Public Health and Osesity

[wisewomen]

Does it not make sense to reduce the cost of going to the gym? I know if the govenment intervened and made this cheaper I would be more inclined to go, wouldnt you?

[rosieapple]

There is already a scheme in many areas called exercise on prescription. Patients who are obese or suffer from illness such as diabetes and hypertension can be referred by their gp to get vastly reduced rates for gym, swimming and exercise classes.

[Ethel]

Gyms are businesses - private gyms are not owned by the government and have to make money.

Every council has leisure centres that provide swimming and gym facilities, often as a pay as you go, no subscription needed.

People should be responsible for themselves, not expect the government to bail them out.

You do know the government has no money of its own - it all comes from the taxpayer don't you?

Walking is excellent exercise and doesn't need a gym. Cycling is cheap. Playing frisbee with your children is cheap.

I think you are looking for excuses not to exercise - instead of finding affordable ways to get moving and get fit.

[wisewomen]

Thanks for your response and I definately see you point. I myself am a healthy 9st and have no problem with free excercise and healthy eating, although I have to say that when I went to the gym I really found it benficial to my health. In busy lifesyles many people do not have the time to walk miles or cycle miles every day (and to be fair in many places I would not feel safe doing that). I moved house recently and found that my local council facilities were too far away and the nearest gym wanted �40 per month from me.

I just think that if the govenment want to help maybe they should help the gyms to reduce their prices. They obviously have money to give to people as vouchers for healthly food etc.

It just has really frustrated me that I want to keep healthly and continue to go to the gym but cannot afford to!

[Ethel]

�10 a week isn't that much - if you go 3 times a week it's just over �3 a session.

I pay �32 a month at my club and go 5 times a week, so it is really cheap for me.

Vouchers for healthy food is for pregnant women only. There has to be a limit to any of these schemes, and as usual the hard working, lower paid not in receipt of benefits would lose out. Or the people like me, retired and not in receipt of benefits.

Get together with a friend or two and create a walking or cycling club - then you would be safe.