Clubs, pools and courts have reopened, and it’s rarely been more important to get activity levels up
Sedentary lifestyles, and their consequences for health, are not a new problem. Falling levels of physical activity have been linked to rising levels of some illnesses, and particularly obesity, for years. The decreasing number of people engaged in manual labour is one of the reasons for this change. Another is the ubiquity of screens. A third is high levels of car use, with children in particular moving around less freely and independently outdoors than in the past.
Boosting community sports, particularly in deprived areas such as east London, was supposed to be the long-term legacy of the 2012 Olympic Games. The reality is that cuts to local authority and schools budgets over the past decade have led to opportunities being removed. As with obesity, low levels of physical activity are linked to poverty, with low incomes creating barriers to participation. Research by Sport England has shown that poorer children are less likely to take part in sports, including swimming, than their wealthier peers.
