BHFNC physical activity and health update - BHF National Centre ...

BHFNC physical activity and healthupdateFebruary 2013

BHFNC physical activity and health updateInside this month’s updateBHFNC project news Page 3Update from the BHF National Centre Early movers – new early years resource Physical activity patterns fact sheets Promoting health behaviour change training Olympic Legacy TrainingNew resources from the British Heart Foundation Take Away Health Lessons Heart Information Series new bookletsPublications of interest from other organisations Physical activity learning note Action on obesity: Comprehensive care for all A Dose of Localism: The Role of Councils inPublic HealthBritish Heart Foundation news Page 12Publications Page 14NICE local government public health briefingson walking and cycling and behaviour changeConferences Page 18Conferences and events you may find relevant Obesity & Related Conditions Scottish Sports Development Conference Sport and Physical Activity provision forChildren and Young People Obesity, Physical Activity and CancerNews Page 21Physical activity in the news Active People Survey 6 released Cricket Foundation report on impact ofOlympics 2011 National Travel Survey released She Moves campaignResearch of interest Page 23Healthy Hearts in theClassroomBHFNC in partnership withthe British HeartFoundation (BHF) will bedelivering a number of newHealthy Hearts in theClassroom workshops. Thisfree interactive workshopis designed to showcase arange of BHF resourcessuitable for use in aprimary school setting.Healthy hearts in the classroom is provingto be a popular workshop with eight moreplanned for the first half of 2013 which willbe taking place in the following areas:Cleveland - Thursday 7 FebruaryRedruth, Cornwall - Thursday 12 FebruaryWatford - Thursday 12 MarchSouthend - Monday 18 MarchGloucester - Wednesday 24 AprilPeterborough - Monday 20 MayDundee - Friday 24 MayDerby - Monday 29 MayFor more information, please contactMargaret Couldwell onm.couldwell@lboro.ac.uk or phone 01509226418Recent physical activity researchPage 2

BHFNC physical activity and health updateBHFNC project newsEarly movers – new early years resourceThe British Heart Foundation (BHF) has just published a new early yearsphysical activity guide. This pack is designed to help early yearspractitioners plan and organise physically active play environments forchildren under five.Written and collated by the BHF National Centre, the Early movers guidehelps early years settings build on existing practices by supporting a wholesetting approach to physical activity. It also provides innovative ideas toextend physical activity provision.This guide is relevant to all settings who provide care to children frombirth up to the age of five. It can also be used by professionals whoprovide support to settings, such as health improvement officers or earlyyears advisers, where physical activity may be one element of a focus onhealthy lifestyles.What’s included?Seven booklets for early years practitioners to help plan, organise and deliver physical activitywith the under 5s.1. Early movers – An introduction to the guideProvides an overview of the content of the guide including a list of useful resources forfurther information and support.2. Introduction to physical activity in the early yearsIncludes the UK physical activity guidelines for under 5s and explains how the guide supportsUK early years curriculum areas of development.3. Planning and organisation for early years managersExplains how to develop a whole setting approach to physical activity,audit current provision and plan a physical activity policy.4. Getting the best from your environmentProvides ideas to create enabling environments for physically activeplay and ideas for how to reduce sitting time.5. Practical ideas for physically active playIdeas for planning physical activities for all stages of developmentfrom non-walkers to pre-schoolers.6. Getting children involvedConsiders the principle of inclusion and how to get a balance of childinitiatedand adult-led activities, as well as developing skills forencouraging different types of play.7. Getting parents and carers involvedIdeas for encouraging parent and carer support, building partnershipsand promoting family physical activity beyond the setting.Page 3

