Physical activity

Introduction

Physical inactivity is the 4th leading risk factor for global mortality accounting for 6% of deaths globally. People who have a physically active lifestyle have a 20-35% lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease and stroke compared to those who have a sedentary lifestyle.  Regular physical activity is also associated with a reduced risk of diabetes, obesity, coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, and colon/breast cancer, and with improved mental health and reduced social isolation.  In older adults physical activity is associated with increased functional capacities.  In children, regular exercise is associated with improved learning and educational attainment, mental health, cardiovascular fitness and healthy weight status^1,2.

The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) recommends that adults undertake a minimum of 150 minutes (2.5 hours) of moderate physical activity per week; or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity (such as running) per week; or even shorter durations of very vigorous intensity activity (such as sprinting or stair climbing); or a combination of moderate, vigorous and very vigorous intensity activity (figure 1).  Adults should also aim to minimise the amount of time spent being sedentary, and when physically possible should break up long periods of inactivity with at least light physical activity.²

Figure 1: Physical activity guidelines for adults

The Active Lives Adult Survey³, conducted by Sport England, is a sample-based survey conducted across England to measure the number of people taking part in sport and physical activity twice a year. In 2022/23 the survey identified that across England 66% of males and 61% of females aged 19+ were doing at least 150 hours of moderate intensity equivalent minutes per week. 24% of males and 27% of females were physically inactive, doing less than 30 moderate intensity minutes of physical activity per week¹. While increasing the activity levels of all adults who are not meeting the recommendations is important, targeting those adults who are significantly inactive (that is, engaging in less than 30 minutes of activity per week) will produce the greatest reduction in chronic disease.

In 2022/23, among children aged 5-16 years in England, 49% of boys and 56% of girls did not meet the CMOs' recommendations of being physically active for an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week.

The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) guidance Physical activity: applying all our Health⁴ helps health professionals promote the benefits of physical activity to their patients, families and communities. The key outcomes within the public health outcomes framework (PHOF) are central to the success of this approach, ie, the percentage of adults physically inactive and physically active. 

Current physical activity guidelines

New physical activity guidelines were introduced in 2019 setting out the volume, duration, frequency and type of activity required across the life course to achieve general health benefits. The guidelines allow for more flexibility in achieving recommended levels of physical activity and recognise the potential benefits of "small behavioural changes and tailored messages to address inequalities"².

OHID have produced a range of infographics explaining the physical activity required to achieve general health benefits for different age ranges. For further information visit Physical activity guidelines.

Facts and figures

Adults

While Blackpool has significantly lower levels of physical activity than the national average, the town is similar to national trends in the demographics of physical activity participation; younger people are more active than their older counterparts, men are more active than women, and activity levels are lower in those who have a limiting illness or disability.

Local Active Lives data for 2022/23³ also indicates that there is a strong correlation between participation and social class. Within Blackpool, people in the lower socio-economic classifications (NS-SEC) are more inactive (41%) than those in the higher socio-economic classifications (25%). Correspondingly, physical activity levels are higher in the higher socio-economic classifications (61%) than in lower socio-economic groups (54%). On a national level, levels of activity and inactivity are similarly linked to socio-economic status and indices of multiple deprivation.

OHID estimates based on the Sport England Active Lives Survey in 2022/23 suggest that in Blackpool:

• • Significantly fewer adults are achieving the recommended amount of physical activity per week (150 minutes of at least moderate activity) compared to the national average (figure 2)
  • Significantly more adults are classed as inactive, that is, doing less than 30  minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week (figure 2)

Figure 2: Physical activity - percent of adults (19+) active and inactive in Blackpool, the North West and England: 2022/23

Data for 2020/2021 (during the first Covid lockdown) suggested that activity levels amongst Blackpool residents fell steeply, whilst the proportion of inactive residents (undertaking less than 30 minutes activity per week) increased at rates higher than both the North West and England. This suggests that Covid-19 lockdown periods may have impacted more significantly on Blackpool residents' physical activity, and in turn physical health, than in some other areas of the country. Although levels of activity are not yet back to pre-pandemic levels in Blackpool, rates are slowly increasing.

