National Step-o-Meter Programme Rolls Out, UK
Main Category: Sports Medicine / Fitness News
Article Date: 30 Jul 2006 - 3:00am (PDT)
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A new programme has been launched to help people who want to get active take the first step out the door and on the road to a fitter, healthier lifestyle, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint announced today.
Around 100,000 pedometers in total will be made available to adults through the National Step-o-meter Programme, jointly run by Department of Health and the Countryside Agency. The programme is aimed at encouraging adults whose sedentary lifestyles are affecting their health and wellbeing to get fit and active. And over 8,000 health professionals in primary care trusts across England will be trained to help people get the most mileage out of their pedometers.
Formally launching the Programme, Caroline Flint said:
"Walking is one of the simplest ways to get fit and active and we want to encourage people to walk their way to health through the National Step-o-meter Programme. Pedometers can give people the impetus to take that first step and as our small change Big Difference initiative shows taking that initial step can make all the difference to people's future health and, even, life expectancy.
"GPs and nurses will be trained to advise people on how to get the most out of their pedometer by setting goals on the road to becoming active. Pedometers are a simple but effective tool in changing behaviour because the more people walk, the more they are encouraged to walk by building up the number of steps they do each day.
"We are determined to reduce the levels of obesity in this country and are the first country in Europe to take concerted action to tackle this major public health issue. Choosing Health, the public health white paper, set a framework for helping people make healthier choices. The National Step-o-meter Programme continues this important work."
Peter Fane, Countryside Agency Board Member, said:
"Obesity levels have trebled over the last 20 years and this programme is about getting people off the sofa and on their feet. The Countryside Agency encourages people from all backgrounds to get out and enjoy their local green spaces and beautiful countryside- which can be beneficial to both physical and mental health. This is about enjoying being active as well as feeling the physical results."
"The National Step-O-Meter Programme helps provide precautionary action and is a positive, less costly and an all round better alternative to repairing the damage caused by inactivity."
The National Step-o-meter Programme started rolling out across England in May. The Programme will continue to roll-out during 2006. Physical inactivity costs the NHS £1.7billion excluding the costs of treating disease brought on by obesity. Treating disease caused by obesity costs the NHS an additional #1bn annually. Each pedometer cost £3.
The programme will be evaluated nationally in accordance with the recently published NICE guidance on physical activity.
http://www.dh.gov.uk Obesity fight in the UK 
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