BHFNC physical activity and health updateOne copy of Help your baby move and play every dayand Help your child move and play every day leafletsThese include tips and ideas for parents and carers onencouraging their children to be active every day.One height chart for parents and carers to log theirchild’s height as they grow and developmental firsts asthey progress.Stickers to reward children or use on play equipmentaround the setting.Six Early movers posters with key physical activitymessages for use in an early years setting.Early movers introduces physical activity in the early years and gives information and ideas onplanning and organising provision as well as practical activities and getting children, parentsand carers involved.How to orderTo download the booklets and leaflets included in the pack visit www.bhfactive.org.ukTo order your copy of the Early movers pack visit the BHF website. All of the materials arefree but as a charity the BHF very much welcome and appreciate donations to help towardstheir costs.You can also order by ringing the BHF Orderline on 0870 600 6566 or emailorderline@bhf.org.uk and quoting order reference G609.Page 4

BHFNC physical activity and health updatePhysical activity patterns in children fact sheetsThese latest BHFNC fact sheets provide current statistics onthe physical activity behaviours of children in Scotland andWales.They include all the latest facts and figures from nationalsurveys in Scotland and Wales to provide a picture of howactive children are. These fact sheets include informationon: the percentage of children meeting theGovernment’s physical activity guidelines travel to school data sedentary behaviour patterns provision of PE and sport in schools.Similar fact sheets with information on England and Northern Ireland will follow soon.Download: Physical activity patterns - Children in ScotlandDownload: Physical activity patterns - Children in WalesPage 5

BHFNC physical activity and health updateMake a MoveMake a Move is a new programme from the British HeartFoundation which uses an innovative approach toincrease the physical activity levels of young people insecondary schools, in particular the least active. Theprogramme addresses young people’s motivation tobecome more physically active and improves theirconfidence. Rather than prescribing a particular type ofphysical activity, it encourages individuals to identifythe ways of becoming more active that are right forthem.The programme is aimed at pupils in Key Stage 3 andconsists of two strands: eight class-based activities designed to be used in Personal, social and health education(PSHE) or tutor time with a group of pupils with different activity levels a peer mentoring scheme aimed at the least active.The Make a Move toolkit, written by the BHF National Centre, supports the programme and isdesigned for non PE specialists working in, or with, secondary schools, and in particularteachers of PSHE.Following a successful pilot in 2012 it is anticipated that the programme will be made availableto all secondary schools in the UK from March 2013.For more information about the programme please contact Hannah Hall onh.m.l.hall@lboro.ac.uk or Anna Chalkley on a.e.chalkley@lboro.ac.ukPage 6

BHFNC physical activity and health updateOlympic Legacy TrainingThe BHFNC, on behalf of the British Heart Foundation, willbe embarking on the second half of our Olympic Legacy tourconsisting of ten free training dates for anyone working withor promoting physical activity to children and young people.The training days offer a once only opportunity forparticipants to access free training and resources around oneof three workshop themes.1. Early movers – helping under 5s live active and healthylives (half day)* A half day workshop for early years practitioners. Understanding and putting into practice the UKphysical activity guidelines for early years. A practical workshop which is interactive and engaging.2. Engaging primary aged children in physical activity (half day)* A half day interactive workshop. Tried and tested techniques for achieving inclusion across all abilities. A variety of activities to increase children and young people’s awareness of thebenefits of being active.3. Motivating the least active secondary aged pupils (full day) Introducing the innovative Make a Move resource (formerly called Secondary ActiveSchools) for 11–14 year olds. Helping to change young people’s behaviour in favour of being active. Techniques for use in schools.Training dates are listed below. Hastings - 6 March Rotherham – 13 March Torfaen, Wales – 20 March Cookstown, Northern Ireland – 17 April Hartlepool – 24 April Blackpool - 1 May Kings Lynn - 15 May Cornwall – 22 May Newham, London – 5 June Dundee, Scotland - TBCFor more information about the day please contact Anna Chalkley a.e.chalkley@lboro.ac.ukTo book your place either visit www.bhfactive.org.uk to download a booking form or contactElizabeth Mayne on e.c.mayne@lboro.ac.uk or 01509 226419.* These workshops will be repeated in the afternoon if there is sufficient interest.Page 7

