The NHS is set to hand out shopping vouchers and discounts to people who walk for at least 20 minutes a day, as part of a scheme to get the UK exercising more.
It’s long been known that getting your steps in is linked to better health, with the NHS advising people to do at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week, such as walking or cycling. However around a third of Britons do not meet these recommendations.
In a bid to get Britain moving an NHS-backed scheme will be incentivising exercise by asking people to walk for about 20 minutes a day. Those who do the challenge every day will have hit roughly 26 miles in a month – which is the distance of a marathon.
Users will be able to log their walks online, or through their phone or smartwatch and provisions are expected to be made for people with disabilities.
The campaign, called Movement 26.2, is being led by Sir Brendan Foster, the Olympic medallist, alongside Sir Keith Mills, the Air Miles inventor. The pair aim to make movement feel easier and to build it into everyday life.
Health officials are in talks with high street and online retailers about the scheme which is set to launch in January. It could work similarly to loyalty schemes used by supermarkets and coffee shops and will allow people to earn rewards based on their activity levels.
“Physical activity should be part of everyone’s daily life choice. Movement 26.2 is about exactly that – making movement part of everyday life again in a way that feels simple and achievable for everyone,” Sir Jim Mackey, NHS chief executive, said.
“By helping people build regular walking into their daily routines, we have a real opportunity to improve physical and mental wellbeing and help people live longer, healthier lives,” he added.
It’s hoped the scheme will help tackle the UK’s inactivity problem, which is costing the NHS an estimated £1bn a year.
A sedentary lifestyle, such as sitting, reclining or lying down while awake for hours of the day, has long been associated with poorer health outcomes, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, some types of cancer and heart disease.
About a quarter of adults in the UK are living with obesity, which is thought to cost the UK £74 billion annually, of which £11 billion is attributed to NHS expenditure.
“It is great to see this commitment in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan being turned into something that will really make a difference to people’s lives and I would like to thank Brendan and the team for pushing on with this,” Sir Jim added.
