One in three Swindon adults not active enough, Council says
The local authority has launched a new three-year strategy to tackle the issue
Last updated 4th Oct 2022
One in three adults across Swindon aren't active enough, according to new figures from the Borough Council.
The local authority claims the town has one of the highest rates of inactivity in the South West, with people who aren't exercising enough increasing their risk of diabetes and some types of cancer.
The data also reveal that 45% of children and young people from Swindon's most deprived areas are inactive, compared to 29% in the least deprived areas.
The issue is estimated to set the NHS back £1 billion per year. When costs to wider society are included, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says this rises to around £7.4 billion.
Working alongside other public sector bodies, private organisations and voluntary groups, Swindon Borough Council has now launched a three-year strategy to help tackle inactivity.
Get Swindon Active will aim to increase the number of residents who are regularly active, by removing the barriers to movement.
The local authority says it wants to improve the health and wellbeing of the Swindon population, "ensuring everyone in Swindon can experience the physical, mental and social benefits" of exercise.
'If he hadn't lost the weight, there's a fair chance he would've died'
The government's Office for Health Improvement and Disparities claims that physical inactivity is currently responsible for one in six UK deaths. To put that into context, smoking causes the same number of fatalities.
49-year-old Martin Palmer has lost 10 kilograms over the past 18 months, after participating in the Football Fans in Training fitness programme at Swindon Town's Foundation Park.
The Stratton resident told Greatest Hits Radio that a family health scare motivated him to sign-up.
"My brother did the first course five/six years ago. He subsequently went onto have a heart attack, despite doing the course.
"(He) made a full recovery, but there were some clear messages coming back from the hospital at the time, saying: 'If he hadn't gone through the course and changed his lifestyle and lost the weight, there's a fair chance he would've died'.
"The fellow participants on it (the course) were absolutely fantastic. Once you share their experiences, you realise you're not the only one struggling with weight loss," he said.
'Go out and explore your community!'
Get Swindon Active got underway during a special launch event at Foundation Park on Monday 3 October.
Speaking at the occasion, Swindon's Director of Public Health Steve Maddern explained how the project could help local residents.
"Being physically active isn't just about losing weight ... it also contributes to your mental health, as well as your physical health, but also has benefits for the wider economy.
"We want people that are already active to get more active, and people that aren't to do simple things to get themselves moving.
"Go out and explore your community! In Swindon, we have some beautiful places, so get out onto the streets, or visit some of our green spaces," he told Greatest Hits Radio.