BHFNC physical activity and health updatePhysical activity for allThis course provides professionals with the knowledgeand practical skills to plan and safely adapt physicalactivity sessions for children and young people withlong term medical conditions. The course focusesspecifically on asthma, diabetes, obesity and congenitalheart conditions.This training is suitable for professionals who aredirectly responsible for delivering physical activitysessions with children and young people. For exampleteachers, early years workers, youth workers,lunchtime supervisors and many more.New dates for 2013 Wednesday 17 April Tuesday 18 June Tuesday 15 October Tuesday 26 NovemberDelegates will receive the course manual four weeks prior to the start of the course to allowthem time to study this in advance. The course includes a one day contact session involvingsome practical content. Courses will take place at Loughborough University.The cost for this course is £125 for the statutory sector and £100 for the voluntary sector.For further information and to book your place contact Elizabeth Mayne on 01509 226419 oremail e.c.mayne@lboro.ac.ukClick here to download a booking formPage 8

BHFNC physical activity and health updatePromoting health behaviour changeThis two-day course teaches key Solution Focused skills tohelp promote health and wellbeing in routineconsultations with clients. The course is suitable foranyone who works as a frontline healthcare professional.A Solution Focused approach focuses on what clients wantto achieve rather than on the problem(s) that they maycurrently have.This course will give delegates the skills to: proactively and sensitively empower individualstowards healthier lifestyles activate self-management of long-termconditions harness individuals' strengths and resources to develop personalised health solutions maximise outcomes within short time frames.Previous participants are reporting these new skills revolutionise their practice and areapplicable to primary, community and hospital services (individual face-to-face interactions,groups and telephone-based care).BHFNC will be hosting two-day Promoting health behaviour change courses at LoughboroughUniversity on the following dates: 12-13 March 2013 14-15 May 2013 24-25 September 2013 3-4 December 2013We also offer this as a bespoke training course at a venue to suit you. For further details aboutthe Promoting health behaviour change course and bespoke options contact Elizabeth Mayne on01509 226419 or email e.c.mayne@lboro.ac.ukTo book your place download the booking form.Please note this course has previously been called Patient Empowerment.Page 9

BHFNC physical activity and health updatePhysical activity patterns in adults fact sheetsThese latest BHFNC fact sheets provide up-to-date factsand figures on the physical activity behaviours of adultsin Scotland and Wales.They pull together all the latest statistics from sourcessuch as the Scottish and Welsh Health Surveys andNational Travel Surveys to provide a picture of howactive adults in Scotland and Wales are.These fact sheets include information on: the numbers of adults in different age groupsmeeting the Government’s physical activityguidelines statistics on outdoor recreation data on personal travel sedentary behaviour patterns.Similar fact sheets with information on England and Northern Ireland will follow soon.Download: Physical activity patterns – Adults in ScotlandDownload: Physical activity patterns – Adults in WalesPage 10

BHFNC physical activity and health updateProject update on physical activity in the early yearsThe BHFNC, Leicester-Shire & Rutland Sport and NHSLeicester City are halfway through their joint early yearsphysical activity training project in Leicester City, whichbegan in July 2012. During Phase 1 (Sept to Dec 2012)nursery staff were offered two training sessions focusing onthe importance of physical activity for children who cannotyet walk and for those who have just started. They wereprovided with activity tips to help promote physicaldevelopment. Additional follow-up support and resourceswere offered by the trainer during casual visits to eachsetting and a sharing practice meeting was held.Interviews to assess the impact of Phase 1 on practitioners’knowledge of physical activity and activity provision within the nursery were completed duringearly January 2013. Preliminary findings suggest that between baseline and the end of Phase 1: practitioners increased their knowledge and understanding of why physical activity isimportant for the development of children who are not yet walking all settings made changes to their physical activity provision including increasingprovision of ‘tummy time’ and scheduling in ‘vest time’ throughout the week some nurseries were able to make changes to their room layout to better allow forphysical activities even without specific training, practitioners were more confident in explaining thebenefits and importance of physical activity to parents.These preliminary findings suggest that training, informal support and resources may be helpfulin supporting practitioners deliver the revised Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) byenhancing their knowledge relating to physical development.Phase 2 of this project, focusing on practitioners’ interactions with parents, is currentlyunderway and will run between January and March 2013. For more information on this projectcontact Mary Goad on m.a.goad@lboro.ac.ukPage 11

