all health needs of each child are met. In addition to providing expert treatment, the services will identify the factors causing obesity in children, considering their mental and physical health. The new services are modelled on an existing service in Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, which has been supporting children in the region since 2018. Low-calorie diets found to be best for weight loss with type 2 diabetesA new review of existing evidence on diets and weight loss in people with type 2 diabetes, has found that low-calorie meal replacement diets helped people to lose more weight than other types of diets and gave them the best chance of going into remission. Losing weight can be hugely beneficial for diabetics who are carrying extra weight. It can reduce the risk of serious diabetes complications such as heart disease and stroke, and can help some people with type 2 diabetes go into remission. However, there aren’t any guidelines for people with type 2 diabetes or healthcare professionals on the best type of diet for weight loss and remission. The review revealed a very low-calorie diet of around 400-500 calories a day for 8-12 weeks was best for weight loss. This type of diet involves swapping usual meals for a short period with total diet replacement products, often soups and shakes. The researchers found fewer past studies looking at diets to put type 2 diabetes into remission, and none that allowed a direct comparison between different diets. The evidence illustrated low-calorie total meal replacement programmes are effective for around 46-61% of people recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes on the trials. More high-quality clinical trials using a range of dietary approaches, are required for remission. New funding to help secure Commonwealth Games legacy for West MidlandsSport England has announced that £6.5 million pounds from the National Lottery will be used to improve facilities and increase access to community sports in the West Midlands as part of a legacy from the Commonwealth Games in 2022. This money is part of a wider investment of more than £30 million into Birmingham 2022, which is dedicated to upgrading physical activity infrastructure and boosting community connections and activity levels. This investment represents a fundamental part of the ten year Uniting the Movement strategy and comes in the wake of the latest Active Lives Adult Survey which found inactivity levels in the West Midlands have worsened since the beginning of the pandemic. Record-breaking 22.7 million Brits were active on National Fitness Dayukactive's National Fitness Day was kicked off on Wednesday 22 September in London with the support of the Department for Digital, Culture Media and Sport, Olympic diving gold medallist Matty Lee and Paralympic legend Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson According to new figures National Fitness Day 2021 the physical activity sector inspired 22.67 million people to get active on the day, ukactive is now calling on politicians and people in sport and the physical activity sector, to support National Fitness Day in 2022 to reach an even bigger audience. The campaign aims to mobilise grassroots support from ukactive members, community groups and the wider physical activity sector, to engage individuals, families, and schools through free activities on the day. Research by Mencap highlights the misunderstanding of people with a learning disability and the negative impact this can have on societyA new survey by Mencap, revealed that despite 1.5 million people in the UK with a learning disability, two thirds of the population don’t know what a learning disability is. The findings showed that two thirds of people cannot correctly identify a learning disability as a reduced intellectual ability - with 40% of Brits thinking it’s dyslexia and 28% believing it to relate to a mental health issue. These figures rise the older people get, jumping from 32% of 25–34-year-olds considering dyslexia to be a learning disability to 50% for over 55’s. Mencap has launched its Talk To Me campaign to increase understanding and inclusion of people with a learning disability and developed a set of tools and online resources including a pledge to stand up for the rights of people with a learning disability. Reasons for the lack of comprehension may include low visibility and representation in the media. The survey reveals two in five Brits (42%) have not seen someone with a learning disability in the media in the past year. You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive it either via the SSEHS Active website or the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (East Midlands) website. Read our privacy policy. |