Coronavirus: GPs to prescribe cycling in new obesity strategy [BBC News]

[Graham]

Of course, it's been bleedin' obvious to us lot for decades that :-
- active lifestyles = GOOD
- sedentary lifestyles = BAD
. . . maybee, something to do with us animals evolved for being active versus "modern life" replacing all physical activity with fossil-fuelled machinery.

No need to move. . . just press a button and blob-out [ and stuff your face with highly processed sweet fat to blot out the mental anguish from that disconnect ].

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53541866

Another false dawn OR [another] first step on a VERY long journey ?

Previously on this Forum :
Diabetes NHS cost £10Billion, why no backing for cycling
Cycling & the Health of the Nation Article
Why we need to spend less on the NHS
etc. . . . . ad nauseum

[David9694]

...can you give me something to help me lose weight?

DR. I can give you a scrip for cycling.

ME: sounds great

DR: anything specific?

ME: er, https://www.reillycycleworks.com/produc ... d-complete

DR: not sure you can get that on the NHS

(https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-53541866 - GPs to prescribe cycling in new obesity strategy)

[Bonefishblues]

I see merger has already happened

[John Holiday]

See that Boris is described as "keen cyclist ".
Generally only see him climbing in to a large Jaguar!

[Pendodave]

See that Boris is described as "keen cyclist ".
Generally only see him climbing in to a large Jaguar!

Given that he was also described as 'morbidly obese' during his illness, maybe not the best advert for the strategy.
I'm sure that this has been done done to death elsewhere on here, but given the inherent mechanical efficiencies of a bike, cycling would seem to be a particularly ineffective way for the average pootler to lose weight.

[Bonefishblues]

See that Boris is described as "keen cyclist ".
Generally only see him climbing in to a large Jaguar!

Given that he was also described as 'morbidly obese' during his illness, maybe not the best advert for the strategy.

Isn't that the point - he's had an epiphany, based on his almost dying because fat?

[Jdsk]

There's quite a lot of attention to "social prescription" of all kinds, but not a lot of evidence of long-term effectiveness.

My wife was able to "prescribe" walking over a decade ago.

This is probably a good idea, but it needs to be accompanied by evaluation, and that should be open and independent. Controlled trials should be possible.

But it's not going to have much effect on its own without much wider and prolonged policies on health. And since it involves cycling it's also going to be limited without an integrated transport policy. (That's much less true for "prescribing" walking.)

Jonathan

[thirdcrank]

I've not bothered with the links but perhaps somebody knows and can explain what GPs will be able to prescribe? I doubt it's going to be a prescription for a bike, more likely something along the lines of "You need more exercise, you could try cycling."

My own personal experience was that when, as a frequent cyclist, I began to get pains in my chest when climbing hard, I explained to my GP with reference to a local modest hill so he would have an idea of what I was talking about. He simply could not believe that I was cycling all the way up.

(For anybody with local knowledge, I was referring to the the drag up the A 58 Whitehall Road from the Leeds Ring Road up to the turn off for Gildersome.

[Jdsk]

I've not bothered with the links but perhaps somebody knows and can explain what GPs will be able to prescribe? I doubt it's going to be a prescription for a bike, more likely something along the lines of "You need more exercise, you could try cycling."

I don't know what's proposed in this specific instance, but "social prescribing" often goes beyond advice in a single consultation to include a coach, some monitoring, some sort of group/ club activity, social media, information sources...

Jonathan

[reohn2]

De ja vu... ...again

[Pendodave]

I've not bothered with the links but perhaps somebody knows and can explain what GPs will be able to prescribe? I doubt it's going to be a prescription for a bike, more likely something along the lines of "You need more exercise, you could try cycling."

I don't know what's proposed in this specific instance, but "social prescribing" often goes beyond advice in a single consultation to include a coach, some monitoring, some sort of group/ club activity, social media, information sources...

Jonathan

As someone who walks, runs, cycles and golfs, it has always struck me that golf probably offers the most rounded life improvement experience. Only really works for those with some spare time though. I've never seen it advocated by NICE, sadly.

[al_yrpal]

I help run a back to cycling group for over 50s. On Thursday all but one turned up on electric bikes, as did I !

I wonder what 'prescribe' cycling actually means? What about a tax on junk food to fund bikes and cycling infrastructure?

Golf 19th hole problem....

Al

[thirdcrank]

They do say that raising both hands above your head can be a good way to trigger a heart attack. I've known a couple of golfing colleagues of whom it was said "He died doing what he liked doing" but who presumably hadn't been told of the dangers of following through.

[Jdsk]

As someone who walks, runs, cycles and golfs, it has always struck me that golf probably offers the most rounded life improvement experience. Only really works for those with some spare time though.

There'a wonderful letter written by Arthur Ashe to his daughters when he knew that he was dying of AIDS. He describes the difference between sports that you do when you're young but usually give up, and those that you keep up for life.

I've never seen it advocated by NICE, sadly.

Neither have I. But here's a step in the right direction:
"Too many people missing out on health benefits of golf, says expert panel"
https://www.bmj.com/company/newsroom/too-many-people-missing-out-on-health-benefits-of-golf-says-expert-panel/
and the original paper with the evidence:
"2018 International Consensus Statement on Golf and Health to guide action by people, policymakers and the golf industry"
https://bjsm.bmj.com/content/52/22/1426

Jonathan

PS:

There are two references to golf in current NICE guidance
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng34/chapter/1-Recommendations#atrisk-groups
https://www.nice.org.uk/sharedlearning/integrating-men-being-treated-for-prostate-cancer-into-exercise-referral-schemes

PPS:

NICE guidance on "Physical activity: walking and cycling"
https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ph41

[Jdsk]

I help run a back to cycling group for over 50s. On Thursday all but one turned up on electric bikes, as did I !

Well done. Exercising with others seems to help people keep it up.

I think that there's only one decent study but that showed that eBikers are getting more exercise than they would have done without them.

What about a tax on junk food to fund bikes and cycling infrastructure?

We're going to need different policies on food if we're going to make much impact on obesity or general health. But I wouldn't advocate hypothecation unless it unlocks a political barrier to getting something done.

Jonathan