Physical activity that can be incorporated into everyday life, such as brisk walking and cycling, has been found to be as effective for weight loss as supervised exercise programmes. However, over a third of adults report they are not currently active at recommended levels. Creating an environment where people actively choose to walk and cycle as part of everyday life can have a significant impact on public health and may reduce inequalities in health. It is an essential component of a strategic approach to increasing physical activity and may be more cost-effective than other initiatives that promote exercise, sport and active leisure pursuits.

Walking is the most likely way all adults can achieve the recommended levels of physical activity⁵ and walking for at least 10 minutes on at least five days a week suggests regular walking. Studies have also shown that the physical health benefits associated with cycling include reduced risk of coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke and type 2 diabetes. In addition, active travel can improve mental wellbeing in a number of areas such as concentration.⁶ However, cycling in England is rarely used for travel and new schemes and/or interventions could be designed to increase this, along with appropriate infrastructure.⁷

OHID estimates based on the Active Lives Survey 2019/20 (figure 3) indicate that in Blackpool, only 11.1% of residents walk at least three times per week for 10 or more minutes, significantly lower than the national average of 15.1%. Only 1.2% cycle at least 3 times per week, not significantly different to the national average of 2.3%.

Figure 3: Proportion of adults walking and cycling regularly, Blackpool, the North West and England: 2019/20

Sport England's Active Lives Online Tool provides a profile of up-to-date data for Blackpool, covering sports participation, facilities, health, economic and demographics.

Children

Engaging in physical activity is important for children in the short-, mid- and long-term. Physical activity for children is critical for bone health, cognitive function, cardiovascular fitness, muscle fitness, weight and depression, reduced body fat and can increase academic achievement.  Chief Medical Officer guidelines for physical activity among under 5s and 5 to 18-year olds were refreshed in 2019, with the target for those aged 5-18 years to be physically active for an average of at least 60 minutes per day across the week (figure 4)².

Figure 4: Physical activity guidelines for children and young people (5-18 years old)

There are limited sources of regular physical activity data at local authority level for children, with the Sport England Children and Young Peoples Activity Data being the main data source to inform decision-making. This survey takes place via schools among those aged 5 to 16 years of age. 

The Active data for the 2022/23 academic year suggests that 40.5% of 5-16 year olds in Blackpool met the 60 minutes per day average activity guidelines, significantly lower than the 47% national level. 39% of children and young people in Blackpool were active for less than 30 minutes per day, compared to 40.5% nationally (figure 5).

Figure 5: Activity levels of children aged 5-16; Blackpool, North West and England, 2022/23 academic year

Estimates by Sport England suggest that this equates to approximately 6,800 5-16 year olds in Blackpool meeting CMO-recommended activity levels, with 10,100 below that level (6,600 of whom are active for less than 30 minutes per day). Of those children doing less than 30 minutes activity per day, the survey estimates that over a third of them are doing no activity at all.

Figure 6: Proportion of 'less active' (<30 minutes average per day) 5-16 year olds activity levels; Blackpool, North West and England, 2022/23 academic year

The 2022/23 survey findings also show that:

• • 38.0% of 5-16 year olds in Blackpool were estimated to undertake an average of 30+ minutes a day physical activity during school hours in 2022/23, a decrease from 42.6% in 2021/22. This is compared to 43.5% across England for 2022/23 and 44.8% in 2021/22.
  • 46.5% were estimated to undertake an average of 30+ minutes a day physical activity outside of school hours, compared to 55.3% across England.
  • 18.5% of Blackpool's 5-16s exercised indoors for 30+ minutes per day, compared to the England average of 20.7%. Over half (52.6%) exercised for 30+ minutes per day outdoors, lower than the England level of 58.8%.
  • 83.1% of Blackpool's 5-16s are able to swim, compared to 80.6% across England. 64% are able to swim 25 metres unaided, compared to 59% across England. 

