Promoting healthier lifestyles for prisoners - National Audit Office

How can I persuade them to eat better?Hundreds of prisoners have benefited from Blantyre House’s FiTechequipment. All newcomers are offered the option of an hour-long session– the sort of thing for which you could pay £££s outside. We measure theirblood pressure, lung capacity, flexibility and fitness level and input all ofthis, together with diet, into the PC. We share the report it produces withHealth and Catering colleagues, highlighting any issues, and the prisoneris then offered a special diet, 1-1 weight loss training – or whatever else heneeds, tailored especially for him.He gets a very helpful booklet with lots of advice and information, and sixmonths later we reassess him to measure what progress he’s made againsthis targets. The programme has been so good that we’ve offered it tostaff as well – and they’re getting fitter, too!