THE JECH GALLERY

Game, set and match

Tanya Trayers

Department of Community Based Medicine, Academic Unit of Primary Health Care, University of Bristol, Cotham House, Cotham Hill, Bristol BS6 6JL, UK; t.trayers{at}bristol.ac.uk

Evidence to support the benefits of physical activity for health is abundant. Yet, physical activity levels are in decline, contributing to an increasing prevalence of chronic disease.¹ Two-thirds of men and three-quarters of women do less than 30 min of moderate-intensity physical activity on >5 days a week.² An increase in car travel, particularly for short journeys, is one factor associated with the loss of habitual physical activity.³

To encourage uptake of physical activity, supportive environments including recreational facilities have been shown to be valuable in promoting and sustaining an active lifestyle. The presence of recreational facilities nearby has been found to be associated with their use, as well as meeting physical activity guidelines.^4,5

Within the workplace, taking action to promote physical activity reduces absenteeism, increases productivity and contributes to cutting healthcare costs.⁶ On-site workplace sports and activity clubs can provide a forum for promoting good social contact among employees and opportunities for carrying out physical activity during the working day.⁷

Figure 1 shows a new car park developed on a site that was once a tennis court within a worksite environment. Previously, employees benefited from being able to incorporate a game of tennis into their working day or after work. However, with the increased demand for car parking, the tennis court was re-developed and a car park constructed.

View larger version (114K): in this window | in a new window | PowerPoint for Teaching   Figure 1  The new employee car park that was once a tennis court. The tram and baseline are now replaced by parking-bay lines (photo by Tanya Trayers).

 

The loss of this tennis court demonstrates that the organisations’ priorities are focused on supporting car travel and parking rather than physical activity. Protecting facilities that support physical activity within worksites is important in terms of occupational and public health.

1. Department of Health. At least five a week. Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health. A report from the Chief Medical Officer. London, 2004.
2. Department of Health. Health Survey for England. http://www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/PublishedSurvey/HealthSurveyForEngland/fs/en (accessed 3 March 2007).
3. British Medical Association. Road transport and health. London: British Medical Association, 1997.
4. Hoehner CM, Brennan-Ramirez LK, Elliott MB, et al. Perceived and objective environmental measures and physical activity among urban adults. Am J Prev Med 2005;28 (2 Suppl 2) :105–16.[CrossRef][Medline]
5. Zimring C, Joseph A, Nicoll GL, et al. Influences of building design and site design on physical activity: research and intervention opportunities. Am J Prev Med 2005;28 (2 Suppl 2) :186–93.[CrossRef][Medline]
6. Yancey AK, McCarthy WJ, Taylor WC, et al. The Los Angeles lift off: a sociocultural environmental change intervention to integrate physical activity into the workplace. Prev Med 2004;38:848–56.[CrossRef][Medline]
7. Librett JJ, Yore MM, Schmid TL. Local ordinances that promote physical activity: a survey of municipal policies. Am J Public Health 2003;93:1399–403.[Abstract/Free Full Text]

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