In addition to the Active Lives Survey, a healthy lifestyle survey⁸ was carried out in 2022 by the Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU) in primary schools (children aged 8-11 years) and secondary schools (children aged 12-15 years). Figures are compared with the previous survey undertaken in 2019:

In primary schools

• • 80% of pupils reported that they enjoy physical activity 'quite a lot' or 'a lot' (83% in 2019)
  • 56% describe themselves as 'fit' or 'very fit' (59% in 2019)
  • 36% reported that they had done exercise which made them breathe harder and faster five times or more in the week before the survey (39% in 2019)
  • 49% of pupils walked to school on the day of the survey, 49% came by car (44% and 53% in 2019)
  • 75% of pupils said they had a bicycle (79% in 2019)

In secondary schools 

• • 60% of pupils reported  that they enjoy physical activity 'quite a lot' or 'a lot' (60% in 2019)
  • 37% of boys described themselves as 'fit' or 'very fit', compared with 33% of girls (45% and 37% in 2019)
  • 67% of pupils reported that they had done some form of physical activity on at least three days in the week before the survey, 5% said they had not done any (54% in 2019)
  • 43% of pupils had exercised enough to increase breathing rate on at least three days in the week before the survey, 12% said none (36% in 2019).
    

Risk factors

Despite the well-documented evidence of the benefits of leading a physically active lifestyle, the vast majority of the UK adult population is not active at levels to confer health benefits. Activity levels amongst children and young people are also low.

There are significant inequalities in levels of physical activity in relation to geography, age, gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, sexual orientation and disability.³ In England:

• • Gender: Men are more likely to be active than women
  • Socio-economic groups: People from NS-SEC 6-8 are least likely to be active
  • Age: Activity levels generally decrease with age, with the sharpest decrease coming at age 75+
  • Sexual orientation: Gay men, lesbian women and bisexual adults are all more likely to be active than heterosexual adults
  • Ethnicity: There are differences in activity levels based on ethnic background, with Asian backgrounds least likely to be active
  • Disability and long-term health conditions: Activity is less common for adults with a disability or long-tern health condition than those without.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Strategy; Get Active: a strategy for the future of sport and physical activity focuses on areas where government intervention is needed

• • Tackling disparities in participation levels
  • Getting children and young people active
  • Measuring the progress made in tackling inactivity
  • Active communities and the role of facilities.

Current services in relation to need

A number of core sport and physical activity programmes and services are provided to support the needs identified locally.  The Active Blackpool Exercise Referral Programme provides a pathway to support individuals to lead a healthier lifestyle through sport and physical activity.  The programme allows GP's and practice nurses to refer individuals who they have identified would benefit from leading a healthier lifestyle.  

A Step to Health walking programme operates across Blackpool, providing free opportunities for individuals to be active in a social environment.  The programme saw 2,782 attendances in 2019/20, this was impacted by COVID-19.

The School Games programme is a national initiative aimed at increasing the range and quality of sport and physical activity opportunities and competition for children and young people in primary and secondary education.  The programme provides a broad range of opportunities and engaged 14,913 individuals in 2019/20.

The Sport4Champions programme is delivered within 30 educational settings (compared to just 14 in 2019) and engaged with 1,602 children in 2021.

A number of externally funded short term projects aimed at 14-25 years olds are delivered locally.  The projects have a number of aims including: reducing anti-social behaviour, engaging individuals within identified geographical wards and encouraging inactive individuals to become active.

Active Blackpool continues to develop the community provision. The range of activities delivered as part of the Active Communities Service provides opportunities for children, young people and adults of all abilities in a host of programmes including Man V Fat, Multi-Sports, Street Games, Rounders, Wheels 4 All, Balance Bikes, Cycling, Walking Sports and Tennis. The audiences for these programmes come from local community groups including Warren Manor, Bristol Avenue and Headway along with open access programmes where engagement is encouraged from all community areas.

Active Travel - Active Blackpool’s Active travel Team are working with National Partners, Living Streets and Cycling UK to develop a number of walking and cycling initiatives in Blackpool. The Active Travel team will work with local schools, businesses and community groups to promote active travel.

Learn to Swim - Active Blackpool’s stated goal is to provide opportunities for children, young people and adults of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to develop a lifelong relationship with the water by providing high quality, professional swimming lessons in a fun, safe environment. The after-school LTS programme attracted 48,000+ attendances in 2018/19.