BHFNC physical activity and health updateBritish Heart Foundation newsTake Away Health LessonsThe BHF has launched a new resource for Personal, social,health education teachers working with 11–14 year olds. TakeAway Health Lessons includes 12 flashcards and 12 60 minutelesson plans to help students understand the importance ofhealthy eating in a fun and interactive way.The pack also includes activities, discussion topics, recipes,teachers’ notes and curriculum links (for all the homecountries) to encourage young people to think about their ownhabits and make healthy choices.Each pack includes 12 A4 booklets, each with an accompanyingflashcard.To order your Take Away Health Lessons visit the BHF websitewww.bhf.org.uk/publicationsYou can also order over the phone by calling 0870 600 6566 or email orderline@bhf.org.ukquoting order code G435. BHF resources are free of charge but as a charity they wouldappreciate a donation to help cover their costs. The suggested donation for this resource is £15.Page 12

BHFNC physical activity and health updateHeart Information SeriesBelow are two of the latest publications from the BHF’s Heart Information Series (HIS). Thebooklets explain about heart health, specific conditions and treatment in clear simplelanguage.HIS 13 Heart transplantationThis booklet is for people who may need a heart transplant,and for their family and friends. It explains: who is accepted for a heart transplant what happens during an assessment and a transplant what happens once a patient is accepted for atransplant what happens after the operation.It also describes: the medicines given after a transplant life after a transplant the long-term outlook for heart transplant patients possible complications.HIS 10 Coronary angioplastyThis booklet explains: who needs to have a coronary angioplasty what happens in a coronary angioplasty how successful it is what patients can do to help themselves after havingan angioplasty.The booklet also describes what heart and circulatory diseaseis, to help patients understand why they may need a coronaryangioplasty.Both booklets and others in the Heart Information Series can be downloaded or ordered atwww.bhf.org.uk/publicationsPage 13

BHFNC physical activity and health updatePublicationsNew physical activity learning noteNHS Scotland has produced a summary document of twoprojects they previously commissioned to help healthprofessionals understand the key themes that motivate peopleto become more active.The projects previously commissioned looked at thedevelopment of key themes for physical activity promotion forthe early years and children and young people with a separatereport looking at adults and older adults.This learning note brings together the findings from each reportand presents a number of themes and key learning points thatshould be considered by professionals in the promotion ofphysical activity across all life stages, and some life stagespecific considerations. Themes covered in this report include: benefits of physical activity motivating language key people/places to raise the issue preferred activities.This information can be used to help the development of physical activity interventions, frombrief advice through to programme development and print publications.Click here for further information on the previously commissioned reports.Download: Development of key themes for physical activity promotion learningnotePage 14

BHFNC physical activity and health updateAction on obesity: Comprehensive care for allThe Royal College of Physicians has published Action onobesity: Comprehensive care for all a working party reporton obesity in Britain.The cost of dealing with the health problems caused byobesity is estimated at £5 billion a year and is predicted todouble by 2050. Currently around 25% of UK adults areobese. This report looks at the issues surrounding obesityand makes a number of recommendations as to how the NHSand other organisations should address these.The recommendations made in the report include: developing and integrating weight managementservices with those healthcare services thatmanage the complications and conditions whicharise from obesity a multidisciplinary team approach to weight management and bariatric surgery toinclude specialist consultant physicians, consultant surgeons, dietitians, nurses,psychologists and psychiatrists and exercise/physical activity professionals commissioners ensuring that every NHS trust has a medical obesity spokesman or‘champion’ who, amongst other things, can communicate with commissioners,providers and the community GPs, where possible and appropriate, to deal with weight issues as part of theiragenda to address risk factors GPs to have training in a range of practical behavioural techniques such as inmotivational interviewingThe report also suggests a number of ways in which employers should encourage physicalactivity among their staff. These include: signposting to and encouraging the use of walking and cycling routes and stairs,including the provision of safe cycle storage areas recommending the use of active travel methods to and from work, and provision ofchanging room facilities working with local authorities to enhance access to health services by publictransport considering the use of staff incentives such as discounted membership of fitness clubs encouraging staff to take regular breaks to move around as well as sufficient time toeat well.Download: Action on obesity: Comprehensive care for allPage 15

