New research show attitudes to exercise differ among the sexes
[9 October 2007]
New
research for the Ramblers’ Association (RA) shows that
attitudes to walking differ greatly between the sexes in areas
of high deprivation. The national walking charity will unveil
the research findings at the launch of its flagship walking for
health project, Get
Walking Keep Walking, in Birmingham on October 10 – World
Mental Health Day.
The research, conducted by Ipsos MORI, shows that residents in
ethnically mixed areas of Birmingham – the so called hard to
reach - share the same motivations to exercise as the wider
population and that women are more likely to consider walking a
form of exercise than men. But the findings found that both men
and women who are initially not interested in walking quickly
become much more positive about its benefits if they are
approached in the right way and persuaded to try it for
themselves.
For men, walking is viewed as not high impact enough to classify
as exercise: if it doesn’t make them sweat they don’t perceive
themselves to be getting any benefits. Women enjoy the social
aspects of walking and very much view it as exercise. The idea
of burning as many calories a mile as running a mile is deeply
satisfying to this group.
The RA’s Get Walking Keep Walking programme aims to show that
walking has benefits that put more strenuous forms of exercise
to shame, for both mental and physical health. It was devised to
help people in big cities do more regular walking close to home
to improve their health and well-being. As well as health and
leisure walks the RA wants more people to take everyday trips on
foot, such as to the shops, school or work.
The national walking charity will be running free 12-week
walking programmes in Birmingham - supported by The Big Lottery
Fund - combining information and motivation with led walks and
other activities. The walking programmes are being set up with
community groups, schools, the NHS, children’s centres and local
leisure centres to encourage as many people as possible to walk.
The first programmes will run in South Birmingham but will
expand to other areas of the city over the next four years.
The project is supported by poet Benjamin Zephaniah who says:
“My favourite place to walk around Birmingham is the Malvern
Hills. I don’t know why I fell in love with the hills but I
remember as a child asking my Mother to bring me there. I love
running but I can’t run forever so walking keeps me moving.”
Tom Franklin, chief executive, of the RA said: “Most people in
England don’t get enough exercise. The 2003 Health Survey for
England showed that those from lower socio-economic groups are
at a greater risk from heart disease and diabetes.”
He added: “We want to change attitudes to walking through this
new programme. Walking is the easiest exercise to fit into
everyday life. Almost everyone can do it, anywhere and at any
time, for free. You don’t need special clothing, equipment or
training and what’s better is that there are no expensive gym
memberships to pay.”
All those who participated in the research identified mental as
well as physical health among the important benefits of
exercise, considering it an effective way to tackle stress and
all complained about the same barriers to exercise – time
constraints, expense of and lack of facilities.
The RA is delivering Get Walking Keep Walking as part of a
Consortium of leading walking, cycling and health organisations
being funded by the Big Lottery Fund’s Well-being programme
which provides funding to support the development of healthier
lifestyles and to improve well-being.
The Big Lottery Fund, the largest of the National Lottery good
cause distributors, has been rolling out grants to health,
education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since
its inception in June 2004.
The Consortium is led by Sustrans and includes British Cycling,
CTC, Cycling England, Living Streets, London Cycling Campaign,
the National Heart Forum, the National Obesity Forum, the
Ramblers’ Association, Transport 2000 and Walk 21. It is
delivering a portfolio of projects that will enable 2million
people to become more physically active by walking or cycling as
part of their daily lives.