Unmet needs and service gaps

As highlighted by the Active Lives Survey 2022/23 (above), a considerably higher percentage of the Blackpool population is estimated to be inactive (31%) compared to the North West (24%) and England (23%). Children and young people are also significantly less active than their counterparts in the North West and England.

A 2015 report by the LSE, Moving the Goal Posts: Poverty and Access to Sport for Young People, found that young people in areas of poverty are significantly less likely to participate in sport because of the cost of taking part.  A gap in provision currently exists in targeting 14-25 year olds living in deprived areas to support them in continuing to lead an active lifestyle as they leave full-time education and Sport England has identified a drop off in sport and physical activity engagement with this age group across England. 

The strategy also identifies the potential opportunity and latent demand for outdoor recreation.  Sport England and the Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) recently published Getting Active Outdoors, a detailed study into both the supply and demand for outdoor activities in England.  It showed that of the 43.7m adult population, 18.2m who are not currently active outdoors want to re-engage in outdoor activity in the next 12 months.  Blackpool has the potential to provide a number of outdoor recreational opportunities for a variety of populations and target groups, utilising the existing natural space across the town, with the potential to focus on developing Stanley Park as a key destination for a range of outdoor recreation activities.

National and local strategies

Get Active: a strategy for the future of sport and physical activity (2023) is the Government strategy for tackling the high levels of inactivity, and by making sure that the sport and physical activity sector is accessible, inclusive and sustainable. This strategy sets out how the government will work together with the sector to achieve these aims by ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to get active. Central to this will be a focus on ensuring that children establish a lifetime of engagement with sport and physical activity, with the introduction of national targets for participation to help hold government and the sector to account for delivering the change that is needed.

OHID’s Physical activity: applying All Our Health (2022) will help front-line health and care staff promote the benefits of physical activity.

NICE guidance and pathways are available to support evidence based practice to promote physical activity.

PHE, Everybody active, every day: framework for physical activity (2021) an evidence-based approach for national and local action to address the physical inactivity epidemic.

Blackpool’s Active Lives Strategy sets out the strategic direction for physical activity, sports and active lifestyles in the Authority over the next five years (2021-2026).

The ambition of Blackpool Council is that this Strategy:

• Maps a high-level strategic vision for active lives in Blackpool centred upon the needs of the community; in particular parts of the community where there are more people who are inactive.
• Covers indoor and outdoor sports, physical and recreational activity and active travel.
• Is intelligence-led, supports locally identified priorities and reflects the renewed ambition and positioning of the area.
• Interfaces, and has clear synergy, with current national and local stakeholder strategies/ priorities while also delivering value for money for the Council.
• Is underpinned by a partnership approach between the Council, the community and other partners delivering sport/physical activity and wider wellbeing provision. The ambition stated will be fulfilled via work with the community and partnership with providers and organisations that can each play a key role in the delivery of its aims.
• Is based upon comprehensive engagement and consultation with council officers and members, local community organisations, clubs and national governing bodies of sport (NGBs).
• Will be developed (and implemented) iteratively, and in collaboration with local members who will sit within a steering group.
• Determines priorities and measurable targets - the progress made against which Blackpool Council and partners will be evaluated (and judged) over the five-year period covered.

[1] PHE, Physical Activity Profile. Data is based on Sport England Active Lives adult and children and young people's surveys. 

[2] Department of Health & Social Care, 2019. UK Chief Medical Officers' Physical Activity Guidelines, September 2019.

[3] Sport England Active Lives Survey, 2022/2023.

[4] OHID, 2022. Physical activity: applying all our Health

[5] NICE Guidance [PH41] Physical activity: walking and cycling. November 2012

[6] NICE News article Commuting by walking or cycling can boost mental wellbeing, September 2014

[7] PHE, Understanding and addressing inequalities in physical activity Evidence-based guidance for commissioners, August 2021

[8] Blackpool Council/SHEU. Supporting the Health and Wellbeing of Young People in Blackpool, 2022