BHFNC physical activity and health updateA Dose of Localism: The Role of Councils in Public HealthThis new report from the Local Government Information Unit(LGiU) suggests a bottom up approach is required from localauthorities to address public health issues such as obesity anddiabetes.A Dose of Localism: The Role of Councils in Public Health,published with Westminster City Council, recommends that thisis characterised by early intervention and co-production. Andalso suggests there may be benefits to public health ofincentivising people to exercise.The report makes five recommendations to local governmenton how to face the increase in demand for public health at afinancially challenging time.1. Innovate. Councils should design innovative servicesthat embed the public health approach across service areas.2. Show who benefits from invest to save. Public health analysis needs to build on thecommunity budget pilots to provide more robust cost benefit analysis of actions thatdeliver longer term savings from early intervention and preventative action and wherefuture benefits accrue.3. Recruit and develop community commissioners. The key to realising health gains isgiving communities real decision-making power. One option is to employ communitycommissioners.4. Identify and build on success. Local authorities should focus on strengthening preexistingnetworks in communities that could play a role in delivering services.5. Councillors as community leaders. Ward councillors are the direct link between thelocal authority and the community. They are best-placed to encourage people to getinvolved in improving public health outcomes.The authors of this report hope it will help stimulate debate about what effective localgovernment leadership of public health looks like.Download: A Dose of Localism: The Role of Councils in Public HealthPage 16

BHFNC physical activity and health updateNICE local government public health briefingsNICE has developed two new local government public healthbriefings, one on walking and cycling and the other onbehaviour change.These briefings are designed for local authorities and theirpartner organisations in the health and voluntary sectors; inparticular those involved with health and wellbeing boards.They may also be useful in the development of joint health andwellbeing strategies.Walking and cyclingThis briefing summarises NICE's recommendations for localauthorities and partner organisations on walking and cycling. Itsuggests conditions that encourage walking and cycling can alsohelp create an environment that supports the local economy.The briefing recommends a number of key changes which local governments can make toencourage walking and cycling. These include addressing issues such as: walking and cycling networks and infrastructure key barriers such as road safety road safety partnerships motor vehicle speed.The document also suggests development of local programmes to support walking and cyclingand outlines the costs and savings of increasing levels.Behaviour changeThis briefing covers health-related behaviour change interventions and outlines what iseffective and what programmes can achieve.The briefing covers areas such as: planning interventions social context evaluation and training.The document also shows examples of good practice and includes planning and commissioningquestions to ask before beginning an intervention.Download: Local government public health briefing on walking and cyclingDownload: Local government public health briefing on behaviour changePage 17

BHFNC physical activity and health updateConferences and eventsAdvancing the Global Non-Communicable Disease Movement11-12 February 2013London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM)Price £20 per dayThis two-day event features a different focus for each day.Day one will see the launch of a new Lancet series on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) anddevelopment. Sessions will aim to reflect on the five themes covered by the papers in theseries: convening partners to align around action, disseminating knowledge for action,advocacy to deliver the agreed mortality reduction goal, ensuring accountability andresourcing and the post-2015 development agenda.The second day will feature the second annual symposium of the LSHTM Centre for Global NCDswith the Centre on Global Change and Health. Sessions will focus on preventing global NCDsthrough low carbon development.For further information visit www.globalncd2013.eventbrite.comFit 4 Women 2013 conferenceReading, Hilton Reading hotel – Tuesday 26 February 2013Manchester, Radisson Blu Hotel Manchester Airport – Thursday 28 February 2013Price £80 + VATThis event aims to provide delegates with an opportunity to explore the challenges inincreasing women and girls’ participation in sport.Hosted by Jeanette Kwakye (2008 Olympic Games 100m Finalist), the Fit 4 Women event aimsto bring together those who work in delivery at local and regional levels to share theirexperiences and challenges, and connect with a broad network of peers from the sector.The event will include a panel discussion, Q&A session as well as hearing from a London 2012guest.For more information visit www.fit4women.co.ukPage 18

