Government 'steps up' national fitness programme

Around 100,000 pedometers are being made available to the public under a new government programme aimed at encouraging people to get fitter and healthier.

The National Step-o-Meter Programme, which is jointly run by the Department of Health and the Countryside Agency, is aimed at encouraging adults whose sedentary lifestyles are affecting their health and well-being to get fit and active.

According to government figures, physical inactivity costs the NHS £1.7 billion each year, excluding the costs of treating disease brought on by obesity, which costs an additional £1 billion annually.

Formally launching the programme, Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "Walking is one of the simplest ways to get fit and active and we want to encourage people to walk their way to health through the National Step-o-Meter Programme. Pedometers can give people the impetus to take that first step and taking that initial step can make all the difference to people's future health and even life expectancy.

"GPs and nurses will be trained to advise people on how to get the most out of their pedometer by setting goals on the road to becoming active. Pedometers are a simple but effective tool in changing behaviour because the more people walk, the more they are encouraged to walk by building up the number of steps they do each day."

Peter Fane from the Countryside Agency said: "Obesity levels have trebled over the last 20 years and this programme is about getting people off the sofa and on their feet.

"The National Step-o-Meter Programme helps provide precautionary action and is a positive, less costly and an all round better alternative to repairing the damage caused by inactivity."

The National Step-o-Meter Programme started rolling out across England in May and will continue to roll-out during 2006.

(KMcA/SP)