{"id":4002,"date":"2012-11-08T08:40:04","date_gmt":"2012-11-08T07:40:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=4002"},"modified":"2012-11-08T08:40:04","modified_gmt":"2012-11-08T07:40:04","slug":"run-the-world-to-change-health-behaviours-are-you-ready-to-practise-what-you-preach","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2012\/11\/08\/run-the-world-to-change-health-behaviours-are-you-ready-to-practise-what-you-preach\/","title":{"rendered":"‘Run the World’ to change health behaviours \u2013 are you ready to practise what you preach?"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Liam West (<\/strong>@Liam_West<\/strong><\/a>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n

\"\"We all know regular physical activity is good for our health. So good in fact that it is often regarded as the equivalent of medicine’s \u2018wonder drug.\u2019 \u00a0Exercise prescription<\/a> is steadily increasing in practice and there might even be medico-legal implications<\/a> if we don\u2019t encourage patients to get physically active to reduce their risk factors for morbidity. B<\/span>ut how can you enthuse patients to get off the sofa and get moving?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A possible answer \u2013 lead by example and propose a challenge!<\/p>\n

The\u00a0www.5×50.co.uk<\/strong>\u00a0campaign<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0is an effort to\u00a0raise awareness of the benefits of exercise & physical activity<\/strong>. I am currently helping to promote this campaign across the UK, especially in Wales, so that the message spreads – regular physical activity helps keep you healthy; it helps keep you free of disease; it is effective.<\/p>\n

Physical Inactivity kills 9% of the world\u2019s population.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next stage of the campaign is the\u00a0‘Run the World’<\/strong> challenge. It\u00a0asks people to\u00a0walk, cycle or run 5kms (3.1 miles) a day for a week from 23rd November,<\/strong>\u00a0and involve friends, family, and patients as a taster to get fit. Challenge yourself and your community to be active and share in the experience of the benefits of physical activity. Sign up now!<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"
Andrew Murray wins 2012 North Pole Marathon<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Dr. Andrew Murray<\/a> is making a documentary film about his commitment to the challenge . He is personally going to complete an ice marathon in\u00a0Antarctica\u00a0followed by 50kms on 7 different continents in 7 days. We applaud Dr. Murray\u2019s commitment to both being physically activite and promoting its importance!<\/p>\n

In comparison to this, 5kms a day from you is a drop in the ocean. But, nonetheless, it is an important drop.<\/p>\n

Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer Harry Burns, their NHS executive team & Sports Minister Shona Robison have all signed up to\u00a0www.5×50.co.uk<\/strong>. <\/strong>Here in Wales both Cardiff & Swansea medical schools, <\/strong>Cardiff City Football Club, the Welsh Rugby Union doctor and some players have signed up along with Public Health Wales – If they can do it, so can\u00a0you!\u00a0We all need to be in this together!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We really want\u00a0UK \/ world wide\u00a0doctors, lecturers & students involved as a priority. However, we also want to engage the broader public, so that\u00a0everyone thinks about how they might become more physically active<\/strong>. We need your help to make a difference:<\/p>\n