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Going walking
could save your life!
Today the Health
Promotion Agency urged everyone in Northern Ireland to 'Go
walking' during the summer months with a public
information campaign promoting the health benefits of
regular physical activity.
Research has
shown that if the number of people who currently take no exercise
was decreased by 5%, the number of deaths related to an inactive
lifestyle would be reduced by 365 per year - one death a day.
The campaign, which includes television advertising supported
by a range of printed information on both walking and cycling
opportunities, is aimed at those who do little or no physical
activity.
Siobhan Weir,
Regional Health Promotion Manager for Physical Activity said:
"We're focusing on walking because we know from research that
walking is an activity most people would be inclined to do
if they were thinking about becoming more active. Walking
is something that people can take up on their own, or with
a friend, they don't have to join a gym and it can be easily
incorporated into their daily routine.
Being physically
active is not just about enjoying getting out and about it
is also a vital part of maintaining and improving our health.
It can reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood
pressure and stress as well as helping to control body weight.
Physical activity can also help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis
with the latest research showing that hip fractures in over
45 year olds could be reduced through regular exercise by
up to 50%."
To encourage
people to become involved cash grants have been awarded to
local groups who are providing opportunities for many people
to be more active. Almost 400 organisations throughout Northern
Ireland applied for grants in the Get
active in the community awards scheme with over a third
of the applications being successful. More than £40,000 has
been given to 132 organisations with the aim of getting more
people to become more active, more often.
Siobhan concluded:
"Increasing the amount of physical activity you take by a
little can result in a lot of serious benefits to your health.
We hope the campaign will grab everyone's attention so that
when the distinctive tune comes on in the summer, like it
or hate it, people will respond to the message contained in
the ad by getting out for a good brisk walk!"
The television
advertising starts today for two weeks and will be repeated
again for a further two weeks at the beginning of August.
END
Notes to the
editor:
A range of support materials has been produced including a
guide
to walking and cycling events in Northern Ireland which will
be available from health service facilities, local councils,
community and voluntary groups from mid June. The materials
are also available to download from this website.
At present seven
out of ten men and eight out of ten women in Northern Ireland
do not take enough physical activity to benefit their health.
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