What do you think about GP's prescribing you 'a walk'?

[StrawberryMarble]

I just heard this on radio 4, that GP's will be able to prescribe a walk or a bike ride etc. We all know we need to move more & not lead sedentary lives. I don't disagree that we need to get moving & keep our fitness, especially as we get older. But I can see a few people getting upset over this. I think it might be a common prescription with waiting times post covid being so long.

www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/a20475388/running-5-minutes-a-day-has-long-lasting-health-benefits/

www.prevention.com/fitness/fitness-tips/a20475519/lace-up-the-running-shoes-even-slow-jogging-is-hugely-beneficial/

Haven't got time to hunt down the orginal peer reviewed studies, but you get the idea.

If you can't find 5 minutes a day then nobody or no medication is going to magically fix things for you. HIITs have also been found to be super effective exercise.

All you are doing in that post is making excuses rather than finding solutions.

Yes, and the Netherlands has completely amazing cycle infrastructure making it extremely safe.

You are not going to get people cycling round the average English road structure as it is completely unenjoyable and unsafe.

So are you now abandoning the ludicrous claim that it was down to all those middle-class people stopping others joining?

As for facilities, you are literally trying to argue that the actual facility being discussed, park run, is a problem.

You seem to actually want to keep people overweight and dependent on you.

I agree with you generally.

Starting is a barrier. Ok if park run is too much then a walking group, or walk with or without dc

It can feel a hurdle but it is cumulative and an initial you can no matter how small we’re talking is in the right direction.

I did not use the term middle class - I think you have me confused with someone else?

You seem a bit muddled and I am not sure what you are talking about really - I do not think there is a problem with Parkrun per se. I certainly do not think the people who go to Parkrun would stop anyone else going to it, they are presumably quite welcoming. My point was that it does actually require more than 'just a pair of trainers'.

I also do not understand why people remaining overweight would make them dependent on me? I do not work in healthcare.

I don't know if "lazy ness" is the reason but definitely it comes down to priorities... I could make time for exercise, but I like to do other things more. I have daily school runs and a dog who needs to be walked, so I do quite a lot of walking, I do enjoy it, but I kind of need to feel obligated to set out in the first place if you see what I mean, otherwise I would something else to do.

If there is some form of structure/goal/accountability/incentive for people (such as being part of a social group, training for an event, walking for charity etc) then people are much more likely to stick to it.

For people complaining that the cost of equipment is a barrier, I find it sometimes helps to look at pictures of elite ahtletes from 50 to 100 years ago, it soon reminds me that I don't need a fancy sports top or £100 trainers for my terrible slow 5k. I hike, climb and pre-DD mountaineered, looking at a picture of Mallory or Hiliary on everest is a great way to reset my expectations of clothing and kit.

All you need to start walking/running is a cheap pair of trainers, a t shirt from your wardrobe, some leggings, joggers or yoga pants that you more than likely have lying around and possibly a reasonably structure sports bra. A quick look at decathlon and you can pick up running trainers for under £15 and a sports bra for under a fiver.

I've always wondered why doctors can't just tell people they have all these problems due to being fat. I guess this gives them a nicer way to say it.

I am clearly not expressing myself well.

Undoubtedly it is advisable for people to be active. But the reasons why people are not active are complicated and multi-faceted.

In a country with worsening poverty, high working hours, falling access to open space, increasing mental health problems, increasing health issues from other causes including the backlog in medical treatment- this is just pissing in the wind.

I would encourage anyone to walk or cycle, but I think the chance of this initiative having much impact is very limited (sadly). It is designed to distract from what really needs to happen - public investment in a variety of areas. It is designed to shift even more of the blame onto the individual.

And on that note I will log off to go and pick up my bike!

If a walk is the best treatment, would people prefer doctors don't say so because it can be difficult to fit into your day?

It can be so effective for treating lots of things, especially mental health, but if you're struggling with MH it's not going to be easy to make yourself do it.

Walking and exercise helps a lot of people keep healthy, nothing wrong with recommending that.
However, it needs to be part of other care and take into account people's personal circumstances, which it currently tends not to do. E.g. Relative is depressed, possibly other deep rooted mental illnesses, is bordering on underweight because obsessed with eating "too much" and gets plenty of exercise in the form of walking and gardening. He eventually went to the gp for help after being practically begged by other family members, and the gp said go for a walk or get a hobby. Now he won't engage in further help which he needs.

Another eg, I have undiagnosed chronic illness and mostly use a wheelchair to get around out of the house. More movement and fresh air recommended, so I tried to add a short (10 minutes) walk with my walker the day after my weekly swim. All that happened is that it triggered severe vomiting and I couldn't move for two days. Not a helpful recommendation.

It's beneficial, but why do they need a GP to tell them that? No wonder it's so hard to get an appointment these days.

Because many people don't take criticism well, let alone take the advice on board and then make changes.

