Physical activity in natural environments prevents nearly 13,000 cases of non-communicable diseases annually in England and saves treatment costs of over £100m, as per new research conducted by the University of Exeter. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the most prevalent non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and chronic lung disease, can be prevented through physical activity in natural settings.Non-communicable diseases, or chronic diseases, account for 74 percent of global deaths. These diseases are not transmitted from person to person and the number of deaths from them is increasing in most countries.
Physical inactivity is linked to various non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, type-2 diabetes, cancers, and mental health issues. According to the WHO’s Global Status Report on Physical Activity 2022, if physical activity levels remain the same, an estimated 500 million new cases of these diseases will occur globally between 2020 and 2030, resulting in over £21 billion a year in treatment costs.
A new study has found that recreational physical activity in places such as beaches, coastlines, countryside, and city parks can help prevent major health issues. The University of Exeter conducted the study using data from a survey of the English population to estimate the impact of nature-based recreational physical activity on preventing diseases like major depressive disorder, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Dr. James Gr, who led the study, shared the findings in the journal Environment International.Ellier from the University of Exeter Medical School stated that this assessment is likely the first of its kind to be conducted on a national scale. The research team believes that they have probably underestimated the actual value of nature-based physical activity when it comes to preventing diseases. While the focus was on six of the most prevalent non-communicable diseases, there are other less common illnesses that can also be prevented through physical activity, such as different types of cancer and mental illness. It’s worth noting that the estimates provided represent annual costs. Given that chronic diseases can impact individuals for many years, the overall value of physical activity in preventing these diseases is likely even greater.tivity at preventing each case is certainly much higher.”
Increasing the levels of physical activity in the population is a key strategic goal for public health organizations around the world. According to the WHO, adults aged 18 to 64 should engage in at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity aerobic physical activity (or at least 75 to 150 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity) per week in order to maintain good health. However, globally, 27.5 percent of adults do not meet these recommendations.
In 2019, 22 million adults in England aged 16 years or older visited natural environments at least once a week. At reporte
According to researchers from Exeter, engaging in nature-based physical activity has led to a significant decrease in non-communicable diseases. They estimated that this type of activity prevented 12,763 cases of diseases, resulting in annual healthcare savings of £108.7m.
The researchers used data from the Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment survey to determine the amount of nature-based recreational physical activity that adults in England engaged in on a weekly basis in 2019. By using epidemiological dose-response data, they were able to calculate the number of incident cases of six non-communicable diseases that were prevented by participating in nature-based physical activity. The associated savings were estimated using published costs of healthcare, informal care, and other related expenses.The healthcare cost of physical inactivity in England is estimated to be around £1 billion in 2019. Dr. James Grellier of the University of Exeter Medical School suggests that nature-based physical activity is a more widely available and informal option for those who do not have access, desire, or confidence to participate in organized sports or fitness activities. He believes that investing in natural spaces such as parks can make it easier for people to be physically active and should motivate decision-makers to increase physical activity in the local population.
