British government warns couch potatoes

A stark warning over the health risks posed by Britain’s "couch potato culture" was issued today by the Government’s top medical adviser.

The warning came as the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, published a new landmark report on physical activity and health  - At Least Five A Week

Smoking and unhealthy diet have long been established as major causal factors for chronic disease but the report says that inactive living is equally important.

Sir Liam Donaldson said:

"People need to stay active over the whole of their lives if they are to stave off the threat of obesity and killer diseases like cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and cancer.

"We are moving less than our parents and grandparents. This is a major risk factor for the nation’s health. We need to combat the ‘couch potato’ culture, and this means building moderate everyday physical activity into our lives.

"It is not about spending hours and hours in the gym, but it is about finding ways to build activities into our daily lives.”

For general health benefit, adults should achieve a total of at least 30 minutes a day of at least moderate intensity physical activity, on 5 or more days of the week.

This report will be considered by Ministers when they draw up the forthcoming White Paper on Public Health, following the public consultation exercise, currently under way. 

John Reid, Health Secretary, said:

"This is an excellent report which clearly sets out the importance of a more active lifestyle.  The challenge for all of us; Government, business, the voluntary sector and individuals themselves, is how we achieve that."

Sir Liam said the recommended levels of activity could be achieved either by doing all the daily activity in one session or through shorter bouts of activity of 10 minutes or more.

For example, an adult may take a daily brisk walk or cycle to work and children could be encouraged to walk to school, in addition to two or three weekly leisure activities such as swimming, football, or gym.  All activity can help prevent obesity, so people should make the most of all small opportunities to be active such as using stairs and doing the gardening.

The report highlights that:

Sir Liam Donaldson added:

“Adults who are physically active reduce their risk of developing major chronic diseases, such as heart disease and stroke and type 2 diabetes, by up to half (50%), and the risk of early death by about 20-30%. This report must be the wake-up call that changes attitudes to active lifestyles in every household."

The report analyses evidence from around the world of the impact that an inactive lifestyle has on public health.

It concludes that obesity is now  reaching epidemic proportions and show little signs of slowing.  If current obesity rates continue, a third of all adults will be obese by 2010 – equal to US levels.