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Your weekly physical activity bulletin
18 August 2026
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 X @NCSEM_PAnews
The subtle art of making losing fun
Gambling is a common activity and is part of everyday life across society. Although many people gamble—more than half of UK adults—the vast majority consistently lose money. So, when the overall outcome is negative, why do so many people keep gambling? This talk will explore some of the ways gambling games are designed and how certain game features can influence the way we think, shape our decisions, and encourage us to continue gambling. In essence, how does the gambling industry make losing feel like fun?
This event is free to attend and open to anyone with an interest in the topic. It will take place on Tuesday 23rd February 2027 and will be delivered online via Microsoft Teams.
Landmark study seeking volunteers to discover whether ditching meat could improve our health
Leicester Diabetes Centre researchers are looking for 450 people willing to ditch meat in 2026 as they explore how vegetarian and vegan diets can affect our long‑term health.
The researchers would like to hear from people who are living with overweight or obesity, aged between 18 and 50, who currently eat meat at least five days a week to take part.
Through £1.95 million funding from the Chellaram Foundation, the landmark Plant Your Health study, led by Professors Tom Yates and Kamlesh Khunti, will evaluate the health effects of adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet among overweight and obese younger adults.
Major expansion of community mental health support across England
People struggling with their mental health will get help earlier and closer to home, with 159 new NHS mental health facilities opening across England under new plans. Backed by £343 million, the rollout is the biggest redesign of mental health services in a generation. It includes:
- 100 new community mental health centres, offering walk-in support without a referral and without a months-long wait
- 59 dedicated mental health emergency departments giving people in crisis specialist care in a place designed for them
The first sites open from autumn this year, with further facilities following from March 2027.
CASES launches new Career Guide to help future sport and exercise scientists
The Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) has published ‘A Guide to Careers in Sport and Exercise Science 2026’. The guide is a resource designed to help prospective students, current undergraduates, graduates and professionals navigate the wide range of opportunities available within the sport and exercise science profession.
Drawing on advice from practitioners, researchers, lecturers, employers and students, the publication provides practical guidance on choosing courses, gaining experience and building a successful career in a sector with expanding opportunities across sport, health, fitness and rehabilitation.
International joint statement on exercise and physical activity in the era of obesity pharmacotherapy
CASES and CEP-UK are united with 10 other leading international peak bodies representing exercise and sports science in calling for Clinical Exercise Physiologists (CEPs) to be a core part of obesity care.
The joint statement shares an agreed position on the role of prescribed exercise in helping people use weight-loss medications safely and effectively. These medications are an important advance in obesity treatment, but they achieve the best results with comprehensive wrap around care – including exercise physiology.
StreetGames launches #UpMyStreet campaign
StreetGames has launched its #UpMyStreet campaign, which shines a spotlight on the power of community sport and the impact of StreetGames.
At the heart of the #UpMyStreet campaign are conversations with young people from StreetGames' network of community partners across the country, who’ve shared the ways sport and physical activity have helped them: finding safer places to spend time, building stronger relationships, improving their mental and physical wellbeing and discovering new opportunities for education, training and employment. For some, the benefits have transformed their futures.
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