I'm a paramedic and the amount of times i've been to people having panic attacks who have an open can or bottle of caffinated energy drink in the room with them, and when I suggest that drinking that whilst anxious might well have excerbated the situation they look at me like I have 2 heads then argue the toss about it.

It's not easy being a HCP who has to tell people things about themselves and their choices that they don't want to hear.

No, Parkrun is not a panacea and it isn’t for 100% or people. But all the whataboutery is tedious. “What about people who work 20 hours a day / have no legs / live 9 miles from the nearest park and don’t drive / only own a single pair of trainers between four DC which they have to take it in turns to wear so can’t go out walking as a family”, when these things patently aren’t true for the vast majority of people who could well benefit from lifestyle changes

@CanDo92 I agree with you. There will be some people who genuinely can't find time to exercise eg due to caring responsibilities and to them, but most people could, if they really wanted to

The whole point is that they will hopefully need GPs and other health services less if they are given clear instructions about going for a walk, and then actually do it.

As some responses on here show, though, there is a significant section of society who will be actually offended at being given good health advice, politely, if it requires any effort at all on their part.

To quote Elton John, it’s a sad, sad situation.

Because many people don't take criticism well, let alone take the advice on board and then make changes.

And that's the truth. Some People really don't respond well to criticism, even when it comes from a health care professional. Some People also don't want to put in the effort themselves, if it means inconveniencing themselves or having to change things.

I love walking.
I do it as often as I can.

Great - it would be surprising if a doctor prescribed it for you then. The message is aimed not at you but at people who hardly walk at all but are able bodied enough they could increase it.

I've seen this sort of discussion before and people pop up with masses of reasons why, due to their unusual situation, the walking/cycling is impossible/impractical/dangerous for them and therefore the campaign is worthless or even insulting.

From today’s Guardian on the headline:

“The latest trial will focus specifically on boosting active travel and will take place in 11 local authority areas in England, including Cornwall, Bradford, and Leeds, with free bike loans, all-ability cycling taster days, and walking and cycling mental health groups among the pilot projects to be supported by the funding.”

So, clearly a level of sensitivity has been built in to address that some people may not be able to afford a bicycle and that some people may feel uncomfortable or out of place going to a Parkrun alone.

The pilot will apparently also include setting up reading-based activities, following a study by the charity The Reader which has suggested 75% of those who read regularly believe it has a positive impact on their mental health. So vouchers for bookshops, free reading groups and peer-support literacy clubs.

It was a pisstake of Liz Truss

You don't need any of that to walk a bit more!

People need more of a "can do" attitude rather than constantly making up excuses as to why they can't.

A person's health is their own responsibility and they need to stop abusing their bodies and then expecting the NHS to give them magic pills to cure them!

The NHS in general doesn't seem to understand that some people don't drive (which is surely a good thing??). My husband is having surgery tomorrow and had to have a covid test. Guess what, they're all drive through now! Luckily someone gave him a lift.

It is very patronising advice and I say that as someone who works out almost every day and walks everywhere. People know they need to walk more, they know there's 20 min workouts on YouTube. But the motivation to get started is so hard. And after a tough day dealing with some of the things you read about on here, of course people would rather spend their free 20 mins MNing.

@Minesril

But the motivation to get started is so hard. And after a tough day dealing with some of the things you read about on here, of course people would rather spend their free 20 mins MNing.

Indeed, which is why it’s probably a good idea to have GPs tell those people, where appropriate, that they need instead to do whatever they can to instead go out for a walk three or four times per week.

Of course there are lots.of reasons it's not easy, but that's surely not a reason to not even try to encourage it?

Won't many of the people it's prescribed for be signed off sick, to they will have time? I was off sick after DH died. Making myself go out for a daily walk helped enormously.

It might not be helpful or possible for everyone, but you could say that about almost any treatment.

So walk at the weekend, walk some of the way to/from work, walk at lunch time, near work before you start or after you finish, set up a group to walk together when it's dark.

I always walk at the weekend.

I can’t walk to/from work as the building is in the middle of nowhere and I can’t park my car anywhere other than the car park.
I also need my car close by in case of emergencies as it’s part of my job.

I can’t walk at lunchtimes as I’m either on duty or we’re not allowed off site as there has to be a certain amount of staff around (SEND unit).

I can’t walk when it’s dark as I’m a single parent so no childcare and the lanes would be just as dangerous in a group.

These excuses are from someone who loves to walk but cannot fit them any more than I already do.
It would be pointless my gp telling me to walk more.

There will be a lot more people who struggle to walk for various reasons and although I think the message of walking more should be encouraged, I don’t think it should be left solely up to the gp.

I think the government need to create ways of increasing the amount of walking people do and it’s probably easiest to do this through the workplace.

Some of the primary schools I visit have ‘the daily mile’ where they can choose to walk or run a mile around the playground everyday.
I think this is such a good thing and it is built in the school day.

In your shoes I would (and do) join the daily mile as a visitor.

I also need my car during the school day and my only real parking option is the car park. So I arrive early and walk from work and/or go for a walk after work before leaving.