BHFNC physical activity and health updateObesity & Related Conditions: Tackling an Epidemic27 February 2013Manchester Conference CentrePrices £295-£895 + VATThis conference will explore what action can be taken to combat raising obesity levels. Theagenda will debate the key issues associated with individual behaviour, government legislation,food production and labelling, physical activity, childhood obesity and medical and financialinterventions.Topics to be discussed include: supporting healthier lifestyles, building local capability obesity and health inequalities: is a new approach needed? local leadership, local action, local views tackling childhood obesity interventions: Is anything working?For more information visitwww.publicserviceevents.co.uk/238/obesity-and-related-conditionsObesity, Physical Activity and Cancer16-17 April 2013London UKPrice £250-£300World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRF) and the International Association for theStudy of Obesity (IASO) are hosting a joint Hot Topic Conference on Obesity, Physical Activityand Cancer.The scientific sessions will examine the links between obesity, physical activity and cancerincidence and survival. Session topics will include: obesity, physical activity and cancer prevention evidence for the relationship between physical activity and cancer incidence andsurvival life course factors and cancer (incidence and survival)For further details visit www.wcrf.org/conferencesPage 19

BHFNC physical activity and health updateScottish Sports Development Conference22-23 April 2013The Westerwood Hotel, CumbernauldPrice £150-£345 + VATThis conference aims to bring together delegates from all levels of sport development, fromgrassroots development officers to senior managers, from local authorities, the voluntarysector and national governing bodies within Scotland.This year’s theme is based on Our Sporting Communities – Investing in the future. Theconference is supported by sportscotland and is designed for professionals in sport and physicalactivity, working either in teams or independently throughout Scotland. It will focusspecifically on mainstream sport development in Scotland, although it will draw on the widerUK sport development experience.For further information visit www.ssdc.org.ukKeep up-to-date on physical activity and healthTo join the BHFNC database and receive our updatesstraight to you inbox click here and sign up to ourdatabaseIf you have any questions or would like us to consideryour news for our next update please email us onbhfnc@lboro.ac.uk or call 01509 226421You can also follow us on Twitter @BHFactivePage 20

BHFNC physical activity and health updateNewsActive People Survey 6 releasedThe latest release of data from Sport England’s Active PeopleSurvey shows a statistically significant increase in sportsparticipation. This equates to 15.5 million adults taking part insport at least once a week for 30 minutes at moderate intensity.Over 57% of those questioned had done no 30 minute sessions,of at least moderate intensity, in the previous 28 daysThe Active People Survey is Sport England’s main participationmeasure and is based on the percentage of adults (aged 16+)participating in at least 30 minutes of sport at moderate intensity at least once a week.The survey shows that sports that are growing in popularity are athletics, judo, tennis andswimming.For more information and detailed results visit the Sport England websiteCricket Foundation report on impact of OlympicsThis report, commissioned by the Cricket Foundation, analysesthe impact the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games has had onschool sport in Britain.They surveyed 1,006 parents of children aged between 5-16about their child’s sporting habits post the 2012 Games.Over half of parents polled said the Olympics have inspired theirchildren to do more sport in some way; 15% said their child nowdoes more sport outside of school and 9% do more sport inschool.Nearly eight out of ten parents also said the amount of PE and games done in school has stayedthe same as before the Olympics, with half saying that their child did fewer than two hours aweek of PE or games lessons at school. One in ten parents said their child wanted to do moresport after the Olympics, but there were no opportunities for them to do so at school.Download: Being Active – The Cricket Foundation surveyFor further information on this report visit www.chancetoshine.orgPage 21

BHFNC physical activity and health update2011 National Travel Survey releasedThe 2011 National Travel Survey (NTS) is the latest release ina series of household surveys of personal travel in GreatBritain. The survey is designed to track long-termdevelopment of trends in travel, although short-term changescan also be detected.NTS data is collected through interviews with people in theirhomes, and a diary that they keep for a week to record theirtravel. The NTS covers travel by all age groups, includingchildren. In 2011, diary data was collected from 7,700households, covering over 18,000 individuals.Key findings In 2011, 49% of trips to and from school by primary school children (aged 5-10) weremade on foot. This was slightly lower than in 1995/97 when 53% of trips were madeon foot. Among secondary school children (aged 11-16) in 2011, 38% of school trips were onfoot compared with 42% in 1995/97. In 2011, the average number of walking trips was 222 trips per person per yearcompared with 292 trips in 1995/97, a decrease of 24%. 79% of all trips less than one mile in length were walking trips. Only 2% of all trips were made by bicycle. However, in terms of distance travelled,the average number of bicycle miles has increased by 14% from 43 miles in 1995/97 to49 miles in 2011.Download: National Travel Survey: 2011She Moves campaignThe Women’s Sport and Fitness Foundation has launchedtheir She Moves campaign to make more women move more.The campaign features a website designed for women toshare their experiences, share tips on getting active andsupport and inspire each other. The promotion centresaround Avril, a busy mum and wife who wants to lead a moreactive life. Users can keep up with Avril’s progress viaTwitter and blogs.For further information visitwww.wsff.org.uk/shemoves/homePage 22

BHFNC physical activity and health updateResearch of interestThe acute effects of physical activity on cigarette cravings: a systematic reviewand meta-analysis with individual participant dataHaasova M, Warren FC, Ussher M, Van Rensburg KJ, Faulkner G, Cropley M, et al.Addiction. 2013 Jan;108(1):26-37. doi: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2012.04034.x.In the UK, 21% of adults smoke. While 63% of smokers want to give up, most who try relapsewithin the first 8 days. Physical activity is recommended as an aid for smoking cessation, butthere is only limited evidence to support its effectiveness.The purpose of this study was to review the evidence on the effectiveness of using short bouts ofphysical activity to reduce cigarette cravings.Authors reviewed both published and unpublished literature and contacted the study authors toobtain raw data. This allowed the reviewers to run a meta-analysis on individual data (the goldstandard) rather than only analysing the results of the individual studies. To allow for the mostrobust comparison, in studies where there was more than one intervention group, data wascombined so the reviewers were only comparing two - control or treatment (ie, physicalactivity).The two measures the researchers were interested in were strength of desire to smoke (SoD) anddesire to smoke (DtS) after at least two hours of abstinence.Types of physical activity which were included in the treatment condition included treadmillrunning and walking, light, moderate and vigorous cycling, and isometric exercise.The results showed that all forms of physical activity reduced both SoD and DtS. Due to somestudies having results of higher significance than others, the reviewers decided to lookspecifically at moderate physical activity and effectiveness to reduce cravings. They found thatmoderate physical activity offered better results than light, moderate and vigorous intensitiescombined.Strength of desire tosmoke (SoD)Light, moderate and vigorous physicalactivity intensities combined[Effect size (95% confidence interval)]Moderate intensity physical activities[Effect size (95% confidence interval)]-1.91 (-2.59 to -1.22) -2.20 (-2.89 to -1.51)Desire to smoke (DtS) -2.03 (-2.60 to -1.46) -2.14 (-2.71 to -1.57)*Note: An effect size closer to zero means that the intervention was less effective.Conclusions: Physical activity can reduce cravings and aid in smoking cessation. Furthermore,evidence suggests moderate physical activity may be more beneficial for reducing cravings thanlight or vigorous intensity activities.Page 23